The Silver Bullet

[Astro78]

Here are some pics of my 10" premium newt I want to share with some fellow icers.

The tube is aluminum and was made by Gary Mitchel to spec. Tolerances were within 1mm and feels solid as a tank.

After sitting in the corner for 9 months (well still is), I took delivery last month of a certified .992 strehl mirror that was recently refigured by optic waves laboritores in California.

So it's finally coming together....very very sloooowly.

Any advice on a mirror cell would be greatly welcomed too guys

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

Schmicko!
How will it be mounted? Dob or EQ?

[Astro78]

This one is for EQ and designed to be lightweight. Would have liked to go bigger but the cost of the primary was a huge factor.

looks while not a primary factor are important to attract more peeps into the hobby.

[mental4astro (Alexander)]

If going DIY, have you considered a modified cell by Kriege & Barry. Would be easy to configure into a triangular fixture. All in al & low profile. I've seen one where the cell frame was custom sand cast in al:

http://pw2.netcom.com/~ahighe/17_5ultra.html

Look for figure 13 & 14 & surrounding text.

[lacad01 (Adam)]

Very nice piece of work

[Astro78]

Thanks for the link Alexander. Could this be used on an EQ mounted tube? I can't see where it would hold the mirror down when pointing near the horizon.

Thanks Adam

[mental4astro (Alexander)]

The style of cell utilised by Kriege & Barry uses a sling to hold the mirror in place. Your question got me to thinking that this may not be the solution you need. Have a look at the cell photo on this link, it uses a more conventional 'clamp' to hold the mirror in place:

http://home.freeuk.com/m.gavin/bigdob.htm

It too is low profile & made of al. Maybe all I would change here is the configuration of the cell's frame to the triangular cast one of the first link.

Only other suggestion is to surf around for info on other cells and adapt. I'm building my own dob, so the sling solution is what I'm using, but it is not eq mounted. One I found is here:

http://www.oneilphoto.on.ca/oneilatm.htm

Mental.

[dpastern (Dave Pastern)]

And here was me thinking about the Stephen King short story/movie of the same name...

Dave

[gbeal]

I used a University Optics cell for many years, but stumbled upon an Orion Optics one, either would be good, or if you were frugal, build one.
Gary