i noticed antares optical has a new design tube ring/rotator out- the dovetail looks superduty, i like the idea of side and top supports with the rings having ballbearings- so far they theyre made for 9"-12" & 14" OTA as far as i know- john http://www.antaresoptical.com/new.htm
Actually, I just posted a query about these yesterday! I am still waiting for a reply from them, I guess it was Sunday when I posted on Monday (Australia time). It doesn't seem anyone in Australia distributes them. I think the 9" would be suitable for my 8", I expect the tube would be about an inch bigger. Hmm...they say "starting at $299". I thought this would have been for something for a 6"....that would make the "cheapest" a 9" and suitable for me. That's comes to about AU$400 which is not cheap, but it would take me ages to machine up something in the garage at the weekend. It would also save me contorting my body around!
When i saw this thread i thought great maybe an affordable rotating ring system Oh well not so affordable.
This link shows the US$ retail http://www.scopestuff.com/ss_arrs.htm
I got on the net yesterday and sent 11 emails to Antares distributors concerning the tube rotators. This morning I was inundated with replies from 8 of them. The first to reply was O'Neil's in Canada (10 minutes!), so I am currently bouncing some details to them. Apparently you have to remove the mirror cell from the back of the scope to slide them over...never done that before, but I had to do a lot of work on the scope a few months ago when it fell off the mount so this is just another step in the learning experience of astronomy.
I think they should be very popular judging from the emails I have received so far from the distributors...I expect the price may come down in the next 12 months as they get moving. At the moment, each one is assembled only when ordered, production is beginning in earnest around August. They really are "NEW".
At the moment, I would say I am 80% sure I will buy one. I have a friend and nephew who are in wheelchairs and these would make it quite easy to swing it around for them to see and then back to me. If I get a set, I will make sure I take plenty of photos as I attach them and any problems encountered plus my final judgement.
scopestuff and joe Oneil are pretty good with the prices- you may want to check out island eyepiece and meridian telescope, they both deal with antares too
I have just put in my order for the rings. My scope tube is 237mm in diameter (9.33") so I have ordered a set of 9.5's. The prices varied a lot from CN$240 to US$299, with delivery from $20 to $110... I have ordered it from O'Neil as they were the first to respond and the price is reasonable. He should have the order in the inbox when he comes to work in the morning. Now I just have to wait.....is it here yet?...still waiting...
Oh well not so affordable.
