fbf350
member
Reged: 12/31/06
Posts: 97
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Other things to do on cloudy nights.
Having my 6SE for almost 1 year now, I've desired a Wing-Thing for the HC and a better tripod tray (like the one from Astronomy-Shoppe).
My first venture was a crude, fixed position wing thing. I may make another, now that I've figured out all of the angles.
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Celestron C6SE
Apogee RA-88-SA Binoculars
Oberwerk 22x100 Binoculars
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fbf350
member
Reged: 12/31/06
Posts: 97
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More wing-thing views.
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Celestron C6SE
Apogee RA-88-SA Binoculars
Oberwerk 22x100 Binoculars
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Starlighter
Post Laureate
Reged: 08/03/07
Posts: 4820
Loc: Sunny California
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Paint the next one black and I'll buy it from you! That's a beautiful piece of work.
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Celestron C4-R 102mm achromat
Celeston Nexstar 6SE SCT
Meade 80mm APO Triplet
Televue NP-101
Televue TV-85
Vixen A70Lf
Vixen A80Mf
William Optics 66mm Zenithstar Patriot
Celestron CG4 EQ mount
Orion Skyview Pro AZ mount
Televue Gibraltar 5
Vixen Portamount
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fbf350
member
Reged: 12/31/06
Posts: 97
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And more Wing-thing. It holds on using the same hook and pins that the HC uses. I then added weather stripping to tighten the fit a little.
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Celestron C6SE
Apogee RA-88-SA Binoculars
Oberwerk 22x100 Binoculars
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fbf350
member
Reged: 12/31/06
Posts: 97
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Thanks. Actually, it's a little crude. The top relief cut was unneeded. I thought it was causing an interference, then later realized the interference was lower, below the hook. You can see the small relief area I made in the middle of the board.
I'm thinking of using black wood stain for the next one.
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Celestron C6SE
Apogee RA-88-SA Binoculars
Oberwerk 22x100 Binoculars
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fbf350
member
Reged: 12/31/06
Posts: 97
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Next up was the scope tray. The concept came from the Astronomy-shoppe version, but I laid out the dimensions myself. I started by measuring the stock unit and the needed slot dimensions from the tripod, and drew it up on my CAD system. Next, I printed out a 1:1 full scale plot, glued it to a piece of wood (glue stick). Cut, sand, done.
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Celestron C6SE
Apogee RA-88-SA Binoculars
Oberwerk 22x100 Binoculars
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fbf350
member
Reged: 12/31/06
Posts: 97
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View when closed.
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Celestron C6SE
Apogee RA-88-SA Binoculars
Oberwerk 22x100 Binoculars
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fbf350
member
Reged: 12/31/06
Posts: 97
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I am much happier with how the scope tray turned out. Though having a full scale plot meant that all of the dimensions were figured out, before the wood chips started to fly.
I'm considering offering the tray drawing here, so that anyone else could make their own. Simply print out, glue down, and start cutting.
Ethically, I'm torn, as the concept came from the pictures posted by Astronomy-shoppe. On the flip side, that's all that came from them. All dimensions were measured and/or calculated, and the hole layouts were changed. I felt that their version had the holes too close. My version allows my 13mm Hyperion to sit next to my 5mm BO/TMB with more than a finger width in between, for easier extraction.
Any opinions on offering the drawing here? Most likely, free, as selling it conflicts me further. 
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Celestron C6SE
Apogee RA-88-SA Binoculars
Oberwerk 22x100 Binoculars
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hdt
sage
Reged: 11/10/07
Posts: 236
Loc: N35°10' W106°32'
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Very nice!
Would you be willing to share your template? Let's see, bandsaw with circle jig, or even jig saw if you've got good coordination for the circle, and {hole saw, forstner bit, spade bit} for the eyepiece holes?
I love the fact that when you turn the holder, it contacts the tripod and may stiffen the structure!
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fbf350
member
Reged: 12/31/06
Posts: 97
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I may also draw up the "Wood-thing", and offer it. Though the coming holidays may delay this.
Dimensioning the pocket for the hook will be difficult, as it was cut with a ball end bit on a dremmle. Cut-n-try, cut more-n-try. It's difficult to measure what I cut.
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Celestron C6SE
Apogee RA-88-SA Binoculars
Oberwerk 22x100 Binoculars
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fbf350
member
Reged: 12/31/06
Posts: 97
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That's what I am considering now, see previous post.
Cutting the OD was the hardest. I had to first drill the center hole, then made a fixture board clamped to the scroll saw at the proper radius. In retrospect, hand cutting and sanding would have been sufficient.
The holes were cut with standard hole saw bits, as were the tripod leg seats and slot bases. The scroll saw did the rest.
