Go Back   IceInSpace > Equipment > Equipment Discussions
Register FAQ Calendar Today's Posts Search

Reply
 
Thread Tools Rate Thread
  #1  
Old 17-10-2007, 08:47 PM
Omaroo's Avatar
Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)
Let there be night...

Omaroo is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Hobart, TAS
Posts: 7,639
Just ordered an AstroSystems Laser Collimator with Barlow

A simply brilliant device. Mark Suchting introduced this laser collimator to me the other night when we were collimating Paul Shopiss' 12" binocular telescope. Normal laser collimators don't do anywhere near as good a job I don't think.

I've never performed a full collimation so quickly and easily. It literally took 15 seconds per side once the collimator was inserted into the focuser. Paul has thumbscrew secondary adjuster screws as well as knobs on the primary adjusters, so there was no fiddling with screwdrivers or allen keys.

1) Firstly you insert the unit into the focuser. Remove the concave barlow attachment to expose the end of the laser and switch it on. A beam hits the secondary and bounces down to the primary. You adjust the secondary until the beam hits the centre mark on the primary.

2) Then place the barlow attachment back on the front of the unit. It acts as a projector screen and shows the return image from the centre dot on the primary. All you now do is adjust the primary's collimation knobs until the centre dots image hits the centre of the screen.

Done! It literally took seconds and gave great collimation. When you have two optics trains to set up each night it'll be a real bonus.

$109 plus delivery ex Colorado USA.

http://www.astrosystems.biz/laser.htm

I'm in no way affiliated with this crew - just a really satisfied customer.

Cheers
Chris
Attached Thumbnails
Click for full-size image (Blaser.JPG)
112.5 KB22 views
Click for full-size image (returnimage.jpg)
47.3 KB29 views
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 30-10-2007, 09:11 AM
Satchmo's Avatar
Satchmo
Registered User

Satchmo is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Sydney
Posts: 1,883
Just a quick added note. The point of the barlow is not just to create a blurred laser beam allowing a shadow of the centre dot to be projected back. I don't understand the optical side of it, but once you fit the barlow lens, the beam returned from the primary becomes immune to wobble or slop of the laser in the eypiece holder.

I'm sure we've all be frustrated by the act of careful laser collimation only to find the laser wobbling in the holder making a nonesense of our effort. To wiggle the barlowed laser and see the projected shadow of the centre dot onto the base of the laser, sitting rock solid, is something that has to be seen to be believed.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 30-10-2007, 09:21 AM
Omaroo's Avatar
Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)
Let there be night...

Omaroo is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Hobart, TAS
Posts: 7,639
That's a really good point Mark. I've just received mine yesterday and what you say is true! It can be wobbled around in the focuser to a degree and the return centre circle image does not move on the face of the barlow. I just re-collimated my 8" newtonian and it was a pleasure to do.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 30-10-2007, 08:39 PM
DJVege's Avatar
DJVege
Registered User

DJVege is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 505
Hi guys,

A quick question. Do you have to collimate the AS laser collimator (like you do normal laser collimators)???

I ask because I hate collimating laser collimators. It takes me so long to do it that the batteries run out after 2 sessions of trying to collimate the darn thing!!
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 30-10-2007, 08:52 PM
Omaroo's Avatar
Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)
Let there be night...

Omaroo is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Hobart, TAS
Posts: 7,639
Deej - just been reading the manual, and it states that the collimation screws on the body should never be touched.

Quote:
DON'T attempt to adjust the collimating screws on the laser body.

If you feel the diode module is not producing a beam parallel with the laser body, simply return the laser to AstroSystems with return postage for free factory service.
So... guess not!
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 30-10-2007, 09:11 PM
DJVege's Avatar
DJVege
Registered User

DJVege is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 505
Hmm....interesting. Do you reckon you could post a few more detailed pics of the one you have? I'd be interested in getting one!!
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 30-10-2007, 10:33 PM
GeoffW1's Avatar
GeoffW1 (Geoff)
Registered User

GeoffW1 is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Sydney
Posts: 1,847
Quote:
Originally Posted by Omaroo View Post
Deej - just been reading the manual, and it states that the collimation screws on the body should never be touched.
So... guess not!
Hi,

Collimating a laser isn't hard, so............ I feel this is a revenue maintenance thing.

You don't need an accurate jig, just a long baseline and hard surfaces on the V-blocks.

Cheers
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 30-10-2007, 10:34 PM
Omaroo's Avatar
Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)
Let there be night...

Omaroo is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Hobart, TAS
Posts: 7,639
Yep - here you go.

