Viewbank Observatory - Page 3

anthony2302749 · #41 02-12-2007, 02:58 PM

Hi All

Did some more work on the observatory to day. Completed the framing for the floor today. Tuesday/Wednesday will see the laying of the Yellow Tongue Flooring.

Anthony

anthony2302749 · #42 02-12-2007, 03:19 PM

Hi Again

Here is a couple of photos of the 14" LX200R that I will be using in the obsevatory. The mount that you see is an EQ6 dual axis drive, it has had some much need modification so that it can support the 14". First mod was to replace the original counterweight shaft with 1" treaded rod and the addition of 3x 7.5Kg Gym weights (total weight 22.5Kg). Each Gym weight has been fitted with a treaded insert which allows the weight to be moved up and down the counterweight shaft for more accurate balancing. The second mod was to fit a G11 Saddle plate for a more securer and rigid connection between the mount and the telescope.
Finally I know what some people may say "An EQ6 with a 14"

are you mad

. For the time being it will do the job that I requirer, that is Visual/Planetary Imaging. I do plan to purchase or build a suitable mount in the future for this scope. I like the idea of building my our mount so a Lathe and Milling Machine may come first before the mount.

Anthony

h0ughy (David) · #43 02-12-2007, 05:29 PM

oh that is infinity and beyond

citivolus (Ric) · #44 03-12-2007, 02:07 AM

That scope is bloody huge. The first shot looks like a bobblehead

spearo (Frank) · #45 03-12-2007, 06:06 PM

14" LX200R
drooling....
you'll have an AWESOME setup
frank

matt · #46 03-12-2007, 06:45 PM

Classic!!!!

Talk about taking the strain.

And here was I concerned a 12" LX200R OTA was too heavy for an EQ6!

anthony2302749 · #47 03-12-2007, 10:53 PM

Talking about taking the strain try lifting the 14" on to the mount every night no wonder I am building the observatory

.

By the way Damain Peach is a brave man to cart a 14" plus mount plus and all the rest of his gear, half way around the world to image Jupiter, the man needs a metal.

Quote:

Originally Posted by matt

Classic!!!!

Talk about taking the strain.

And here was I concerned a 12" LX200R OTA was too heavy for an EQ6!

anthony2302749 · #48 03-12-2007, 11:00 PM

Drooling is prohibited, it tarnishes the nice blue paint work and it is a devil to clean of the correction plate.

Quote:

Originally Posted by spearo

14" LX200R
drooling....
you'll have an AWESOME setup
frank

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #49 03-12-2007, 11:45 PM

Anthony, it's looking good mate

Did Roger give you all this time off to do it?

anthony2302749 · #50 04-12-2007, 07:21 PM

Hi All

Well I got the floor down today, which is a good mile stone. The roof is next, this part of the project will take sometime to complete due to the design of and welding together of the roof. I am sure that most people will be intrested in my concept of the roll-off roof so I will keep you posted.

Anthony

spearo (Frank) · #51 04-12-2007, 09:05 PM

hahahaha

Quote:

Originally Posted by anthony2302749

Drooling is prohibited, it tarnishes the nice blue paint work and it is a devil to clean of the correction plate.

anthony2302749 · #52 11-12-2007, 03:52 PM

Afternoon All

Made the decision to start the constrution of the piers today. Ordered the material this morning from Handy Steel Stock in West Heidelberg, the sale Rep said the order would not be ready for a couple of days which was O.K. with me. But I got a phone call from Handy Steel about 2pm saying that my order is ready, well $132 later I am a pround own of eight piece of scrap metal soon to be welded together to make two piers.

I estimate that each pier will cost about $200 each to complete, not bad for a DIY job. So with a bit of luck I should have the first one completed by christmas and in place and with the 14" mounted on top for the opposition of Mars

Anthony

turbo_pascale (Rob) · #53 11-12-2007, 08:49 PM

Anthony,

Has the Lymax cat cooler arrived yet? Your thoughts if it has....

Turbo

anthony2302749 · #54 12-12-2007, 08:38 AM

Not yet, they were out of stock at the time of ordering, so a one week wait has turn out to be a three to four week wait. Not much of a problem as yet but once I have the peir in place for the 14" it will be. By the way I order the Cooler when the Aussie Dollar was over 90 cent now its at 87 cent how unluck can I be.

Anthony

Quote:

Originally Posted by turbo_pascale

Anthony,

Has the Lymax cat cooler arrived yet? Your thoughts if it has....

Turbo

anthony2302749 · #55 23-12-2007, 07:23 PM

Hi All and Merry Christmas

Just a quick post to share some photo's of peir number one, still has some work to do on it but it is ready to bolt on to the concrete pad. For those who are intrested I had the top plate milled to accepted the EQ6 Mount. A 30mm hole was bored through the plate steel and then 5mm by 65mm diamater recess was milled in to the plate to fit the base of the mount. I will add a photo of the milled plate later.

Anthony

anthony2302749 · #56 23-01-2008, 09:22 PM

With Christmas over and a weeks holiday I have finally got sometime to work on the observatory. A this stage the plan is to get the roof in place so as to offer some weather protection so as to set up a telescope. I have had some problem with the overall design of the roof with several ideas being dumped before choosing the final design (see photos).

Prior to commencing this part of the project I had framed up the interior of the observatory for future paneling and to add support for the roof (also a great excuse to buy a nail gun). You can see from the two photos the 90mm x 90mmx 5m beams sit on and then are bolted to the end framing. On the exterior, four 50mm x 50mm steel tubing were then bolted on to the beam, these will act as the tracks for the roof, the wheels will run agains the beam as a guide. As the beams are not full width to carry the whole roof a wheel (one at both end of a roof panels) will run below the track so as to hold the roof down and in position. I am currently working on these and should have some photos in a day or so to give you and idea what I am talking about.

Anthony

anthony2302749 · #57 23-01-2008, 09:28 PM

By the way Turbo the Lymax cat cooler did arrive after ordering it six weeks ago. Have had a quick look at it but can't use it until the roof is on the observatory and the 14" is in place. I will keep up posted when I do.

Anthony

Quote:

Originally Posted by turbo_pascale

Anthony,

Has the Lymax cat cooler arrived yet? Your thoughts if it has....

Turbo

turbo_pascale (Rob) · #58 24-01-2008, 01:30 PM

Look forward to a report!
I wasted several hours the other night trying to image thinking the scope had cooled enough, but clearly it had not.... an hour doesn't really cut it.

I'm tempted to make one myself, I have lots of "recycled" PC fans (one nice 120mm one that should cause a tornado in there. Just got to get motivated enough to do it.

AndrewJ · #59 24-01-2008, 01:41 PM

Gday Turbo

Get Freddy to help you with the design
I'd luv to see a cooler running 500W of stacked Peltiers

Andrew

( only joking Fred

)

anthony2302749 · #60 24-01-2008, 07:48 PM

Hi All

Some new shots of the roll of roof. Will fill in the details later as I am still working on the roof.