Hi All,
My second project htis month after completing the
Cheap Guidescope is a wedge for my DOB.
For those that know me I had already made an EQ Platform but the frustration on getting the diameters correct and the bearing to roll properly require special tooling which I successfully did and managed some nice images especially planetary stuff. The old EQ Platform had some problems though so I decided to make a more accurate version but all the special requirement to make them was frustrating.
Saw a couple although very few site displaying Wedges instead so for the fun of it I decided to see if I could start making one this weekend.
Well I am surprised, what an easy build. The photo on this link -
https://plus.google.com/photos/10992...92392851058466 is an almost complete assembly (non driven) creation with stuff I had lying around at home, raided a few unsuccessful projects.
First in the photo you will notice 2 rods at the back, this provide latitude adjustment and using 2 of them provides good stability as well. These rod a stainless steel as I had some lying around, but the key to the build is the pivoting mechanism which uses the same SS rods. These rods are so strong they are highly accurate. I have used 4 x
20mm conduit clamp from Bunnings to attached the pivot rod to the V member and the bottom ply base board.
The conduit clamps are very sturdy and the downward pressure of the DOB prevents any form of the rod coming out of the clamps.
The V-Member turned out great, I have hinged them for portability, the based comes off the clamps and take up only slight more than a typical DOB base so there is no more room to take up in the car. The hinged V-Member can be folded away and compacted nicely to take up very little room in the car as well. The Hinges though are very expensive as I wanted good ones that have little to no play.
I have also designed the based so it can be removed and without any modifications can be used as a regular DOB.
Parts of the project that require attention are:
1 - Motor Drive, both Alt and AZ.
2 - Modifying the rear rod for full accurate adjustment (half way there already).
3a - Modify the bearings on the DOB to handle the angles for wedging.
3b - Modify the whole AZ mechanism to be easily driven (requires a new bearing system).
4 - The inevitable issues that arise when building things without a diagram
.
So far no major issues have arisen so far but having an option of building a EQ platform to a Wedge - The wedge wins hands down. I already know there are some people against it though.
Enjoy.