200mm rings

[Tony Leece]

Well, after talking to a few people, i have reconsidered the skywatcher/dob build and opted for the 200mmskywatcher being mounted on the eq5.
But being a cheap-skate i have decided to make the rings myself (from scrap at work:Chessy_Smile: ), it's using beer money after all if i buy them:eartoear:
I am fairly chuffed with what i made, but haven't attached them to the OTA yet.
All the best and thanks for looking guys.............
Tony...........


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[AstroTasmania]

Hi Tony,

Man after my own heart, they look very nice and well made, a neat simple design always works well and looks impressive. Leave them natural finish.

Use an EQ6 mount if you can, the handset is now Version 3.12, which is internet capable. Also, the EQMOD (free) works very well with this mount and a laptop via Starry Night, The Sky, Cartes Du Ciel (Free).

I have gone this way with mine as it does not need the handset and actually tracks to a finer degree. Also, pulse autoguide works with the same software.

Clear skies...

[Tony Leece]

Hi Shevill, Thanks for the kinds comments and advice.
I would love an eq6, but at the moment, home DIY comes first.:duh:
All the best mate.........
Tony........

[omaroo]

They look great Tony. I may just have to follow suit so that I can mount my 120mm refractor an an EQ5. I just can't seem to buy 118mm ID rings for love nor money.

Well done!

Cheers
Chris

[Radar]

Nice work Tony :thumbsupmate:

[phoenix]

Hey Tony


They look very professionally done. :thumbsupmate:



Cheers Jason :pipethinker:

[Tony Leece]

Thanks for the very kind comments guys.
I got he rings finished off (felt on the inside surface) and mounted it all up:Chessy_Smile:
However, it became instantly apparent (as you can see ) that the tripod i made for imaging with the 80MM refractors is a tad tall for a newt:hmm: My daugher, in the pic is 10 years old and the eyepiece is 2.2M off the floor:duh:
Will have to take em back to work and hack 500MM off them. Then i will be sorted:thumbsupmate:

Next project may be a 3 vane curved spider, or a crayford focusser (if i feel brave enough).
Thanks again............
Tony.........


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[Radar]

Rings look like they work well mate. That tripod looks good to, shame you have to hack a bit off.

Cheers

Ray

[omaroo]

Tony - looks fabulous. Same scope as one of mine - I love it. They're a great all-round travel scope, the 8". They don't take much room, and because the mirror isn't huge and weighty the collimation tends to stay bang-on perfect every time you get out of the car and set up.

If you were in Sydney I'd eagerly swap your tripod for mine. You need to go shorter, and I need a taller one for the refractor now....:hmm:

Curved spider....hmmmmmmmm :)

Well done!
Chris

[Tony Leece]

If you were in Sydney I'd eagerly swap your tripod for mine. You need to go shorter, and I need a taller one for the refractor now....:hmm:

Postage may be a bit expensive there Chris, as the legs are 50mm diameter with a 4mm wall thickness.........Heavy !.!.!.!.

Curved spider....hmmmmmmmm :)

I thought of a curved spider initially because it is suposed to eliminate diffraction spikes. I do like images with diffraction spikes, but if i could, i would preffer to shoot images without they and then, if i think the image would look better with them, put them in myself later.


Cheers Ray, but its not all bad, thanks to Stuart (berren) i now have some chrome tubing that i can make 'several' other tripod legs with.

Which reminds me Stuart, if you get to read this, have you decided on the dimensions of the tripod you want made:thumbsupmate:

All the best guys.............
Tony............

[omaroo]

Agreed on the curved vane Tony. I have to say that I'm not keen on diff. spikes in images. My 12" binoscope will have curved vanes too - as the effect is even more pronounced if the normal spider vanes (being two of them) aren't aligned absolutely pefectly - which is pretty-much impossible. I'd be interested in seeing what materials you'll use. At the last couple of star parties, it was becoming evident that the humble stainless steel ruler was making inroads......

Cheers
Chris

[Tony Leece]

I have to say that I'm not keen on diff. spikes in images

I do like them, especially looking at pictures of the old Palomar observatory plates. But i just want to be able to choose the shots i take:thumbsupmate:

Anyone know any websites with Palomar plate images, by the way? I love looking at them also the negative images:cool:
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My 12" binoscope will have curved vanes too

Those binoscope look well cool and with curved vanes they look like twin turbines from the front :cool:
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At the last couple of star parties, it was becoming evident that the humble stainless steel ruler was making inroads......

Yes, a friend from the UK made his 10" curved vanes with two steel rules and he says they work a treat.
We have various things at work i can try. Spring steel straps, ali and steel plates of different thicknesses, so it will be a matter of trying them out to see which works best. Can't wait.
The focusser will be a different matter though, we have a lathe at work which is a great help:eartoear:
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All the best Chris mate............
Tony.............

[Tony Leece]

Well i hacked em down today and just got it assembled again:Chessy_Smile:
Never owned a newt before and didn't realise the great variation of focusser position when viewing different areas of the sky. Think i should have tried to design some rotating rings if think:hmm:
As usual i couldn't try the new setup out properly as the weather gods decided some high level misty cloud where called for, will try again tommorow.
Thanks for looking all..........
Tony...........


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[Radar]

Yeah, I know the feeling on trying to get a good focusing position. I have been contorted in all kinds of strange ways. :duh:

The leg chop looks good mate. :thumbsupmate:

[Tony Leece]

I have been contorted in all kinds of strange ways.

OOH ERR MISSUS!!!!!!!!!!:Chessy_Smile:

[Radar]

OOH ERR MISSUS!!!!!!!!!!:Chessy_Smile:

lol :Chessy_Smile:

[Tony Leece]

With rotating rings now in my mind, does anyone know whether they are doable by an amateur with no CNC, or high tech machine equipment.
I really don't know how these things are designed, never having seen a set.
Anyone know of a website or anything with designs, sketches, machine drawings or anything (either fully assembled or in bits )?:thumbsupmate:
Thanks guys..........
Tony...........

[Radar]

Try these Tony -

http://www.telescopejunkies.com/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=131&posts=20

http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=1,2,3,4,5,8,9,10&Number=100878

http://www.andysshotglass.com/wilcox_rotating_rings.html

Keep us posted

Ray

[AstroTasmania]

Hi,

Just recently got a set of Antares Rotating Tube Rings for my Tak180ED but will have to modify to suit, and it will be a task & a half to dismantle the Tak to get them on. They are to go on my Alhena triple scope system in the new obs when finished.

I also have a set on the way for the SN-10 which will take 10 minutes to fit. They will suit me very well for what I need. I will take some pics soon.

I saw them advertised in S&T (USA version) www.antaresoptical.com
Huge waiting list, they cannot make them fast enough.

Clear skies...

[omaroo]

Tony - most rings that I've seen on scopes within the reach of the average man simply have felt lining surfaces to slip the scope around on. Crude, because you have to losen the ring clamps first, but there you have it. I just go where the action is these days, and follow the focuser to wherever it gets. Makes for some interesting looks from passers by.....

[Tony Leece]

Thanks for all the replies guys.
Definitely something to think seriously about :hmm:
I do like a challenge though:eartoear:
All the best..........
Tony.........

[beren]

Great workmanship Tony :welldone: