Gawd I hate working with aluminium!
Decided to fix my in-focus issue on the Tak FS-60C myself, rather than either spending a fortune on Tak bits, or purchasing off the shelf stuff, or getting Hugh to make me one. I already had a 56 to 2" converter (thanks Oasis!), and the short nose Vixen flip mirror, but what to do with the eyepiece...
I ascertained that I needed to lose about an inch of space - the Vixen flip mirror eyepiece holder is LONG, and I DARE not shorten it, so...
I removed the eyepiece spacer tube from the diagonal. I then unscrewed the base of it from the diagonal, and luckily found that Vixen's subcontractor used STANDARD threads. Already ahead.
I then went through ALL the adapters and extensions I had. I found an old prime focus adapter I NEVER use, checked it out, and, the Vixen base threads fit, so...
Tried the hacksaw first. I managed to make at least the pilot cuts/straight circumference lines! gawd aluminium is a pain, especially without a bench vice! So then, the Dremel...
9 cut off discs later (only shattered ONE - the rest wore down!), and about 2 hours of work cutting and I had the piece I needed. Threaded a retainer screw hole, finish sanded/filed/etc, which took a while. Acid etched it,(wonderful how HCl does not attack anodized surfaces), etch primed it, shot it with epoxy satin black paint.
It's 1 and a bit inches shorter than the Vixen spacer, so it WILL come to focus now
I could have bought a low profile diagonal, but I did this for the cost of my time, the original cost of the dremel wheels and paint, and the original cost of the afocal tube (I think it was free with my Maksutov).
I need a lathe, NOW!