don't you have to let the concrete cure for AT LEAST a week before you put any strain on it. Looks like you'll miss the oculation after all, just like us northerners
Paul,
Good to see somebody else going through the trials of the observatory (apart from the back I mean),just thought I'd send a quick photo of my pier set-up, 3.5 metres and 250mm dia, I had to get up to balcony height with the stainless steel guide ropes it doesn't move a millimetre (it worried me for a while being so long).
Top plate is painted and set into position and levelled.
The super wedge has been bolted into position and awaiting the scope to set the final position of latitude and azimuth. I will have to get a friend over to help me put the scope on the wedge (too heavy at the moment).
Once that is done and the wedge is set into the final position then I can build the deck. The reason for this is that I want to know that the pier is currently closely aligned with north south. If it is not then I need to move the pier. Much easier to do this without the deck in the way. Now to account for this I have made the sliding holes on the top plate the same size as those on the super wedge. Only a huge error in azimuth will require the pier to be moved. However, I want to be cautious all the same.
Anyway here is the latest shots of the top plate and wedge set into position.
Lx 200 is now set in place ready for star drift alignment tonight. First test drive on new pier. Hopefully the basic alignment of the pier is good and I will have enough play to polar align. Anyway here is the shot.
Thanks to my mate Nick who lifted the scope into position for me.
I think you need a wider top on your ladder. (Sorry workplace health and safety officer coming out in me ) Looks great Paul, you won't know yourself with all the extra views you're going to get now. Congradualtions and well done. Ever thought of combining all this info into a review? I'd be really interested in the amount of flexure and movement in the system once its up and fully functioning.
Thanks Paul, I am planning on doing a how to do it when the deck is fully completed. Will look into things like flexure and the like when I write it up.
That looks excellent Paul H. Well done, you should be proud yourself.
Ditto on the ladder, my supervisor recently fell off a ladder as she missed the step - wasn't wide enough!
Hope your back is feeling better mate.
PS: what do the neighbours think? Looks like you'll have a good view of their yard too
Thanks Silvie, neighbours are cool, I cleared it with them prior to construction. Ladder is only temporary and deck is yet to come. Will post pics of that construction too. Just needs a little planning to complete. But am very happy how it looks at present.
Looking sweet Paul.......just one question though whats the size / rating of the adjustable bolts connecting the two plates. Once the deck is done are you planning for a enclosure of some sort to keep the OTA in place .
Stuart, the bolts are 12mm steel bolts and they should hold 45 kg each. So they are more than adequate to maintain the position of the top plate under slew.
As for Weather control, that is something that I am currently toying with. I am think that I will put a small enclosure around the outside of the scope on the fence line and then a sliding roof on top that slides on to the pegola. Or a roof that can be just pulled off when I want to use the scope. Don't really know yet and I am sure that this will change with further development.
Looks great Paul, do you have enough room to move the full 360deg around the pier?, obviously when the deck is finished.
I think I am going to have to go down the pier road on my observatory. Only prob is the floor is 5' above the ground. Would need a monster pier probably at least 10' above the ground..mind boggles.
Yes, there is at least two foot all the way around the scope. I can move freely all the way round. It is just the perspective of the shot that makes it look like there is not much room.
The wedge is directly bolted to the top plate and that is levelled into position with the cats eye bubble and double checked against a short level.
Peter as for pier design you could use something similar, but would need stabilizing vanes down the sides of the pier.
Well bought the timber for the deck today, well all except the actual decking boards. So might venture out this afternoon and try to do a little without straining by back. Which incidently is much better, although no where near where it was four weeks ago. More Chiro today and many more to come. Lucky I work from home or else I would be in trouble. This is not covered by workcover as the current injury happened whilst doing a home activity.
I am in the designing stage for a pier mount now to suit the eq6 (when I can afford to get it) will be made of some stuff I can find around the factory where I work. I try and collect as much "throw away" material as possible before building. Usually getting the boss' permission before doing anything.
May look similar to yours paul except I will add the vanes for stability.
Well I have completed the deck today, only yesterday and two hours this morning to complete. Just painting to go and the steps onto the deck.
I have taken some shots and will explain each in turn.
The first one is the angle of the observatory that I see from my back door. You can see the completed deck and pier with scope on top. I rather like the look of it now and will paint the decking blood red. The dressing and posts a black colour. The green fence will also be painted with the same black. I hve decided to make the colour scheme in the back yard black red and ochre with bright blue pavers.
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) Looks great Paul, you won't know yourself with all the extra views you're going to get now. Congradualtions and well done. Ever thought of combining all this info into a review? I'd be really interested in the amount of flexure and movement in the system once its up and fully functioning.
