Hi Guys looking at options for suppressing vibration and stop the tripod from sinking into the ground. Has anyone used any vibration suppresion pads and recommendations?
I've got the Meade pads, and never use them. They biggest problem is the hard plastic top surface that allows the tripod legs to move around. They should have made that from some kind of non-slip surface. It is concave but fairly shallow, and in my experience not enough to keep the tripod on place. I was losing polar alignment several times during a night.
If you want to keep the tripod from sinking in then dig in some big bricks or Besser blocks or similar. Or let it sink in as far as it goes, that's what I do.
For vibration damping avoid anything that feels springy when pressed with your fingers (like machine mounting pads). It'll make things worse, unless your load is so heavy that it compresses the pad substantially.
My main issue is the NEQ6 polished legs skide slightly on hard surfaces when adjusting the lattitude bolts on my rig. I need something that can increase the surface area of the tripod feet.
I know what you mean steffen about the problems with springy surface.
Im thinking to buy the seben pads and then purchase 2 bungee cords to attach the metal eyepiece tray that is suspended below the the legs to my battery. This should provide enough compression on the pads to stop the tripod bouncing around yet still have some anti vibration properties, while increasing the surface area to reduce the likely hood of skiding.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Steffen
I've got the Meade pads, and never use them. They biggest problem is the hard plastic top surface that allows the tripod legs to move around. They should have made that from some kind of non-slip surface. It is concave but fairly shallow, and in my experience not enough to keep the tripod on place. I was losing polar alignment several times during a night.
If you want to keep the tripod from sinking in then dig in some big bricks or Besser blocks or similar. Or let it sink in as far as it goes, that's what I do.
For vibration damping avoid anything that feels springy when pressed with your fingers (like machine mounting pads). It'll make things worse, unless your load is so heavy that it compresses the pad substantially.
My main issue is the NEQ6 polished legs skide slightly on hard surfaces when adjusting the lattitude bolts on my rig. I need something that can increase the surface area of the tripod feet.
Bunnings sells hard rubber pads - square in shape, 6cm on side, white in colour and with a dimple in the middle just the right size for EQ6 tripod feet. Cost is a few dollars. I use them on concrete or paving - they work fine for my purposes.
On grass, I use fence paling offcuts (large surface area to prevent unequal settling of the tripod). Indoors, I use wooden cups with non-scratch felt (also from Bunnings).
Wouldnt some large coarse tiles work better on Grass along with the pads?
"On grass, I use fence paling offcuts (large surface area to prevent unequal settling of the tripod). Indoors, I use wooden cups with non-scratch felt (also from Bunnings).[/QUOTE]"
Wouldnt some large coarse tiles work better on Grass along with the pads?
Ordinary ceramic tiles would likely crack. Paving stones with the rubber pads would indeed be better, but then I'd have to carry that extra weight to dark sites! Paling offcuts work just fine, though, and they're smallish (100x300mm and 10mm thick), light weight and easy to carry.
For a permanent installation in your own yard, paving stones would probably be better ...... assuming you can't afford an observatory and pier.
My main issue is the NEQ6 polished legs skide slightly on hard surfaces when adjusting the lattitude bolts on my rig.
On hard surfaces I weigh down the tripod as much as I can (my not-so-slight build is an advantage there), then tighten the spreader nut, weigh it down some more, tighten the spreader some more, etc. After a few iterations the tripod has lost much of its slack and springiness. I then align it south and level it roughly. After I put the mount and scope on top I tighten the spreader some more and that takes care of any movement in the legs.
It is of course very important to keep the leg extension as small as possible. Extended legs are very difficult to get rigid, and lead to much increased dampening times at the eyepiece (after giving the OTA a slight whack).
I have the Orion ones ant they work very well , vibrations dampen almost instantly on my 3 scopes and I to use them all the time , great accessory .
Brian .
I have the Orion ones ant they work very well , vibrations dampen almost instantly on my 3 scopes and I to use them all the time , great accessory .
Brian .
In case my project fails where did you source yours form?
My Silicone burgers are ready now, to my surprise the nipple on the end of the tripod leg settled well into the pads depression hole. See how it goes might have to drill a little in to lock it into place. Otherwise very happy with the result pads are grippy even on the polished floor.
Thank you all for your suggestions.
I have the Orion ones ant they work very well , vibrations dampen almost instantly on my 3 scopes and I to use them all the time , great accessory .
Here on IIS for a good price Marios , lucky buy I am afraid .
