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I've been thinking on an alt bearing solution and one particular thing comes up, that the clamp would need to be as passive in its function so as to not create undue residual stresses in the scope and rocker box, and be completely disengaged on release.
One solution I've thought of would be to have a bolt threaded into the alt bearing so that it would trace an arc as the scope is moved in alt. Running parallel to the bolt would be an arc of ply attached to the rocker box. The head of the bolt would extend beyond the top edge of this ply arc so when it is wound into the bearing it would inturn push the ply into contact with the bearing providing a braking effect, with the more the bolt is wound the greater the braking effect.
This plywood arc would need to be fixed to the rocker box, maybe at two points, and on a flexible mount (spring loaded?) so when the 'brake' is engaged, it does not create excessive lateral stress on the rocker. Any forces experienced through the braking mechanism are all in the vertical axis which the rocker box is designed to handle.
I had thought of having the bolt connected to the rocker box and push onto the bearing, but this would cause the effect of pushing the scope & rocker box against eachother - not good.
What do you think?
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