Adaptor for mating a 6" R35 to a CR6 tub

[delorme]

Would you consider making an adaptor for mating your 6" R35 to a CR6" tub? Thanks De Lorme

[Mike]

If you're talking about the Celestron 6" F8 achro refractor then yes. I am currently working on an adapter plate to attach the Istar lens cell to the Celestron counter cell. I should have them in a couple of weeks.

[bn1777]

Excellent Mike ! These will sell like hot cakes once word gets out .
Good luck mate .
Oh yes , these will also fit the f5 version as well so people can upgrade their's with an Istar lense , cool .
Brian.

[delorme]

Do you have an idea about the price of the adaptor? Thanks De Lorme

[Mike]

Actually, I don't know the price yet but I will have to keep it to a minimum or it won't be practical to buy an Istar lens also.

[delorme]

Hi Mike, Is the adaptor for the 6"R35 to a CR6" ready? De Lorme

[Mike]

No adapter. I was working with Danny Crawford who unfortunately has gone off the grid with my C6R tube and lens cell. I've made several attempts to contact him with no success. So, I would have to acquire another C6R tube. I was very fortunate to get the tube from a guy on Astromart that was parting out his old C6R. Shame is I got it really cheap. Now I'm back to square one Why do people do these things...

Mike

[delorme]

Mike, Why don't you just buy a new CR6", make the adaptor and then resale the CR6" with a new R35?
Unless you don't want to sell us a R35 lens{not enough profit}by itself. Is that the case?
I'm a little frustrated here Mike. But trying to understand how you look at things.
To buy the complete refractor just to expensive. To make a complete scope too time consuming and expensive.
The best solution would be an adaptor. If you don't make an adaptor within a month I'm going to assume
that your not going to. De Lorme

[Mike]

*

[delorme]

Mike, I see CR6" on CN,and AM all the time for between $300 and $400. It's been a year Mike.
Not 6 weeks or 6 months but a year. There's more than a few of us who were looking for this adaptor. To my mind it's either your incompetent or you want to sell us a complete refractor so you make excuses. It's been a year Mike.
Why haven't your machinist that make your tubs make a prototype? Because you did not tell them to.
If you would have just told me that there was no money in selling just the lens I would have understood.
But you make Me {us}wait a year to figure it out.
Your not going to make the adaptor and you never planned to.
There's Barride which is considerably less and has goods reviews on Cloudy nights.
I also heard that APM makes a lens for a CR6" but for considerable more. But the quality should reflect the price.
If you say your going to make something and don't after a reasonable amount of time{A YEAR} than I {we}
lose confidence and look elsewhere. It's been four years plus waiting for the Raycoor. Well where is it? De Lorme

[StephenEveleigh]

I will add my comments, even though these moments have tended to make me pull back and be avoidant. I read about Victors retrofit of a Meade AR6 with a 150/F8/R35 and thought how great that would be to replicate. He mentioned some difficulty in mounting the new objective and told readers planning to DIY to direct inquiries to Istar.

Between all the bad Synta CR6's (+ skywatcher version) and Meade AR6's (Purple planet eaters) there appears to be a sizeable market of people who want upgraded glass. Many hate the focusers just as much. I can order a moonlight and they include an adapter for the focuser. I'd be happy enough with an Istar, if it would easily mount. Antares has not supplied adapters ( for use with GSO aftermarket focusers) in a while, so there is presently a vaccum.

The Meade objective is bolted to a collar which slides over the tube. Simple and slick. I don't know what the Synta stuff looks like, but maybe you could adapt Meade's technique. Purchase an Objective with collar mount and SHAZAM!: new glass.

Istar also markets focusers, which are really good. Almost a Moonlight and far above GSO. I can safely say that if an adapter was available, I would be ordering an R35 for my AR6, and if I could add a focuser, even better.

As for De Lorme's comments about delivering; the RayCor is like nuclear fusion- everyone's for it, but the technical details are a Mother'r. We all wait in anticipation for its eventual release, but in the mean time throw this dog a frick'n bone.

The acrimony is stifling.

