· 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 Chriske Kijkerbouw Urania Reged: 08/15/04 Loc: Boechout, Belgium DIY Mount - Equatorial Mount (type U)       #2570652 - 08/09/08 04:29 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   This equatorial mount is not so easy to build, so no first time project. Most parts are made of wood, some need a lathe. Although this mount is easy transportable the concept is mount is made to be placed at a fixed location. To use it a few degrees more south or north of your location is no problem but once you get to far of your latitude you need to make some modification to solve that problem. Although it is almost entirely made of wood it is rock steady an it can handle scopes up to 350 mm. We started building this mount early '80 during our courses. Back then it looked somewhat different. After (about) 25 years we're still busy making adaptations to it (the last 3 years only tracking modifications). Usage : 1- Small to large telescopes. 2- Reflector (mostly Newton telescopes). 3- Transportable. Large image Large image Large image Large image Large image Large image We're planning to change the pier, we want to make an 'eye catcher'. Still don't know which one to choose out of these two You'll find info to build this one here . Be aware : the mount shown at that link is a bit out of date. Although it is all in Dutch, you'll get message, there are tons of pictures and drawings. Edited by Olivier Biot (04/09/10 06:40 PM) Post Extras:       HandyAndy scholastic sledgehammer Reged: 01/11/08 Loc: West Midlands and around Re: DIY Mount - Equatorial Mount (type U) [Re: Chriske]       #2570737 - 08/09/08 05:22 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Hi, What timing. I want to build a simple mount for my MN78 when I am away from my Fullerscope MK4 mount. Thanks ** 2. Cheers. Andrew. Post Extras:       HandyAndy scholastic sledgehammer Reged: 01/11/08 Loc: West Midlands and around Re: DIY Mount - Equatorial Mount (type U) [Re: Chriske]       #2577167 - 08/12/08 05:41 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Hi, I had a go at making a simpler mount using solid blocks of wood glued up out of ply or green MDF and weight lifting bars as shafts. It worked OK but drilling the holes in the wood to sufficient accuracy was a problem, as for any woodworking and wood moves anyway with humidity. Years ago a motor engineer was making a mount and came in with a nice shaft in two roller bearings for the top shaft. The old ATMer said too complicated. Take a steel tube and put three nylon bolts through it at either end and put the shaft in and tighten the bolts till the shaft is held steady and then align as required. The bottom axis of your mount is like a Fullerscopes Mk4 which combines a flat bearing and a long one at the same time. See Porters drawings in Telescope Making, the book. This requires good engineering tho. Would this work? Take the disk and bolt a universal joint underneath in the middle, as in the recent truss tube thread. Screw a threaded tube and LockTite on to the UJ. Slide through a larger steel tube with 6 nylon bolts through as above. The larger steel tube can be drilled and tapped for bolts to attach it to the wooden mount. Add the retaining bolt and I presume tensioning spring on the bottom. The universal joint allows the top disk to rotate about its centre whilst the shaft rotates in step but it does not have to be at 90 degrees. If the top nylon bolts are near the UJ then we do not have a real geometric problem. Bolt another steel tub on top of the disk with the 6 nylon bolts and put a shaft through it. I would use a weight lifting bar again as you can slide standard weights on and use the supplied locking nuts. The top end just needs welding to a steel mounting plate for the telescope. I am intending to build a copy for my MN78 which is 15kg and I think the weight bar should be strong enough. No lathe required? Maybe a tap or two and a bit of welding. Cheers. Andrew. Post Extras:       Pages: 1 Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Extra information 9 registered and 26 anonymous users are browsing this forum. 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