Scope mod....

[Tony Leece]

Had a little spare time at work and home (for a change:smile: ) so i thought i'd have a go and modify the old Skywatcher newt.
I was fed up with trying to collimate the thing with the tiny m4 grub screws that are on this thing so:

1833

I lathed up a few knobs and hey presto. it was now a joy to collimate....

But i felt it needed a bit more..........

Tony.

[Tony Leece]

Inspired by Ed Roca's excellent dob design, i thought i'd stick a cooling fan on.

First i used the old cell end plate to make a template out of transparent plasic (an old file divider). Top image.

Second image is the plastic template

This template was then used to make the plate (in the last image).
It was made from 1mm mild steel sheet, cropped on a guillotine and the holes cut with standard hole saws in a pillar drill.

1834

Tony........

[Tony Leece]

I next got the fan (a normal 12v computer CPU cooling fan) and quickly realised that the three air flow holes in my newly made plate did not allow for the 4 bolts that would hold the fan on.
So i knocked up a small (mid) plate that had differently spaced holes to accomodate this.

The delow image shows both plates in possition.

1835

The triangular plate is attached to the cell with three m5 bolts and the square mid plate is attached via four m6 bolts and nyloc nuts. The fan will rest on top of these nuts.

Tony.......

[Tony Leece]

Lastly the cooling fan is attached.

1836

After this i wanted to tweek the new collimation knobs at the primary end.
The first ones where ok, however, i could not lock them off as the knob itself was in the way of the locking grub-screw.
So i redrilled new m5 holes (as opposed to the old m4 holes) in a position where the collimation knobs were not in the way.

1837

Hope these images and the descritions are ok. Please feel free to ask anything.

Cheers...
Tony....

[Radar]

That's awesome Tony. Has it been road tested yet?

Ray

[Tony Leece]

Finaly, i replaced the mirror holding clips (as i only ever had 2 clips) and that about finishes the build.
1838
I do need to trim a couple of long bolts down, but that will only be a 2 minute job.


Here is how the new back end of the scope now looks (haven't put the mirror back yet). But i'm still quite proud of it:woot:

1839

I now need to wire it all up :Oh_No:

This is where i am sorely lacking in experience.
I bought a small switch and a battery holder (for the square 9 volt things).
The fan is 12v and i have attached the 9v battery to it and it does seem to work ok.
I was wondering if anyone would be able to tell me the right way to go about this.
Thanks all..........
Tony..........

[Tony Leece]

Thanks Ray mate.
I didn't finish the build until 9 last night and still need to do the wiring.
Cheers
Tony.....

[Tenacious Del]

nice mod mate. its a shame that telescope manufacturers don't put large grub screws on in the first place.

[Tony Leece]

nice mod mate. its a shame that telescope manufacturers don't put large grub screws on in the first place.

Hopefuly they will catch on to things like this, it will only make for more desirable scopes. Thanks for the kind coment Del:thumbsupmate:

Here are the last two pics: 1 st the mirror backin its cell (it does look a lot dirtier in this image than it actualy is).
And lastly the finished thing all wired up and ready to go...... When, of course the clouds bugger off that is... sorry anyone in Perth, its my fault:itsme!:
Tony.....


1841

1842

[CanisMajorTom]

nice modifications mate. some people have a knack for DIY stuff. I wouldn't know where to begin. :frown:

Tom

[Tony Leece]

Thanks Tom.
I am lucy in that i work with a lot of guys that have years of experience in engineering, woodwork, DIY and the like.
So i ask questions..... MANY questions:duh: :biggrin:
All the best mate........
Tony........

[Tony Leece]

OOPS, i ment lucky, not lucy.
I don't have a female alter ego:biggrin: :biggrin: