Thanks for pics guys! Yup the images came through Ian. John you got quite lucky getting the pier for free, and you must have had a hard time keeping all those rods straight during the pour! Definitely a nifty idea, I don't think I'd be game to do that. I'll just stick with Dyna-Bolting for now
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After looking around and having a good chat to my friend, we both settled on a design for which I have drawing up a quick spec sheet on my whiteboard. Please ignore the childish handwriting and lack of major technical drawing experience
The design is a rat cage but a modified approach; thick spacers separate the two plates, with the bottom of the spacers welded to the top plate. On the adapter plate I will drill out holes for M16 bolts which will then be tapped into the spacer. This will give better stiffness and stability (wider contact area) compared to using just bolts, without losing the ability to have a removable adapter plate. I have accepted that this design will not allow any adjustments to be made for leveling purposes. The lateral spacing and height of the spacers came from measuring the dimensions of my fist so I know I can get in comfortably
Note that I have not really included any details on the exact receptacle required for the mount to sit on. I just couldn't be bothered drawing that detail
It will be secured to the concrete slab via 8xM16 dynabolts (4 on the corners and 4 on the midpoint of each side) and atleast 125mm deep. I was thinking about going bigger but M16 is largest drill bit I have for this work and I'm sure 8 bolts will keep it planted firmly
The concrete will have reo mesh in it as well. The overall height of the pier will be ~900mm which places my telescope just about as high as I feel comfortable securing and removing by myself
My friend will start working on it this week; lets see where this goes! In the mean time I need to start looking up places to galvanise/powdercoat. Anyone have any recommendations or ideas on pricing?