Did an electrical isolation and heater operational test last night on the spider to confirm all was well then Silastic’d the diagonal mirror on.
Then attached the Mirror Cell mirror outside retainer ‘clips’ and sprayed everything flat black. Also got inside the cell LTA and sprayed all the exposed alum brackets, nuts, washers etc. Built a nylon suspended fan for below the mirror box, 4 screws, 1 small PC Fan, and about a meter of nylon fishing line.
Then finally made an internal mirror cover that slips down inside the cell for when it’s not in use. Used the Styrofoam mirror packing it came in because it fits over the special plastic cover that it comes with and because it is very light and won’t damage the mirror if I ever drop it in accidentally.
I’ll also make a hard cover for the top of the cell and the UTA and Diag.
Tonight ……. I’ll get real brave and load the mirror into the cell … scary lot of glass and silver. Rubber and cotton gloves time.
Still haven’t got a 2” focuser. There is a rack and pinion on Trademe for $125 Buy Now but at that price I would probably buy a new 2" Knife Edge Crayford for $199 although I am trying to build one at present. Just need time…
Pix of spider and mirror mount, can see the heater wiring, uses each pair of vanes as the conductors, no wires.
Pix of fan hanging in fully sprayed cell on nylon lines
Fan suspension system - nylon is nice and stretchy. Was easier to do than I thought. Ever untangled a fishing line mess ?
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