First Light at last ..

ZeroID (Brent) · #1 20-09-2011, 08:31 PM

Skeletope II lives and breathes. One of those nice cold southerlies (6 Degrees !! ) came up and cleared the skies for me.

Setup the scope on the new DOB base, pulled the covers off and gazed aloft.

Now it is not balanced for DOB use yet, needs some forward weight, slide rod perhaps but firstly it was so lightweight to carry out it just about qualifies as grab and go. Sk I needed a luggage trolley ! I actually lifted and moved it base and all easily once outside to shift location.

Secondly the added height of the DOB dec pivot means you aren't sitting on the floor at lower elevations, much more comfortable to use with a bar stool being the best option.

Then the ultimate test, would the rotating upper assembly hold collimation when turned. Didn't even think to test this till I was trying to look at a lower object. Shifted it 45 degrees, the view was all still clear and there. Another 45 degrees and no problem. A quick check with the film can alignment system showed the secondary still centred nicely in the reflection. Racked it back and forth about 120 degeres, very useful for your neck comfort and it hangs in there. I will refine the system now it is functional. Already building the power controls for fan and heater.
I am most pleased with the whole system. The scope holds collimation, the OTA is very rigid and I seem to have managed a good alignment in the rings.

Still need to fit the finder and adding a camera\ scope mount bar slightly forward of the centre cage for the DSLR or guide scope etc. Heres a pic with the 2" EP loaded. Very useful sweeper.

Oh, and I looked at some star things as well .... M7, Butterfly, Lagoon, Trifid, few Globs, you know the drill. Nice to see, haven't had the 10" out for some time. It will be out more often now but also discovered I need to relearn the sky again ...

. Old Age ....

It's been so long.

SkyViking (Rolf) · #2 20-09-2011, 09:42 PM

Congratulations Brent!

That's excellent, and I'm glad to hear you've also found yours to be so stable.
I think the true Serrurier design is superior in every way. I'm still very happy with mine too.

ZeroID (Brent) · #3 21-09-2011, 09:27 AM

Cheers Rolf,
Another advantage will be when I come to clean the primary of dust. Won't have to take it out, just pull the lightsheild away and wash it down in an OTA horizontal position. Bit of warm distilled water and some analytical quality acetone to dry it off or isopropyl maybe.

mental4astro (Alexander) · #4 21-09-2011, 10:27 AM

It's ALIVE! It's ALIVE!!!

Congratulations, Brent! One very beautiful OTA you've made yourself. And I dip my hat to your rotating secondary cage. Magnificent.

Alex.

GrahamL · #5 21-09-2011, 06:36 PM

great work Brent

mercedes_sl1970 · #6 21-09-2011, 08:15 PM

That's a very impressive piece of work.

Andrew

ZeroID (Brent) · #7 22-09-2011, 09:49 AM

Cheers guys, it's been a fun build with more to go. Next is up on the EQ6 and see how it balances. The second weight that was supposed to come with the mount got lost in the Post but I've got a couple of old solid wood working G Clamps and one of those clamped on the single weight I've got seems to get it close to right.

To come is:
RACI Mount on the lower forward trusses.
Camera\GuideScope bar on top centre.
Redesign\rebuild of the UTA retainer guides for the rotating system.
Power control is almost finished for fan\dew heater although I've already thought of some extra options. More switches required.

Really need to get serious on the Ob project but I'd better hang off for a little while in the interests of domestic harmony. I'll setup some markers on the drive outside the garage for the Tripod hopefully soon and see how it goes.

Everyone keep thinking 'No Clouds, no clouds'

Ta !

Astroman (Andrew Wall) · #8 24-09-2011, 03:37 PM

nice looking scope looks great, really must make a quick dob base for my 8" scope one day... I think you have just given me some inspiration.

ZeroID (Brent) · #9 25-09-2011, 03:09 PM

Hi Andrew, the DOB base has another use. I can drop the scope onto the base when shifting the mount out for a night, It's very light as I used alum tube bracing rather than wood construction. Also useful when working on the scope and I'd take the DOB Base rather than the mount if I go out in the feild.

But more updates:
I've completed and attached the power control box below the centre cage. 12v and 5v inputs via some soft RCA cable connectors ( Cable dropping down in the pic) with 2 RCA outs from bipole switches so I can deliver 12V or 5 v to the fan and diag heater (the nearer pair of wires.)

ZeroID (Brent) · #10 25-09-2011, 03:19 PM

And the other big addition is the Accessory Bar mounted on the top of the Centre cage. Piece of 25mm x 25mm Angle Alum with two finder mounts attached, a centre mount bar and some extra holes in case I want to attached other things.

Pics show it with my DSLR, a RA Finder and RDF attached
It also takes the 80mm F5 Refractor nicely ....
And if I get really stupid about it

I can attach almost everything I have got at once by loading the DSLR on top of the Refractor.
MMmmm Gadgets and attachments.

Ok, settle down, just kidding !! Needs to be painted matt black yet but we'll get there. I've decided most stuff should be mounted to the centre cage as it makes balancing easier and that is the reference frame for everything else.

ZeroID (Brent) · #11 25-09-2011, 04:02 PM

And the whole thing together, right and left views and closeup of the Accessory Bar centre mount bar attachment. Bolted to the Acc Bar and screwed to Centre Cage assembly. (Screw head inside the square box alum bar.)

I'll do a weight check on it soon but with the 80F5 on top I can get balance on both Axises with the addition of a few G Clamps as you can see. And it still seems quite light and rigid. Vibration damping is less than 1.5 seconds if I knock it.

Now I HAVE to get serious with the Ob Build. Setting this up and taking it down will be a bit of a mission and I haven't even started with the computers and power supplies.

SkyViking (Rolf) · #12 26-09-2011, 09:55 AM

That looks very impressive Brent

Yes the central cage would be the best place to mount extras so it won't interfere with the Serrurier balancing of the two trusses. I'm still to get around to make a mounting for my digital cam. I strapped it onto the scope with rubber bands once

because I needed tracking for a long exposure shot of the ISS flying over, but a more permanent solution is in the works.

ZeroID (Brent) · #13 26-09-2011, 12:51 PM

The Alum angle and box section is very light Rolf, good solution IMHO. I may drill out more holes as both mounting options and lightening the assembly. The two finder dovetails will let me switch depending on where the most comfortable viewing position is.
Box section gives a bit of height to the DSLR but I still see the scope UTA when camera lens is racked back to 28mm widefield. OK from about 70mm +. Bar also makes a nice handle when carrying the OTA over to the DOB Base.

I have an idea to push the project car in the garage forward and set the tripod up in the garage door area facing south so I can leave it while I start connecting the power supplies and PCs. Not qute the Ob solution but but will let me play with setup. I hope !!

Nothing wrong with rubber bands, I'm a great believer in bungee cords myself...