View Single Post
  #45  
Old 15-08-2008, 06:00 PM
erick's Avatar
erick (Eric)
Starcatcher

erick is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Gerringong
Posts: 8,548
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fisherman View Post

The 'GSO' has a spring either side of the tube that pulls it down and against some friction material thus stopping it flopping over...' all very techinical' but I guess it must work! (I beleive they've sold hundreds of them.)

Can someone varify this or have I missed somthing?
Mal, the GSO has two plastic trunions either side as the altitude bearings. They are a relatively smooth plastic. When in place, each sits on two small pieces of teflon, fixed to the base, against which they (and therefore the whole tube unit) can rotate so the tube moves in the altitude direction.

The two springs just pull the plastic and teflon harder together, thereby increasing the friction to try and stop an unbalanced tube unit (due to heavy eyepiece) from moving under its top-heavy weight - or vice-versa if a really light eyepiece.

One note, don't leave the finderscope off - its weight is expected to be found there in the design.
Reply With Quote