· Get a Cloudy Nights T-Shirt · Submit a Review / Article Click here if you are having trouble logging into the forums Privacy Policy | Please read our Terms of Service | Signup and Troubleshooting FAQ | Problems? PM a Red or a Green Gu… uh, User You are not logged in. [Login] Entrance · Main Index · Search · New user · Who's Online FAQ · Calendar Equipment Discussions >> ATM, Optics and DIY Forum Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Pages: 1 | 2 | (show all) Ibmelrod sage Reged: 10/18/04 Loc: Ontario Canada Parallelogram Mount       #5046930 - 01/30/12 10:38 PM Attachment (98 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Hi all, Just finished a parallelogram mount mostly from the 'stuff I'm gonna use some day' box. I had never used one before and find the motions very smooth, sturdy and balanced. All bearings have Teflon washers and the main azimuth is Teflon with 'Granite Arbourite' that is as close to Ebony Star as I could find locally. The sliding counterweight is a roughly 5 lb. discarded valve handle. Now the mount needs large binocs to replace my ancient 8 x 30's. The frame is 9mm Baltic Birch finished with Watco Danish oil and Minwax after a final rubdown with 0000 steel wool. The vertical pillars are made with 3 ply's of the birch. There are bits of oak and maple used here and there. I owe many of the design elements to the work of others here on CN and personal websites. Post Extras:       Ibmelrod sage Reged: 10/18/04 Loc: Ontario Canada Re: Parallelogram Mount [Re: Ibmelrod]       #5046933 - 01/30/12 10:39 PM Attachment (53 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Another view: Post Extras:       Ibmelrod sage Reged: 10/18/04 Loc: Ontario Canada Re: Parallelogram Mount [Re: Ibmelrod]       #5046936 - 01/30/12 10:40 PM Attachment (46 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   The Arbourite - Post Extras:       Ibmelrod sage Reged: 10/18/04 Loc: Ontario Canada Re: Parallelogram Mount [Re: Ibmelrod]       #5046939 - 01/30/12 10:42 PM Attachment (39 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Hi-tech counterweight. Post Extras:       Ibmelrod sage Reged: 10/18/04 Loc: Ontario Canada Re: Parallelogram Mount [Re: Ibmelrod]       #5046946 - 01/30/12 10:44 PM Attachment (44 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   The main support. The entire structure is very stable and can be used from standing to reclining on a chaise. Post Extras:       pogobbler sage Reged: 09/30/08 Loc: Central Indiana, USA Re: Parallelogram Mount [Re: Ibmelrod]       #5047256 - 01/31/12 04:43 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Nice looking work. Maybe seeing that will get me off my behind and start on the parallelogram mount I've been thinking about for, oh, at least a year or two now. :-) Post Extras:       mattyfatz Carpal Tunnel Reged: 12/27/06 Loc: Boise Idaho Re: Parallelogram Mount [Re: pogobbler]       #5047436 - 01/31/12 08:38 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Just plain gorgeous I really like the wheel! Post Extras:       northernontario scholastic sledgehammer Reged: 07/01/09 Loc: Porcupine, Ontario Canada Re: Parallelogram Mount [Re: mattyfatz]       #5048391 - 01/31/12 05:11 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Beauty Post Extras:       Gordon Rayner Carpal Tunnel Reged: 03/24/07 Re: Parallelogram Mount [Re: northernontario]       #5048945 - 01/31/12 10:35 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   How did you balance around the pitch/elevation axis? Trial and error modification of the length of the yaw axis column which directly supports the binocular? How will you balance the "large binocular" which you plan to acquire? Post Extras:       ch2co sage Reged: 07/28/09 Loc: Rocky Mountain High USA Re: Parallelogram Mount [Re: Gordon Rayner]       #5049278 - 02/01/12 06:12 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Mel Beautifully well done! I especially like your sliding valve handle for a counter weight. Neat way of adjusting it. My only concern is what are you using to support the binoculars? It appears that is is a simple bracket made out of two pieces of wood, glued together into an L. Is there some sort of metal angle where the bracket makes a right angle? Can't really tell from the photos. I would hate to see your optics break off and undergo a gravitationally induced acceleration towards the sidewalk. Secondly, your signature shows some sort of Crocodilian. Is there some deep meaning to this choice? Mine is just a sweet little guy that I was photographing who just seconds after the camera clicked, lunged the 6 feet between us and tried to take my leg off, hence the grumpy moniker. Clear Dark and Still Skies Chuck the Grumpy Gator Post Extras:       Ibmelrod sage Reged: 10/18/04 Loc: Ontario Canada Re: Parallelogram Mount [Re: Ibmelrod]       #5050505 - 02/01/12 08:28 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Gordon, If you mean what I think, I placed the axis of the 'L' bracket in line with the centre of the binocs. This was my consensus of looking at other mounts. It looked right and seems to work. I'm currently reading posts on the CN Binocular Forum to help me choose a larger binocular; something 10 to 15 x with 50 to 70 mm objectives. The adjustable counterweight should easily balance bigger bins and I am prepared to modify the 'L' bracket if that is necessary. Regards, Post Extras:       Ibmelrod sage Reged: 10/18/04 Loc: Ontario Canada Re: Parallelogram Mount [Re: Ibmelrod]       #5050544 - 02/01/12 08:49 PM Attachment (25 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Chuck, Good point that I considered and may still put 1 or 2 gussets in the bracket. For now it is screwed together (photo below) and pretty solid with the 8x30's. My avatar is not likely to bite me. It is an artistic reconstruction of a Devonian Period fossil animal found on the southern part of Ellesmere Island in the Arctic. It's called Tiktaalik, an Inuit word for this critter that lived about 375 million years ago. I like the cheerful expression it was given and will leave any deeper meaning for others to imagine. See below - Regards, Edited by Ibmelrod (02/01/12 08:57 PM) Post Extras:       Ibmelrod sage Reged: 10/18/04 Loc: Ontario Canada Re: Parallelogram Mount [Re: Ibmelrod]       #5050554 - 02/01/12 08:55 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Image deleted at request of moderator. Sorry, I've lost the link to the original. Edited by Ibmelrod (02/04/12 10:59 AM) Post Extras:       ch2co sage Reged: 07/28/09 Loc: Rocky Mountain High USA Re: Parallelogram Mount [Re: Ibmelrod]       #5050900 - 02/02/12 12:39 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Mel That is sort of how I imagined the bracket, and all I can say is that I wouldn't trust my binocs to that design. Not only is the weight of the binoculars applied to that horizontal section of the angle bracket, the forces involved by moving said optics is also applied to that right angle junction. The addition of gussets and or a metal angle brace is highly recommended. Everything else on the mount seems to be quite beefy enough to handle even a fairly big pair of binoculars. A very well executed, well designed, and beautifully finished build. You should be proud. I know that your pictures will be an inspiration for others to build their own 'copies' of your design. Thank you also for your explanation of your Devonian friend and avatar. Clear, Dark, Still Skies Chuck the Grumpy Gator Post Extras:       Ed D Carpal Tunnel Reged: 04/30/10 Loc: Sunny South Florida Re: Parallelogram Mount [Re: ch2co]       #5051050 - 02/02/12 05:42 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Wow, very nice woodworking and end result. Ed D Post Extras:       Ibmelrod sage Reged: 10/18/04 Loc: Ontario Canada Re: Parallelogram Mount [Re: Ibmelrod]       #5051433 - 02/02/12 11:00 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Thanks to all: Tom, Matty, Northern Ontario, Gordon, Ed and Chuck for the kind comments and suggestions. Chuck, I will add gussets. Today. It's an easy mod for a great improvement. Northern Ontario, I grew up in Timmins and can only wish now for the skies & aurora of that time. Regards, Post Extras:       Ibmelrod sage Reged: 10/18/04 Loc: Ontario Canada Re: Parallelogram Mount [Re: Ibmelrod]       #5052128 - 02/02/12 05:22 PM Attachment (20 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Hi all, For the record.....Bomber Bracket! Regards, Post Extras:       ch2co sage Reged: 07/28/09 Loc: Rocky Mountain High USA Re: Parallelogram Mount [Re: Ibmelrod]       #5053546 - 02/03/12 01:55 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Mel Good, now I would trust my 18 x 50s to this mount. Please send it to me right away ;^} What are you using for a wood finish? I always thought that the snowy winter months would be a good time for my wood working projects, until I found that I couldn't apply finishes because it's too cold outside for the finishes and I can't use them inside without the danger of blowing the place up. Clear Dark and Still Skies Chuck the Grumpy Gator Post Extras:       Ibmelrod sage Reged: 10/18/04 Loc: Ontario Canada Re: Parallelogram Mount [Re: ch2co]       #5054236 - 02/03/12 10:15 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Chuck, I used Watco Danish Oil in 'Light Walnut' and topped with Minwax Paste Finishing Wax 'Special Type for Dark Surfaces'. I had it on hand from another project in oak. It was recommended by a neighbour and professional wood worker. It's beautiful on the oak but the dense Baltic Birch doesn't take on much colour. No fumes to worry about though. Oh, yeah, the mount will be in the morning mail.....trust me. Post Extras:       Gordon Rayner Carpal Tunnel Reged: 03/24/07 Re: Parallelogram Mount [Re: Ibmelrod]       #5054329 - 02/03/12 11:19 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   A very attractive mount. It is in the antiquey/nautical furniture class if you substitute some brass or stainless steel fasteners . You probably considered, but have not yet included , a secondary azimuth rotation between the p-gram and the L-arm, a "hinge". Those greatly increase the sky area accessible from a seated or reclined position, which is much more comfortable for the neck at high elevation angles. You may have used a sander , with a nail pivot, to make those attractive rounded ends . If you used a router for those, then the possibility exists of a routed slot in the vertical part of the L-arm , for balance around the elevation axis . Of course, another way to make a slot is to use two parallel members , separated by the desired slot width, for the vertical part of the L-arm. I am working on a metal p-mount. I sold my milling machine, but had a piece of 5/16 aluminum with a slightly larger slot. It is the vertical part of the L-arm. I now have limiting stops to prevent up-down motion after balance is found . The tension of the elevation axis is a separate knob. I tried to go without the stops, using the elevation axis tension to prevent unwanted up-down motion in the slot. But separating the two functions gives wider range available for elevation axis friction. Post Extras:       Pages: 1 | 2 | (show all) Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Extra information 11 registered and 26 anonymous users are browsing this forum. 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