ASIGN II is back on track.

[bloodhound31]

Finally, after new job, new baby and a whole heap of other transitions that have got in between me and building ASIGN II, I am back into it. Bought some pretty big steel today and will start erecting it this week.

Baz.

[ChrisM]

Good luck with it all Baz and keep us posted with some pics please. What type are you going for?

Chris

[Ric]

Great stuff Baz

Looking forward to seeing it evolve.

Cheers

[bloodhound31]

Originally Posted by ChrisM

Good luck with it all Baz and keep us posted with some pics please. What type are you going for?

Chris

Ta Chris, same as before mate, dome - all steel construction. Getting away from the geodesic design of the original ASIGN though. I gave my design concept and dimensions to an engineer and he drew up some structural plans for me. He's done an absolutely fantastic job. I am stoked and off and racing now!

Originally Posted by Ric

Great stuff Baz

Looking forward to seeing it evolve.

Cheers

Ta Ric. You are welcome to drop in of course mate. Just can't come into the house yet with bub still battling with his immune system.

Baz.

[steve000 (Steve)]

Hey mate, looking foward to future updates. Im having a problem with the rotation mechanism and the doors on mine. When you have the doors figured out do you mind posting a few extra pictures.

steve

[bloodhound31]

Originally Posted by steve000

Hey mate, looking foward to future updates. Im having a problem with the rotation mechanism and the doors on mine. When you have the doors figured out do you mind posting a few extra pictures.

steve

Sure thing mate. Keep your eye on the site and I'll post as I go.

Baz.

[bloodhound31]

Once the observatory is complete, ASIGN II will have a big opening night, followed by many astronomy nights including laser tours of the stars and look-through the telescopes. On cloudy nights I will hold Q&A astro-discussion and education in the dome, socialise, astronomy doco's and coffee. (yes there will be a coffee point in there.)

[CDKPhil]

Sounds like a great project Baz. Coffee sounds good, I will have a cappuccino with two sugars thanks.

Good luck with the build.

Cheers
Phil

[steve000 (Steve)]

Originally Posted by bloodhound31

Sure thing mate. Keep your eye on the site and I'll post as I go.

Baz.

as always will do

I noticed in your old one you used chain to drive it. do you plan on doing the same? or is all that up in the air at the moment

[bloodhound31]

Originally Posted by steve000

as always will do

I noticed in your old one you used chain to drive it. do you plan on doing the same? or is all that up in the air at the moment

Yeah no chain this time. Probably a pneumatic wheel and motor this time. The rolling is a lot more precise.

[bloodhound31]

Originally Posted by CDKPhil

Sounds like a great project Baz. Coffee sounds good, I will have a cappuccino with two sugars thanks.

Good luck with the build.

Cheers
Phil

Skiiny milk and decaf or fully leaded mate?

[bloodhound31]

Slowly getting little bits done at a time now. I only get about an hour of daylight after work at the moment, so it's frantic activity the moment I get out of the car.

Progress so far.

[Paul Haese]

Now that is looking the goods from last time. Good to see you have an engineer helping you out. Looking forward to seeing is finished.

[Ric]

That's looking great Baz.

Lot's of progress since I last visited.

Top stuff

[CDKPhil]

Wow, that is going to be a great observatory when you are finished.
They are going to be jealous up at Mount Stromlo.

How are you going to rotate the dome? will you use a chain and sprocket drive or a big ring gear?

cheers

[bloodhound31]

Originally Posted by CDKPhil

Wow, that is going to be a great observatory when you are finished.
They are going to be jealous up at Mount Stromlo.

How are you going to rotate the dome? will you use a chain and sprocket drive or a big ring gear?

cheers

Hopefully I can fill the void left behind by the fires at Stomlo mate. Post # 10 on the rolling mate.

Baz.

[bloodhound31]

WOOHOO! The Bearers are up! It took a few hours today and into the night, but the hardest part (heaviest) is done!

Progress report here.

[Ric]

Top stuff Baz.

Love that shot of the milky way through the framework.

Cheers

[bloodhound31]

This weekend was a marathon of time available for building. By doing some extra cash work after hours and with help from some awesome people and generous givers, I managed to get together enough funding to buy the wall-framing.

Click here for construction update.

Below: Studs in place - with some minor plumbing (vertical alignment) to be done on each before they are screwed to the flexi-track top and bottom.

[Ric]

Cool, it's starting to take shape now.