Pic 1) The end of the unit with the barlow removed.

Pic 2) Use it like this on step 1 - centring the beam on the primary's centre dot by adjusting the secondary translation and tilt.

Pic 3) With the barlow in place - adjust the primary's collimation screws to centre the returned centre dot image on the screen.

Done!


Cheers
Chris
Attached Thumbnails
Click for full-size image (asc_collimator.jpg)
134.2 KB63 views
Click for full-size image (asc_collimator2.jpg)
142.9 KB70 views
Click for full-size image (asc_collimator3.jpg)
166.0 KB73 views
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 30-10-2007, 10:38 PM
Omaroo's Avatar
Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)
Let there be night...

Omaroo is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Hobart, TAS
Posts: 7,639
Quote:
Originally Posted by GeoffW1 View Post
Hi,

Collimating a laser isn't hard, so............ I feel this is a revenue maintenance thing.

You don't need an accurate jig, just a long baseline and hard surfaces on the V-blocks.

Cheers
They're not charging anything for re-collimation if required so I'm not sure that I follow your reasoning...it'd be free to you and me apart from postage if it was ever required.

No-one ever said that it was hard - just unlikely to be necessary. Let's not jump to negative conclusions, hey? If these guys want to offer a service - and the only cost is postage, then they're OK in my book. I'm not sure how many other companies go to this extent for their customers...

This one has its four collimation set screws firmly epoxied in place so that it won't (or shouldn't) shift - ever.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 30-10-2007, 11:01 PM
GeoffW1's Avatar
GeoffW1 (Geoff)
Registered User

GeoffW1 is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Sydney
Posts: 1,847
Quote:
Originally Posted by Omaroo View Post
They're not charging anything for re-collimation if required so I'm not sure that I follow your reasoning...it's free to you and me apart from postage.

No-one ever said that it was hard - just unlikely to be necessary. Let's not jump to negative conclusions, hey? If these guys want to offer a service - and the only cost is postage, then they're OK in my book.

This one has it's four collimation set screws firmly epoxied in place so that it won't (or shouldn't) shift - ever.
Hi,

It isn't a matter of jumping to negative conclusions (although you may have done a bit of that yourself) but more a comment on whether the unit really needs to be shipped off anywhere into the distance, by anyone with a bit of basic knowledge. I just think that is what we are all about here - self reliance and shared expertise, not simply posting it off to the distributor when you aren't really sure if anything at all needs doing, and you can't check if anything even was when it is returned.

I believe with these laser collimation units you will find that regardless of how much epoxy is on the collimation screws you will need to check the collimation whenever batteries are replaced (major disturbance), and also for whatever disturbing effect is noticed due to how much the on/off screw is turned.

There is also a very basic point for all of us:

- how do you check for yourself whether you can have confidence in the laser collimation unit, despite kilograms of epoxy and assurances from the distributor?

As I said, a simple jig, not especially high-class, and a baseline of a few metres, and you can inform yourself well. I repeat, it is not difficult.

As for posting it off to a distributor who promises to work a trans-epoxy marvel which you cannot check on yourself when you get it back, well.......I just don't believe in that.

I'll post no more on this unless anyone wants details. Each to his own.

Cheers
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 30-10-2007, 11:13 PM
Omaroo's Avatar
Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)
Let there be night...

Omaroo is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Hobart, TAS
Posts: 7,639
"despite kilograms of epoxy and assurances from the distributor?"

Who said "kilograms"? A tad dramatic huh?

"distributor who promises to work a trans-epoxy marvel which you cannot check on yourself"

"Marvel"? .. here we go again!

Seriously Geoff - whatever! LOL! Life and death..... LOL! Before you comment on a brand/model you've never owned, maybe you should see one and use it first before casting automatic dispersions. Sheesh! Please stop jumping to conclusions because, hey, they're not all the same. I've used the typical newtonian laser collimator and they actually NEED collimation often - if you're used to these and you're happy tinkering with them go for it!
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 30-10-2007, 11:17 PM
GeoffW1's Avatar
GeoffW1 (Geoff)
Registered User

GeoffW1 is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Sydney
Posts: 1,847
Quote:
Originally Posted by Omaroo View Post
"despite kilograms of epoxy and assurances from the distributor?"

"distributor who promises to work a trans-epoxy marvel which you cannot check on yourself"

Seriously Geoff - whatever! LOL! Life and death..... LOL!
No more comment. You raised the matter. As you said, whatever.

Cheers
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 30-10-2007, 11:22 PM
Omaroo's Avatar
Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)
Let there be night...

Omaroo is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Hobart, TAS
Posts: 7,639
Glad that's over.

Eric and DJvege - if you'd like any more photos please let me know.

Cheers
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 30-10-2007, 11:25 PM
Omaroo's Avatar
Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)
Let there be night...

Omaroo is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Hobart, TAS
Posts: 7,639
Quote:
Originally Posted by GeoffW1 View Post
you will need to check the collimation whenever batteries are replaced (major disturbance), and also for whatever disturbing effect is noticed due to how much the on/off screw is turned.
No you will not - the batteries reside in a separate compartment and even if they are removed completely they come no where the collimated laser compartment.

There is no on-off screw..... it's a push-button switch on the opposite end of the device in a completely separate housing.

Pic 1) The switch...
Attached Thumbnails
Click for full-size image (asc_collimator4.jpg)
179.2 KB46 views
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 30-10-2007, 11:35 PM
GeoffW1's Avatar
GeoffW1 (Geoff)
Registered User

GeoffW1 is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Sydney
Posts: 1,847
Quote:
Originally Posted by Omaroo View Post
Batteries - in a separate compartment.

No on-off screw..... it's a push-button switch on the opposite end of the device in a completely separate housing.
*Sigh*

Look, we went too far too quickly. I just wanted to suggest it is really handy to be able to give your laser unit a collimation check your ownself, epoxy, pushbuttons and all, without posting it to anyone.

I'm tired. And old. I'm going to bed.

Cheers
Reply With Quote
  #16  
Old 30-10-2007, 11:39 PM
Omaroo's Avatar
Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)
Let there be night...

Omaroo is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Hobart, TAS
Posts: 7,639
Quote:
Originally Posted by GeoffW1 View Post
*Sigh*

Look, we went too far too quickly. I just wanted to suggest it is really handy to be able to give your laser unit a collimation check your ownself, epoxy, pushbuttons and all, without posting it to anyone.

I'm tired. And old. I'm going to bed.

Cheers
We did Geoff, and I would like to apologise.

I agree that with the standard, run of the mill laser collimators you need to be able to collimate them more easily because they require it more often. The design of this one is significantly different, and I believe (as an engineer) that it is far less susceptible to the foibles the rest are. My opinion only - but you need to see it and use it to know I guess.

Cheers
Chris
Reply With Quote
  #17  
Old 30-10-2007, 11:45 PM
netwolf's Avatar
netwolf
Registered User

netwolf is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,949
Chris,

Wish i had one when i had the dob.
How do you see the projected image while turning the knobs on the primary mirror? Did i miss something? I assume you have to go back and forth from front to back to check this.

Regards
Fahim
Reply With Quote
  #18  
Old 31-10-2007, 07:58 AM
Omaroo's Avatar
Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)
Let there be night...

Omaroo is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Hobart, TAS
Posts: 7,639
Quote:
Originally Posted by netwolf View Post
Chris,

Wish i had one when i had the dob.
How do you see the projected image while turning the knobs on the primary mirror? Did i miss something? I assume you have to go back and forth from front to back to check this.

Regards
Fahim
That's right Fahim - unless you have a truss system - where this thing is a delight to use.
Reply With Quote
  #19  
Old 31-10-2007, 10:14 AM
DJVege's Avatar
DJVege
Registered User

DJVege is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 505
Cool

Whoa, seems like I might've instigated a small argument. Sorry dudes.

I think Geoff's initial post was directed at mine. I was saying I had difficulty collimating a laser collimator (just not the one Omaroo has ).

I hate the laser collimator. It is probably just me, and maybe even just the one I had was crap, but I only ever once got the laser collimated perfectly. I had the V blocks and everything! For one thing, the batteries don't last long. And as soon as you change batteries, you have to collimate the darn thing. As collimating it took me ages, by the time I had the laser collimated, I pretty much had to change the batteries again!! Which means...COLLIMATE AGAIN!!!

So, just from my experience, terrible skill at collimating laser collimators, and laziness , I'm interested in this little device as it looks to need no laser collimation.

Only problem is they only take credit card, and i don't have one!
Reply With Quote
  #20  
Old 31-10-2007, 10:28 AM
Omaroo's Avatar
Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)
Let there be night...

Omaroo is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Hobart, TAS
Posts: 7,639
They also take money order by mail....

Quote:
Personal checks or money orders along with the above credit cards can be used to pay by mail.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +10. The time is now 02:21 PM.

Powered by vBulletin Version 3.8.7 | Copyright ©2000 - 2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Advertisement
Bintel
Advertisement