Hi from Canberra!
I have built a DIY home observatory from mostly recycled materials. I have also built a website to share the experience with anyone thinking of doing the same, so please, have a gander at it and enjoy!
For anyone who wants to build an observatory like mine, I have discovered a fault in the design that I shall attempt to rectify very soon. It involves the rollers that the dome pivots on. The setup I have works well in theory, but requires a lot of fiddling to get right, and then may still not be satisfactory.
I have come up with a new rolling design consisting of a rolled flat bar of 50 x 5 mm mild steel, to the diameter of the dome, running on pulley wheels only, that support AND guide. This will negate the need for support casters and extra horizontal guide wheels.
I have corrected it on my website with a bitmap concept diagram which I hope will clarify.
Well mines coming along nicely..20 litres is what you will need,, I used all of it and a bit more though the domes a bigger,,Im puuting my rollers on the dome itself, only three places, a lot more stable I figure. one set under the slit where all the reenforcing is, the other two sets equispaced, the stresses of one set negated by the other two,,set it up on block and tried my theory..
keeps the runners for the door perfectly parallel. Im using A single track over the back of the dome and two runners on the bottom of the door,,,3 points again . less chance of jamming. The bottom ring on the inside has a continuous lenght of 3 mm sheet metal screwed twice at 300 centres, and glued...Like a big round fitch plate...will post pics after gelcoat, when its all shiny and white,,,LOL..
I like the single track idea for the door.
As of yesterday I am in a world of poo with my door. It got jammed yet again. This is one of many attempts to work out a way to smooth the operation of the door and open and close it from the inside with ease. As I had already had a couple of wines, I cracked the ****s and destroyed the door. Back to the drawing board.
If anyone has any ideas for a weatherproof door to cover the slot frame...PLEASSSSEEEE tell me!
G'day baz,
Lookin' pretty damned good so far. With regards to your door probs, have you considered something along the lines of a garage type roller door? Or even perhaps approach a roller shutter mob and see if they came come up with a solution for you, might even be able to pick one up second hand.
Good luck anyway,
Steve
Stewart, thank you very much for the great feedback. That is dividend enough for me to know that my efforts are of help to others. I will check out the link you sent me immediately.
Clear skies to you too my friend, (except when we need rain).
Daytime rain would be good.
Well, how is everyones observatories coming along? Mine has hit the skids coz Im out of funds for the fibreglassing. Patience is a virtue they say. I had some rain the other day, woke up at about 7 hearing it on the roof, when I got this chill.....the tarpaulin is not on the dome!!! AAARRRGGGHHH!! Raced outside to find the bare plywood soaked. Unlocked the door to find everything in there....telescope and electronics, books,everything soaked!! Crap! Asked for rain too. Should have prepared huh?
Anytime Rob. Glad you liked it, that is the only reason it is there mate, for the benefit of others. Well......The ads on the page have earned me a grand total of about $3.60 in the last 6 months! I'm rolling in it! Raking it in!!! LOL!
Hey Baz, I posted a mosaic of pics "you know where" because someone else I know has had trouble with jamming and weatherproofing, I dont wish to gloat, but my design works flawlessly, must have fluked it. I even had the wife Outside with hose trying to get water in , with simulated upward rain LOL...There is a mosaic of pics, showing how it was achieved.
Hope they help you buddy..
Hope all your stuff is drying out OK,,,
Totally awesome - I am so impressed with the design. This one I will have to book mark - particularly when I gain alot more experience in the field and then build my own observatory.
Excellent
Cheers Petra
Last edited by spacezebra; 03-11-2006 at 10:08 PM.
Thank you very much for your kind words mate! When you start building, please feel free to pick my brains on a regular basis for any help or advice.
I just got more astro funds today for the fibreglass so watch this space for that phase. I got the dome steel track made and picked up today as well! Im very excited and will be a busy boy this weekend!
Well, I got the metal bent up and I've been head down, bum up all day. I'm feeling sore now.
Got my fibreglass too! I'll have to get the old man around tomorrow with the backhoe, so I can take the dome off, place it on the new ring and fibreglass the lot!!
Well, I got the steel bent up and I've been head down, bum up all day. I'm feeling sore now.
Got my fibreglass too! I'll have to get the old man around tomorrow with the backhoe, so I can take the dome off, place it on the new ring and fibreglass the lot!!
Dome lesson learned