[Mike]

Thank you for the good information Stephen. I am taking a couple of days to think about how I want to proceed. I may have to make this retrofit venture an Istar project. It would be much easier to just machine a counter cell to replace the stock one and the lens would bolt right on. I am not familiar with Meade setup but the Celestron counter cell is unfortunately "pressed" onto the tube. I didn't see anyway of getting it off without damage to the tube. Maybe someone could enlighten me if I am wrong. So I needed an adapter to go between the old counter cell and the new Istar lens cell. Not very difficult to make but people keep thwarting my plans. I obviously was counting on the wrong person to work with me on this project.

GSO does make a retrofit for the C6R as I ordered one a few weeks ago and have it on hand. But, I don't know about the Meade version. The existing Istar stock focuser situation is down the tubes also. Danny Crawford and I worked for over a year to get them where they are. It took about four versions but we finally arrived at a good one. The demise of our business relationship took those down the drain as well as my C6R parts. This is the reason for switching to Moonlight for the foreseeable future. We are going to offer a rack and pinion version but that is in the works.

You are absolutely correct about the technical aspects of the Raycorr. We have and have had a good working design but one setback after another has kept us from producing it. We have not given up. A new arrangement with Ohara should put us back on track. Ales and I have apologized until we're blue in the face. Ales let this cat (lion) out of the bag too early and we have paid dearly for it ever since. I won't go into all the reasons because you have all heard it before.

I agree with your statement that the acrimony is stifling concerning the adapter and Raycorr.

Wish I could throw you a bigger bone but that is what got us in trouble in the first place

[boomboom]

Good reply Stephen. The Synta cell is screwed onto the tube which is an unfortunate 140mm diameter. That is why I came to the conclusion that an atm was the way to go for me, or if I had the cash a complete Isatr scope. Not much point in keeping an under sized tube with a new objective and new focuser, which is getting close to buying a new scope.
Keep at it Mike, personally I reckon a collar that screws on or is bolted on completely replacing the Synta cell is the way to go. De Lorme FWIW my build will cost about 1/3rd the price of a new 150 f12 after shipping and taxes, it just gonna take time.
Matt

[delorme]

When I flocked my CR6" I just simply took off the 3 screws and it came right off. I do not see why it would be so
difficult to attach an adaptor to the existing cell. A half an inch more in the focal length is not going to make
a difference. But I've come to the conclusion that this is not going to happen. Because if was it would have been
here some time ago. And if it wasn't possible Mike had plenty of time to tell us.
I think this is more of a business decision than a manufacturing problem.
Just not enough money to keep the doors open selling us lens only. They need to sell complete refractors
to stay in business. Very understandable. Next time just tell us you can't do it for whatever reason.
But don't wait until we get frustrated hoping that it's going to happen. De Lorme

[Mike]

Fact: there are no screws holding the counter cell on my C6R. You are looking at the wrong end of the scope. The focuser end is where the three screws are.

Fact: Istar at present had nothing to do with this adapter project. As I have stated before this is a personal project.

Fact: Istar sells far more lenses than complete telescopes. Selling lenses IS what keeps our doors open. I'm not sure why this fact is so confusing.

Fact: No one has said that a half inch would make a difference in the focal length. In fact, it would actually help to have the extra space there.

Fact: This is a manufacturing problem for me and not a business problem. As I have stated, but does not seem to compute, this has never been an Istar project.

Fact: I have never said that this was NOT possible. I said I was having problems with it.

Fact: You started this thread in August of this year (2013).

Fact: This forum is NOT for airing grievances, hurling insults or making false statements about Istar, it's employees or owners. Civilized complaints, observations or problems discussed are welcome. Grievances with Istar are to be discussed by email in a private manner.

Fact: This forum has an extremely liberal policy about the kinds of posts made. However, people do not appreciate being called a liar or incompetent.

De Lorme, your grievances have been heard loud and clear. There is no need to continue. You ARE DONE. I am asking nicely that you move on to another subject. When and if I or Istar finishes an adapter a public announcement will be made.

Mike