Go Back   IceInSpace > Equipment > DIY Observatories

Reply
 
Thread Tools Rate Thread
  #61  
Old 06-07-2024, 07:56 PM
anthony2302749's Avatar
anthony2302749
Registered User

anthony2302749 is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 508
Quote:
Originally Posted by Leo.G View Post
That's looking amazing Anthony!
Reply With Quote
  #62  
Old 06-07-2024, 08:19 PM
anthony2302749's Avatar
anthony2302749
Registered User

anthony2302749 is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 508
Sliding Shutter

Today's job was putting together the rollers for the shutter. I had previously cut out and assembled two plywood arc that matched the radii of the dome opening. I then drilled an attached ten 20mm rollers to each one, then attached them to the shutter frame using aluminium flat bar; this is only a temporary, have a nicer solution which I will implement in the coming days

Put the whole unit on the dome and with great relief the shutter rolled smoothly along the tracks without an issue. Very happy with the result so far.

Cheers
Attached Thumbnails
Click for full-size image (20240706_132432.jpg)
198.2 KB81 views
Click for full-size image (20240706_133837.jpg)
201.0 KB112 views
Click for full-size image (20240706_134924.jpg)
116.2 KB115 views
Click for full-size image (20240706_135248.jpg)
102.7 KB76 views
Click for full-size image (20240706_162703.jpg)
131.1 KB60 views
Click for full-size image (20240706_162715.jpg)
98.8 KB49 views
Click for full-size image (20240706_162721.jpg)
67.7 KB73 views
Click for full-size image (20240706_162945.jpg)
88.4 KB77 views

Last edited by anthony2302749; 07-07-2024 at 06:07 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #63  
Old 10-07-2024, 11:05 AM
Leo.G (Leo)
Registered User

Leo.G is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Lithgow, NSW, Australia
Posts: 1,063
That's a very impressive build Anthony!
Here's a weird question, did you waste a lot of ply doing the large radius bends?
It's stopped me doing certain builds in the past, knowing I'd only get a few large radius bends out of each sheet and marine grade ply being somewhat expensive.
I have resorted to doing stacks of thin strips bent and glued for smaller jobs, nothing like a dome though. That I haven't tried building and wouldn't have a suitable place (or room, or area unobstructed by neighbours trees) in the back yard to put one.
One day I'll win lotto and buy a property where I can have a dome. I'll probably drop dead before that happens.
Though if I were to win I'd probably be too busy playing with expensive Italian motorbikes.........
Reply With Quote
  #64  
Old 10-07-2024, 04:49 PM
anthony2302749's Avatar
anthony2302749
Registered User

anthony2302749 is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 508
Quote:
Originally Posted by Leo.G View Post
That's a very impressive build Anthony!
Here's a weird question, did you waste a lot of ply doing the large radius bends?
It's stopped me doing certain builds in the past, knowing I'd only get a few large radius bends out of each sheet and marine grade ply being somewhat expensive.
I have resorted to doing stacks of thin strips bent and glued for smaller jobs, nothing like a dome though. That I haven't tried building and wouldn't have a suitable place (or room, or area unobstructed by neighbours trees) in the back yard to put one.
One day I'll win lotto and buy a property where I can have a dome. I'll probably drop dead before that happens.
Though if I were to win I'd probably be too busy playing with expensive Italian motorbikes.........
Hi Leo

There is minimal loss of plywood when cutting the radius bends. I used a 6.4mm router tip for the cutting as recommended, so possible loss 12.8mm in saw dust. After the initial cut, the scrap plywood between each radius would be about 15mm at its thickest. On a good setup you could utilise say 80% to 90% (ballpark figure) of the plywood as usable timber.

Cheers
Reply With Quote
  #65  
Old 10-07-2024, 05:10 PM
anthony2302749's Avatar
anthony2302749
Registered User

anthony2302749 is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 508
Rejigged the shutter and installed the tracks.

Past couple of days I have rework the Shutter and the track that the shutter rolls along. The shutter I replaced the aluminium for plywood block to affix the roller to the shutter frame, a workable solution, probably still need to tweak it a bit.

As for the tracks I ditched the colour bond strip for aluminium 25mm flat bar. After returning two pieces of 25mm by 3m aluminium flat bar to Bunnings for a refund of $28. I then when to Action Aluminium and picked up four pieces of 25mm by 4m aluminium flat bar for $30. Note, don't skimp.

Method used to create the tracks was to layer up the aluminium and yellow tongue and gluing them into place with Gorilla Glue ensuring everything was square and aligned correctly. Once dry screwed into place.

End result is the shutter now roll smoothly over the dome.