The whole thing took one night, after work.
You are correct, when seated, it stiffens the structure significantly. Further, the wood dampens vibrations better than the stock, cast metal tray.
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Celestron C6SE
Apogee RA-88-SA Binoculars
Oberwerk 22x100 Binoculars
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hdt
sage
Reged: 11/10/07
Posts: 236
Loc: N35°10' W106°32'
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So this was "measure many times as you go, but cut once" ? 
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fbf350
member
Reged: 12/31/06
Posts: 97
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No, the wood-thing was measure, cut, fit, measure, cut, fit, measure, cut, fit, measure, cut. 
The tray was measure, draw, print, cut (once) 
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Celestron C6SE
Apogee RA-88-SA Binoculars
Oberwerk 22x100 Binoculars
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b1gred
Enginerd
Reged: 04/01/04
Posts: 16902
Loc: Castle Rock, CO 6677' MSL
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It would be really NICE of you to offer the tray drawing gratis, but nobody would blame you for charging for it. However, if you do, we'll possibly have to lock the commentary about it in this forum and you'd have to do it in Classifieds, or Swap & Shop.
I have a metal version of the wooden tray, it has a "handle" built in to it. I wouldn't mind having it in wood, especially with the EP holes better spaced. If I had ANY woodworking skills AT ALL, I'd be considering making one of those. I have neither the skills nor the tools (actually I could develop the skills, but would still need the tools) to do this, but it is a GREAT idea/project...
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"Dark Skies & Great Viewing"
RandyR / W0RDR
GPS 9.25 XLT/Sky Align /FeatherTouch
TV85 w/FeatherTouch
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jayscheuerle
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/16/06
Posts: 4675
Loc: S. Philadelphia, PA
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I seem to spend far more time in the scope shop than under the stars. Good use of your time!
The collapsible tray is brilliant. I may have to use that as a starting point...  - j
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Fight indignorance!
120ED, 12" f/5 Green Goblin, 6" f/5 Eero2, 4.5" f/8 PortaBowl, 8" f/5 Big Red Ed.
The PortaBowl-a $100 4.5" f/8 ball-scope YOU can build!
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rick rian
Seeker of Truth(s)
Reged: 08/03/04
Posts: 36060
Loc: Upper Mid West
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Very nice work ... thanks for posting and keep us updated on your progress. 
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Rickster
Scopes: C8, TV85
Mounts: NexStar 8i mount (w/ Ray's Bracket) on HD tripod, Losmandy GM-8, Helix Hercules Single-Arm Alt/Azm Mount w/ Oberwerk wood tripod
EPs: UO, TMB, TV, Baader
He who knows best knows how little he knows.
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JAT Observatory
NOT a Wimp
Reged: 02/20/05
Posts: 8893
Loc: In the Primordial Soup
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Very cool!
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-Marcus
Hey what did you expect? After all, I am just a pig with a nice smile!
www.jatobservatory.org
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StarWars
Mr. Postmaster Man
Reged: 11/26/03
Posts: 22112
Loc: Frost Byte Falls <>
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Creative...
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Dell Axim X5 400Mhz
PPC pocket stars 5.12
7x35/10x50/15x70 Bino's
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DennisF
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 03/03/06
Posts: 1199
Loc: Northern IL
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I'd sure like to see the template offered. Would save a lot of time "reinventing the wheel".
Just curious, what's the diameter of the tripod tray? Doesn't look like it's made of plywood and appears to be pretty wide for 1 piece. Do you use 3/4 stock?
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10" XTi
C6 SE
C8 SE
C8 (late 90's?)
SV80ED
SV102ED
SV M1
Original AYO EzTouch mount
LM Teegul (2)
Gone-ETX 125, C80, ED80SF, PortaMount
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fbf350
member
Reged: 12/31/06
Posts: 97
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Yes, I should soon be offering the template. I plan to offer it as either "FREE", or "Free but accepting donations", kind of like freeware programs. I will need to check with the moderators, as I may need to move this to "Shop and Swap".
The tray is 12.0" in diameter, and is 1 piece of oak, 3/4" thick. I had several table leafs from an old discarded oak table. Each leaf is ~12.5" x 42" x 3/4".
One problem with the template is that, to print it full scale, it needs to be printed on a C-size sheet (17"x22"). Most people do not have access to such plotters. I may have to section the template into smaller, 8.5x11 or 11x17 sheets. I am also making a fully dimensioned version. One solution is to offer it as a printed, full scale sheet that I mail out. At that point, however, I would probably charge for shipping and maybe a buck or two for toner.
Joe
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Celestron C6SE
Apogee RA-88-SA Binoculars
Oberwerk 22x100 Binoculars
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