The Kunama Reflector

[MattT]

Originally Posted by Kunama

Spent my lunch money at Specialty Fasteners, Fyshwick, today (in fact spent next week's beer money as well) This build is starting to remind me of my boatbuilding days, you skip meals so you can spend the money on shiny stainless steel bits.

Ain't that the truth! Can't really tell how much I have spent on the Gaunt re-build but must be close to $1K...or more....but really it doesn't matter when you end up with a unique (in every sense of the word) bit of whatever you are building.

Tak green....sheeeeesssss

[rrussell1962]

If you get stuck for odd parts etc check out the website for the shop Small Parts and Bearings in Capalaba Brisbane. They have saved me on more than one occasion.

[Kunama]

Thanks Richard,
I have bought some stuff from there when I lived up at Mooloolaba.

[Kunama]

Tuesday 16 June......

Little more progress today on the cell ............. (slow progress at that )
More drilling and tapping threads into 304 grade stainless steel
Thankfully that part of the job is over ...... looking forward to drilling into plywood and aluminium instead

Hardest part was drilling and tapping an M5 thread into the end of a 10mm stainless steel shaft ...... two 4.5mm HSS bits died in the process

Welding tomorrow hopefully ........

[sharpiel]

I'm glad the old girl has found a loving home Matt. And it looks like you're doing a fantastic job.

I did feel a little sad watching you both drive away.

Then I started to spend your money

[Kunama]

Originally Posted by sharpiel

I'm glad the old girl has found a loving home Matt. And it looks like you're doing a fantastic job. I did feel a little sad watching you both drive away. Then I started to spend your money

Thanks Les,
"It won't happen overnight .... but it will happen"

I was only allowed to spend 2 hours on the project yesterday, the Minister for War & Finance demanded I do stuff around the house
but I did get the welding and painting of the tailgate done. Also added a few shiny bits .........

The mirror will be resting on 18 Nylon gliders 25mm ø x 5mm high.
Edge support will be a PVC coated s/s wire sling which will be attached to 10mm x 29mm s/s linear bearings running
on the two 10mm ø stainless shafts attached to the the 25x25 steel lugs on the side rails ( that's the theory anyway !)

Weight of cell/tailgate as pictured is exactly 12 kilograms with the option to add weight bars to the middle rung (where the 60mm s/s cap screw with acorn nut is)

[FlashDrive (Poppy)]

Looking good Matt ....a piece of Art

Col....

[rrussell1962]

If it's any help Matt I have a spare empty Obsession weight bar with end caps that clips to the mirror cell frame, unfilled, just needs lead shot or sand as a filler. If it's any use to you let me know and I will send it down.

[Kunama]

Originally Posted by rrussell1962

If it's any help Matt I have a spare empty Obsession weight bar with end caps that clips to the mirror cell frame, unfilled, just needs lead shot or sand as a filler. If it's any use to you let me know and I will send it down.

Hi Richard,
Thanks for the generous offer, I am hoping that the scope ends up being base heavy (and to that end am making a fairly deep mirror box) but if not, I will be in touch. I will a start on the secondary cage next week and will be trying to keep the weight down to an absolute minimum. The only finder going on will be a Telrad.

[rrussell1962]

I have a finder base on mine, but have never felt the need to attach a finder, the telrad works perfectly. I ended up cutting a couple of 3 inch lengths of aluminium square tube plus end caps filled with lead shot which velcro to the top of the lower ring on the cage assembly to act as counterweights if I need to use them. The counterweights on the mirror cell are useful for me because I have the argo navis cradle on the secondary cage, only because I am too lazy to make a stalk!

[GrahamL]

Looks great Matt ,what (D) truss poles are you using?

[Kunama]

Originally Posted by GrahamL

Looks great Matt ,what (D) truss poles are you using?

Thanks Graham, the truss poles will be 32mm OD 1.6mm wall 6060 T5 Aluminium.

[Kunama]

Monday 22nd June

Finally got to make some sawdust today
A big thanks to Norbert's megabucks computerised table saw, the 2440 x1220 Austral Hoop Pine sheet was chopped up in no time at all.............. This beautiful saw cuts the programmed sizes to an accuracy of 0.2mm so after 20 minutes I was loading the panels into the Merc........

Mirror Box sides x 2
Mirror Box ends x 2
Rocker Box sides x 2
UTA panels ready for router x 2
75mm corner bracing


(I will be throwing my circular saws into the bin tomorrow !!! )

[FlashDrive (Poppy)]

Well done Matt.... wood pieces look good.

Col....

[Larryp (Laurie)]

Looking good, Matt!

[Kunama]

Slow progress at the moment guys, I did manage to make the UTA struts today and picked up a router & bits so tomorrow I will make a trammel for the router and cut the rings.
Wayne from Starlight has posted my focuser so should have that in about a week.
Picking up the Alt Bearings from the powdercoaters tomorrow so then the mirror box can commence as well. Going to buy a new plate-joiner this week. (If the scope doesn't work at least I will have a bunch of nice new power tools at the end !!! )

[LewisM]

Originally Posted by Kunama

(If the scope doesn't work at least I will have a bunch of nice new power tools at the end !!! )

Have to find which powertool forum you will be selling them on

[Kunama]

Alt Bearings are looking resplendent in their new coat of Aztec Gold ......
The castings provided by SDM Telescopes had the bearing surfaces machined first, then all non-bearing edges were draw-filed with a 2mm radius
then powder coated with Aztec Gold PC .........

[rrussell1962]

Those Alt bearings look nice Matt. Much nicer than the somewhat functional ones on my Obsession. I am getting the impression that you are going to end up with a lovely looking telescope.

[Kunama]

Sunday 28th June:

Thanks Richard. Cleaned the cobwebs out of the router today and cut the UTA rings ....... Made the trammel from one of Jennifer's chopping boards

16mm AA grade Hoop Pine Marine OD 580mm ID 488mm