Cheers
Attached Thumbnails
Click for full-size image (20240707_171347.jpg)
138.8 KB76 views
Click for full-size image (20240708_131106.jpg)
86.6 KB90 views
Click for full-size image (20240708_144646.jpg)
77.3 KB78 views
Click for full-size image (20240708_155914.jpg)
79.0 KB84 views
Click for full-size image (20240709_110045.jpg)
97.1 KB88 views
Click for full-size image (20240709_164031.jpg)
120.9 KB88 views
Click for full-size image (20240710_172620.jpg)
75.0 KB74 views
Click for full-size image (20240710_172946.jpg)
110.0 KB81 views
Reply With Quote
  #66  
Old 11-07-2024, 11:09 AM
Leo.G (Leo)
Registered User

Leo.G is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Lithgow, NSW, Australia
Posts: 1,063
You'd have to be extremely happy with your results Anthony, the dome looks amazing and it's easy to see how much work you've put into it.

Bunnings are thieves when it comes to steel and aluminium. I can buy 6 metre lengths (or 6.5M) from a steel supplier in Bathurst for less than a 1 metre length of the same thing from Bunnings, same with steel.
Bugger, I drove straight past the other day taking my son to an ENT in Orange and never thought to grab some stuff I needed. I have to take my son to Bathurst for an MRI next Monday, I better write a list.
I don't like driving (it's a migraine thing) and while Bathurst is only 45 minutes away I seldom go there.
Reply With Quote
  #67  
Old 13-07-2024, 03:22 PM
anthony2302749's Avatar
anthony2302749
Registered User

anthony2302749 is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 508
Bottom Shutter

Been a couple of busied days on the observatory build. This post is about the construction of the bottom shutter. Fairly straight forward job.
Attached Thumbnails
Click for full-size image (20240711_163539.jpg)
119.9 KB96 views
Click for full-size image (20240711_163554.jpg)
127.7 KB51 views
Click for full-size image (20240711_174201.jpg)
87.8 KB59 views
Click for full-size image (20240711_174216.jpg)
97.5 KB61 views
Reply With Quote
  #68  
Old 13-07-2024, 03:41 PM
anthony2302749's Avatar
anthony2302749
Registered User

anthony2302749 is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 508
Main Shutter is nearly complete.

I have made some more improvement to the Main Shutter, one being the roller bearings. I was not happy with them affixed to the timber, so I remounted them on right angle aluminium and then attached them to the shutter frame. If I need to replace one, it just makes the job easier. Also need to fix the spacing between the out-roller frame and the inner frame due to the remounting of the rollers.

Final task was to cover the Shutter frame with 3mm plywood. This was done with the Shutter frame in place and glued, covered with ply, stapled into position. Only task left is the cleaning up overhanging plywood, fill in the holes, sand and fiberglass the edges for waterproofing.

How well does it work, very well, Happy with the results.

So, the dome as a whole is almost complete.

Cheers
Attached Thumbnails
Click for full-size image (20240712_155344.jpg)
87.8 KB113 views
Click for full-size image (20240712_160047.jpg)
128.7 KB142 views
Click for full-size image (20240712_175120.jpg)
71.4 KB112 views
Click for full-size image (20240713_143915.jpg)
123.9 KB86 views
Click for full-size image (20240713_151854.jpg)
110.6 KB95 views
Click for full-size image (20240713_155202.jpg)
102.8 KB92 views
Click for full-size image (20240713_155243.jpg)
116.6 KB136 views
Click for full-size image (20240713_155253.jpg)
119.7 KB90 views

Last edited by anthony2302749; 13-07-2024 at 04:21 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #69  
Old 21-07-2024, 06:18 AM
alan meehan's Avatar
alan meehan (Alan)
Registered User

alan meehan is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: maryland newcastle AUSTRALIA
Posts: 1,835
What a great journey ANTHONY you are a great craftsman good luck on your retirement enjoy
Reply With Quote
  #70  
Old 21-07-2024, 06:43 PM
anthony2302749's Avatar
anthony2302749
Registered User

anthony2302749 is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 508
Quote:
Originally Posted by alan meehan View Post
What a great journey ANTHONY you are a great craftsman good luck on your retirement enjoy
Reply With Quote
  #71  
Old 21-07-2024, 06:53 PM
anthony2302749's Avatar
anthony2302749
Registered User

anthony2302749 is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 508
Progress to date on the dome.

Since my last post I have completed assembly of the shutter track. This required the addition of the top aluminium strip which was aligned and screwed to the yellow tongue. Some minor teething problems with binding caused by the aluminium strip rubbing against the support blocks of the shutter rollers, this was correctly readily easy by trimming the support blocks by 5mm.

Also position and affixed the bottom shutter.

The Dome is 90% complete.

cheers
Attached Thumbnails
Click for full-size image (20240719_120347.jpg)
78.6 KB67 views
Click for full-size image (20240720_131256.jpg)
118.7 KB93 views
Click for full-size image (20240720_131304.jpg)
126.2 KB64 views
Click for full-size image (20240720_131321.jpg)
115.0 KB104 views
Click for full-size image (20240720_131335.jpg)
99.2 KB106 views
Click for full-size image (20240720_131625.jpg)
37.7 KB73 views
Click for full-size image (20240720_131639.jpg)
39.2 KB85 views
Click for full-size image (20240720_131718.jpg)
115.0 KB82 views
Reply With Quote
  #72  
Old 21-07-2024, 06:59 PM
anthony2302749's Avatar
anthony2302749
Registered User

anthony2302749 is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 508
Start of the observatory build

So today was the beginning of the observatory build which is going to be a square structure. The process that I have adopted is to construct the roof/Dome support structure first. This will make the process easier with mounting the support ring and rollers prior to installation. Who wants to be up and down a ladder all day.

