18" Telekit

[Marke (Mark)]

Marc yep its a big step up from 16" to 18" + and the telekit is not the most
compact .. oh and trust you to notice the matching colours !

[Logieberra (Logan)]

Mark, wow! You've been a busy boy! We're up there in a few weeks. Quick squiz?

[Marke (Mark)]

Logan no problem mate just give me a call when you get up

[Marke (Mark)]

Popped the mirror in and checked balance and its surprisingly good with
the weight on the laser collimator enough to balance it , this would correspond to a large eyepiece .
Collimation was very easy with the barlowed laser and the catseye centre spot really lights up with the laser .
Have run into an issue which I hope to sort out soon in that when using the pole closest to the focuser to move in Alt the clamp slowly twists changing collimation , it seems to do it quite easily .
It maybe something I have or haven't done but hoping to find a solution soon.
With a bit of luck I may drag it outside and see if it all comes to focus , fingers crossed

[Marke (Mark)]

Well took it outside to quickly test collimation and guess what ...... it snaps to focus at about mid mid point using a 27mm panoptic ... relief
the brief views given no cooling look great but what grabbed me most is
how vibrant star colours are , dont remember seeing them so obvious and intense .
Have a little job to do now in bracing the truss pole clamps to stop twisting but Im on top of it

[gary]

Hi Mark,

Looks fabulous and I hope it brings countless hours of observing enjoyment
for both your wife and yourself.

Thank you for taking the time to chronicle your experience during the build
and the photos you have posted were interesting to look at.

Best Regards

Gary Kopff
Managing Director
Wildcard Innovations Pty. Ltd.
20 Kilmory Place, Mount Kuring-Gai
NSW. 2080. Australia
Phone +61-2-9457-9049
Fax +61-2-9457-9593
sales@wildcard-innovations.com.au
http://www.wildcard-innovations.com.au

[Marke (Mark)]

Gary thank you for your service and support.
I was all set to put the encoders on last night but do you
think I could find a 9mm drill bit for the Az encoder ? bah ... off to Bunnings again today.

[Marke (Mark)]

Just a couple quick pics with AN encoders fitted and the stalk / clamp
Im just putting together a small top board to screw the hand control
cradle onto . Getting some short encoder cables just to make it neater
Not sure what I am going to do with the cables yet , whether to keep them attached to stalk and unplug or leave them plugged in and tie them to stalk
when needed.

[barx1963 (Malcolm)]

Mate
That is such a neat job. Very impressive.
When is first light anticipated to happen?

Malcolm

[Marke (Mark)]

Originally Posted by barx1963

Mate
That is such a neat job. Very impressive.
When is first light anticipated to happen?

Malcolm

Thanks
It got a little light last weekend when I took it out in the yard
to check if the poles where the right length and that it would come
to focus and that was all good with the brief view looking great
I have a few finishing touches I want to add and I need to fix the
design fault with the truss poles . Officially next new moon off to a dark
site for the full workout at last !

[Marke (Mark)]

Little update ... almost done bar some finishing touches . I have been working on fixing the twisting in the UC truss pole clamps . I made up these little Al plates and now the whole structure is much more rigid and secure .
Hopefully will post the final pics soon ... if I can ever get out side again with it

[Marke (Mark)]

All finished and ready to go !!!
Quick look before dark already best views of Saturn I have seen
in any scope .
And thanks to everyone for following and the positive comments

[barx1963 (Malcolm)]

Mark
Congratulations. It certainly looks awesome. Looking forward to first light reports.

Malcolm

[sn1987a (Barry)]

Sweet! . Maybe some wheelbarrow handles and a ServoCat later on?

[Marke (Mark)]

Originally Posted by barx1963

Mark
Congratulations. It certainly looks awesome. Looking forward to first light reports.

Malcolm

Gave it a test drive tonight and all good , hopefully weather will be good
next new moon and we will get away for that

[Marke (Mark)]

Originally Posted by sn1987a

Sweet! . Maybe some wheelbarrow handles and a ServoCat later on?

Barry it has wheelbarrow handles I took them off when I got out side .
A servo cat is on the cards at some point ... when I can afford it

[barx1963 (Malcolm)]

You have to update your sig!

Malcolm

[Marke (Mark)]

Originally Posted by barx1963

You have to update your sig!

Malcolm

yeah good point

[gary]

Looks fabulous Mark. I guess New Moon can't roll around fast enough!

Best Regards

Gary Kopff
Managing Director
Wildcard Innovations Pty. Ltd.
20 Kilmory Place
Mount Kuring-Gai NSW 2080
Australia
Phone +61-2-9457-9049
Fax +61-2-9457-9593
sales@wildcard-innovations.com.au
http://www.wildcard-innovations.com.au

[Marke (Mark)]

Thanks Gary I hope the weather holds but in the mean time I have to get my head around using the Argo. Got it pointing well last night till I turned it off and on then couldn't work out the star align again....back to the manual