· 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 >> Mounts Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Pages: 1 stuper member Reged: 09/12/08 Loc: Central California Thickness of Aluminum Pier Plate       #3040281 - 04/12/09 06:42 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I'm planning to make a 12-inch diameter concrete pier for my 10" LX200. If I use aluminum for the pier plate, how thick should the aluminum be? Post Extras:       Telescopeman54 Vendor - Trapezium Telescopes & Services, LLC. Reged: 08/17/07 Loc: New Hampshire Re: Thickness of Aluminum Pier Plate [Re: stuper]       #3040313 - 04/12/09 07:07 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   1/2" to 3/4" should be more than enough. Steve Post Extras:       stuper member Reged: 09/12/08 Loc: Central California Re: Thickness of Aluminum Pier Plate [Re: Telescopeman54]       #3040366 - 04/12/09 07:49 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I can save a few bucks with 3/8". Would that be thick enough? Post Extras:       fetoma Carpal Tunnel Reged: 09/26/06 Loc: Southern New Jersey Re: Thickness of Aluminum Pier Plate [Re: stuper]       #3040479 - 04/12/09 09:07 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I would go for an inch thick. 3/8 is too thin. How much weight is the scope and mount together? This is what I used but you can go smaller in diameter: http://www.speedymetals.com/pc-2458-8368-12-rd-6061-t6511-aluminum-extruded.aspx Post Extras:       DeanS Carpal Tunnel Reged: 07/12/05 Loc: Central Kentucky Re: Thickness of Aluminum Pier Plate [Re: fetoma]       #3040485 - 04/12/09 09:15 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I did a 1/2" plate that was 12" x 12" and it was too thin. 3/4" was better, 1" would be even better. Also you may have to tap some threads in it and 1/2" would be more difficult to do. Post Extras:       Strgazr27 Reged: 10/04/04 Loc: StonyHill Observatory Re: Thickness of Aluminum Pier Plate [Re: DeanS]       #3040562 - 04/12/09 10:14 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Mine is 1" X 12" X 12" 7075 Plate Plenty strong enough..... Post Extras:       stuper member Reged: 09/12/08 Loc: Central California Re: Thickness of Aluminum Pier Plate [Re: Strgazr27]       #3044169 - 04/14/09 08:14 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Sorry, been away for a while. Thanks for the tips. I didn't realize extruded rod came in such large diameters. I was pricing it as flat plat, which is more expensive. I will get a 1" thick piece of 8" or 9" diameter rod. Is 6061-T6 sufficient, or should I get 6262-T6511 or 7075-T651 or something else? Post Extras:       fetoma Carpal Tunnel Reged: 09/26/06 Loc: Southern New Jersey Re: Thickness of Aluminum Pier Plate [Re: stuper]       #3044198 - 04/14/09 08:32 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   It all depends on what $$$ you want to spend. I used 6061, but 7075 is better, but more expensive. Post Extras:       stuper member Reged: 09/12/08 Loc: Central California Re: Thickness of Aluminum Pier Plate [Re: fetoma]       #3045212 - 04/15/09 11:55 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Frank, does yours made from 6061 work OK? How thick is it? What kind of scope/mount do you have on it? Edited by stuper (04/15/09 11:56 AM) Post Extras:       fetoma Carpal Tunnel Reged: 09/26/06 Loc: Southern New Jersey Re: Thickness of Aluminum Pier Plate [Re: stuper]       #3045280 - 04/15/09 12:35 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Mine is 1" thick 6061 with a CGE on top. Works just fine. http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/3024425/page/2/view/collapsed/sb/5/o/all/fpart/all/vc/1 Post Extras:       DrBuck professor emeritus Reged: 12/10/08 Loc: Susanville, No. Calif. Re: Thickness of Aluminum Pier Plate [Re: fetoma]       #3049847 - 04/17/09 08:32 PM Attachment (25 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   My CGE is mounted on a one inch aluminum adapter plate that I had machined to fit the CGE base. I then drilled and tapped it to fit the screws and bolted it to my 3/4 inch stainless steel leveling plate with a 1/2 inch bolt. Post Extras:       Hank w member Reged: 09/10/08 Loc: Loveland, Colorado Re: Thickness of Aluminum Pier Plate [Re: DrBuck]       #3049906 - 04/17/09 09:18 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Try this link " http://www.sandsmachine.com/alumweb.htm "best price and perfect for a pier plate. I've made several with there product Hank Post Extras:       Pages: 1 Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Extra information 19 registered and 22 anonymous users are browsing this forum. Moderator:  Bowmoreman, bilgebay, iceblaze  Print Thread Forum Permissions       You cannot start new topics       You cannot reply to topics       HTML is disabled       UBBCode is enabled Thread views: 653 Jump to *Announcements and News* -----   Cloudy Nights Announcements   Discussion of CN Articles, Reviews, and Reports   Celestial Events*General Astronomy* -----   Beginners Forum   General Observing and Astronomy   Outreach   Light Pollution*Equipment Discussions* -----   ATM, Optics and DIY Forum   Binoculars   Binoviewers   Cats & Casses   Classic Telescopes   Equipment   Eyepieces   Mounts   Observatories   Reflectors   Refractors    Video and Electronically Assisted Astronomy*Astrophotography and Sketching* -----   Beginning and Intermediate Imaging   Film Astrophotography   DSLR & Digital Camera Astro Imaging & Processing   CCD Imaging & Processing   Solar System Imaging & Processing   Sketching   Astro Imaging/Sketching Contest *Observing* -----   NEO   Planetary and Solar System Observing   Lunar Observing   Deep Sky Observing   Double Star Observing   Solar   Variable Star Observing and Radio Astronomy*Telescope Specific Forums* -----   Celestron NexStar    NexStar GPS / CPC Telescopes   Questar Forum   Meade ACF/RCX / LX / GPS    Meade ETX*Speciality Forums* -----   Arizona Science and Astronomy Expo   NEAF (Northeast Astronomy Forum) and NEAIC (Northeast Astro Imaging Conference)   AstroArt   Astronomy Clubs and Star Parties   Astronomy Software & Computers   AstroWebsites   Science! Astronomy & Space Exploration, and Others   Space Rocks   Stellar Media*Swap and Shop* -----   Shop and Swap Audio Components*CN Feedback and Vendor Announcements* -----   Vendor and Group Announcements*International Year of Astronomy 2009 - Forums are now closed.* -----   IYA Archive Info CN Forums Home

Cloudy Nights LLC Cloudy Nights Sponsor: Astronomics