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Post by kevinbarker on Jan 22, 2014 12:46:51 GMT -5
 I have attached a picture of my ota with the first coat of top coat paint on it. The bare ota is about 5.5 kg. Kevin |
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Post by Mike on Jan 22, 2014 23:19:48 GMT -5
Thanks Kevin I'm looking forward to continued updates on the progress.
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Post by astromanuk on Jan 23, 2014 11:25:59 GMT -5
Hi Kevin, that looks really good. My material of choice to work with is wood. My trouble is in making things too robust. 5.5kg seems pretty lightweight to me. Can't wait to see it all fit together!
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Post by kevinbarker on Jan 25, 2014 1:20:46 GMT -5
I have attached a picture of my ota with the first coat of top coat paint on it. The bare ota is about 5.5 kg. Kevin I have made some great progress as can be seen in the pictures that follow. I screwed in the Zeiss/AP dovetail with 7 12 gauge screws. I also attached the focuser with push pull screws, It has some real beefy screws and is in theory able to be adjusted to align with the lens. I then screwed in the lens , i used three 10 gauge 38 mm wood screws so the large lens is well held. It is also push pull adjustable to allow precise collimation. I then stuck a laser through the optical train and made a mask to precisely show the centre of the 180 mm lens. With a few adjustments i was able to get pretty good alignment of the focuser to the optical axis. I then adjusted the main lens using the push pull system and an agena refractor collimator to get very close to collimation. i then mounted the telescope added a finder and a small handle. The scope rode well on the 1 b mount. I have had a 16 kg 150 mm Zeiss mak on this mount before so knew it could take the approximately 14 kg mass of this ota. Now if the clouds would only go away..... It has been a hot summers day here in Auckland Nz but the weather is due to turn around dark!!!!!! Murphy's Law Photos to follow Kevin |
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Post by kevinbarker on Jan 25, 2014 1:21:49 GMT -5
I will add some more jpegs....
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Post by kevinbarker on Jan 25, 2014 1:22:41 GMT -5
I will add some more jpegs.... |
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Post by kevinbarker on Jan 25, 2014 1:23:18 GMT -5
and some more jpegs...
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Post by kevinbarker on Jan 25, 2014 1:25:02 GMT -5
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Post by kevinbarker on Jan 25, 2014 1:26:10 GMT -5
Attachments:
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jpb30
Full Member
Posts: 84
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Post by jpb30 on Jan 25, 2014 1:54:09 GMT -5
Very nice work Kevin!!!  JP |
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Post by astromanuk on Jan 25, 2014 3:16:39 GMT -5
Thank's for including the picture of you with the 180, I hadn't realised quite how beefy the instrument was until I saw that. Workmanship on the tube looks excellent. Hope the weather improves soon!
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Post by kevinbarker on Jan 25, 2014 4:07:13 GMT -5
Thank's for including the picture of you with the 180, I hadn't realised quite how beefy the instrument was until I saw that. Workmanship on the tube looks excellent. Hope the weather improves soon! Thankfully the clouds have disapated!! I am enjoying Jupiter, This lens is no slouch!! It really gives nice sharp views. trapezium E and F a snap at about 90 X , a wealth of detail on Jupiter. Sure a fair bit of LCA but less than I'd expect. i am using a fringe killer on jupiter and their is a wealth of detail. I have to get up early so it is going to be stored soon!! kevin, Thanks Mike!!! hardin. this lens has given me a great first light!! |
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Post by Mike on Jan 25, 2014 12:33:21 GMT -5
You are most welcome Kevin. It's a privilege to be a part of it.
Mike
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