hikerbob
17-09-2012, 12:49 PM
I've been using a Skywatcher guidescope mount.
Overall I like it a lot but thought it might be worth mentioning a couple of issues.
At Astrofest I was using a friends one and the screw that provides the nominally horizontal pivot point worked loose. The fix meant removing the mount from the rail it was on and tightening it with a plan for some loctite or similar at home.
Over the weekend mine played up with the nyloc nut on the long thread used to drive horizontal rotation coming loose and then in my efforts to adjust it the knob at the other end of the thread coming loose as well.
I've replaced the nyloc nut and drilled and tapped the knob so I can hold it in place with a couple of M3 screws. I've also ordered some 6x14x3 thrust washers to replace the shims currently used at either end of that rod.
I've been pondering if there is any worthwhile way to reduce the weight of the guidescope mount, all those bits and pieces add up but at at the same time thinking about adding stepper drives to the two axis's (and I know that would add more weight).
Bob
Overall I like it a lot but thought it might be worth mentioning a couple of issues.
At Astrofest I was using a friends one and the screw that provides the nominally horizontal pivot point worked loose. The fix meant removing the mount from the rail it was on and tightening it with a plan for some loctite or similar at home.
Over the weekend mine played up with the nyloc nut on the long thread used to drive horizontal rotation coming loose and then in my efforts to adjust it the knob at the other end of the thread coming loose as well.
I've replaced the nyloc nut and drilled and tapped the knob so I can hold it in place with a couple of M3 screws. I've also ordered some 6x14x3 thrust washers to replace the shims currently used at either end of that rod.
I've been pondering if there is any worthwhile way to reduce the weight of the guidescope mount, all those bits and pieces add up but at at the same time thinking about adding stepper drives to the two axis's (and I know that would add more weight).
Bob