Also have completed the assembly of 16 rollers for the dome to run on.

Cheers
Attached Thumbnails
Click for full-size image (20240721_115408.jpg)
186.3 KB79 views
Click for full-size image (20240721_142928.jpg)
194.7 KB67 views
Click for full-size image (20240721_143259.jpg)
180.5 KB57 views
Click for full-size image (20240721_193536.jpg)
125.4 KB63 views
Reply With Quote
  #73  
Old 24-07-2024, 12:50 PM
Leo.G (Leo)
Registered User

Leo.G is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Lithgow, NSW, Australia
Posts: 1,063
That's going to end up being an amazing build Anthony. The attention to detail is a credit to your skills.
I'm sure you're going to spend many great nights in the dome once completed.
Silly question, what coating are you going to finish it in?
Reply With Quote
  #74  
Old 25-07-2024, 07:21 AM
LonelySpoon (Neville)
Registered User

LonelySpoon is offline
 
Join Date: May 2022
Location: Manton
Posts: 287
Bunnings has a preparation undercoat that will stick to epoxy. It works well. You probably need to find someone in the paint dept without acne to find it- I had to.

Going to look great!

Neville
LSO
Reply With Quote
  #75  
Old 28-07-2024, 02:05 PM
anthony2302749's Avatar
anthony2302749
Registered User

anthony2302749 is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 508
Quote:
Originally Posted by LonelySpoon View Post
Bunnings has a preparation undercoat that will stick to epoxy. It works well. You probably need to find someone in the paint dept without acne to find it- I had to.

Going to look great!

Neville
LSO
Reply With Quote
  #76  
Old 28-07-2024, 02:34 PM
anthony2302749's Avatar
anthony2302749
Registered User

anthony2302749 is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 508
Continuation of the roof frame while dodge the rain.

Progress to date. Finished off the frame for the roof/dome support. As I only need to cover the corners, I decided to keep it simple and go for a flat roof design, using 17mm CD Plywood which will be waterproofed.

The decision to go with a flat roof was based more or less on the need to keep the structure within the 3m council rule and the over complicated carpentry to angle the corners. So, it was stick with the KISS principle.

Also assembled the base ring which will be used to mount the roller bearings.

All up, looking the way I have planned in my head.

Cheers
Attached Thumbnails
Click for full-size image (20240726_131722.jpg)
155.2 KB95 views
Click for full-size image (20240726_140404.jpg)
123.5 KB88 views
Click for full-size image (20240727_104206.jpg)
185.5 KB79 views
Click for full-size image (20240727_110905.jpg)
189.3 KB82 views
Click for full-size image (20240728_112525.jpg)
160.2 KB106 views
Click for full-size image (20240728_125406.jpg)
190.3 KB135 views
Reply With Quote
  #77  
Old 28-07-2024, 07:33 PM
Boozlefoot's Avatar
Boozlefoot
SQM 21.98 mag./arc sec2

Boozlefoot is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: As far from Suburbia as practical
Posts: 450
https://dandenongcastors.com.au/coll...-transfer-unit
Reply With Quote
  #78  
Old 28-07-2024, 08:55 PM
anthony2302749's Avatar
anthony2302749
Registered User

anthony2302749 is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 508
Quote:
Originally Posted by Boozlefoot View Post
Did consider that style of caster but from my research they don’t work well particularly with metal on wood, If the wood is soft it will cut in. Best solution would be to attach a metal base to the dome ring for it to work properly which I did consider but found it to be somewhat difficult and time consuming. I have made my on roller that will do the job.

Thanks for your advice.

Cheers.
Reply With Quote
  #79  
Old 29-07-2024, 12:07 PM
Leo.G (Leo)
Registered User

Leo.G is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Lithgow, NSW, Australia
Posts: 1,063
Those multi-direction rollers definitely wouldn't be good rotating on a timber base as you've already decided, the wider units you've made up will be much better. Even were you to put a steel ring the roller would still eventually groove the steel depending on the thickness of the sheet and working with thick sheet steel is not easy, not light, far from simple to cut and would add significant cost.

Overall every bit of your construction is looking amazing. Did you work with timber as a trade/job or just an interest?

Last edited by Leo.G; 29-07-2024 at 12:41 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #80  
Old 30-07-2024, 07:11 AM
LonelySpoon (Neville)
Registered User

LonelySpoon is offline
 
Join Date: May 2022
Location: Manton
Posts: 287
I haven't found anything better than 1" steel tube and trucks made with 4 skateboard wheels. Holds up my 3m dome no probs, and it rotates with a hand push or wiper motor.

Neville
LSO
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +10. The time is now 02:09 PM.

Powered by vBulletin Version 3.8.7 | Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Advertisement
Bintel
Advertisement