I checked and I used 4mm thick teflon pads for the shims on the altitude hubs and 3mm thick teflon for the hubs to ride on. You will notice the shims are about 20mm long, it is only the end 3mm or so of the shim that does any work the extra length is necessary to provide 2 screw mounting holes.
Sorry, don't have an answer, just acknowledging the problem. Tried to attach an image using the "Attach file" entry below the message edit and it didn't work. Lets me pick the file ok but nothing appears in the post. The "IMG" button for images on a webserver works fine though.
Correction to my earlier posts... Tonight with high magnification viewing of Jupiter I noticed (with an 8" GSO Dob) a lot of vibration. I didn't investigate because I was too busy trying to catch all the action. Normally I mostly look at deep space stuff at lower magnifications (40-130).
Sorry to change the subject but the photos above reminded me to show you how I turned my spring set-up upside-down so the springs stay on the base. You can just see the cloth tab at the top of the spring.
Last edited by ballaratdragons; 21-03-2005 at 01:30 AM.
BD
Mitre10 etc sell magic sliders.Their self adhesive and come in a variety of shapes and sizes.
For strips of teflon in short lengths I dont know .I buy it in 10m rolls because I use it for work. It comes in different grades(soft-hard) and surfaces(smooth dimpled rippled).I source mine from an engineering firm but the magic sliders should be fine.
Slice
Last edited by slice of heaven; 21-03-2005 at 02:35 PM.
Originally posted by ballaratdragons WHAT! No comments on my spring conversion!!
I have done a ring around and cannot find anyone in this area selling Teflon. Where should I be trying? What type of shops?
Forget telescope stores etc, most won't have it and those that do will rip you off. Use the Yellow Pages and contact "Specialist Plastics Supppliers" Virgin Teflon is sold by them as "PTFE". You will probably find only 1 out of 10 carries it but patience and time on the phone will pay off. You need to get 3mm thick or close enough to 3mm. It will cost you about $20 to $30 for a couple of strips about a foot long. I got them to cut me a strip 19mm wide and a strip 30mm wide, then I just had to chop the pieces off to length with my drop saw.
Thanks John. There is only one Industrial Plastics Supplier in Ballarat so I will go annoy them.
All you need David are 2 more of the bolts used at the bottom and chuck the big ones. Put the new ones in the top.
Make sure the plastic spacers step down as they come out. Place a washer on the outer end on the bottom spacer so the spring won't fall off. I placed a diagram in here somewhere a long time ago but now I can't find it so I have done another one:
EDIT: If you are one of those people in the habit of only using one spring you will not have to purchase any new bolts. Just use the bottom one from the side you dont use.
Last edited by ballaratdragons; 21-03-2005 at 06:55 PM.
