· 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 | 3 | 4 | 5 | (show all) BarabinoSr Pooh-Bah Reged: 11/17/05 Loc: Slidell La A 1" Shaft diameter Pillow Block Mount Build       #5717188 - 03/06/13 08:10 PM Attachment (138 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I decided that it was time to come up with a new idea to replace the older CG-5 equatorial mount shown in one of my previous builds shown here carrying the 4.5". So I came up with the idea to build a pillow block model that would allow me to use four of my main instruments. It must accomodate the 4.5" f/10 A Jaegers Homebuilt Refractor,the 5" f/9 Yulin(Apogee) refractor, the 8-inch f/6 Hardin(GSO) and the 6.5" f/8 Galileo newt(under refurbishment). Post Extras:       BarabinoSr Pooh-Bah Reged: 11/17/05 Loc: Slidell La Re: A 1" Shaft diameter Pillow Block Mount Build [Re: BarabinoSr]       #5717205 - 03/06/13 08:22 PM Attachment (106 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I had an old Meade EQ mount that had 1" diameter precision steel shafts . The Meade unit had a non operating clock drive and useless for what i wanted to do. After reading some CN posts on pillow block bearing mounts, I decided to build one utilizing some parts from the Meade. I liked the precision shafts involved and began planning for this new unit. I began with the disassembly of the meade, and decided to make the Meade's decination axis my new mount's Right Ascension axis. The Hardin had been riding this mount. Post Extras:       obin robinson sage Reged: 10/25/12 Loc: League City, TX Re: A 1" Shaft diameter Pillow Block Mount Build [Re: BarabinoSr]       #5717296 - 03/06/13 09:14 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Cool. I'm subscribing to this to see how it goes. obin Post Extras:       BarabinoSr Pooh-Bah Reged: 11/17/05 Loc: Slidell La Re: A 1" Shaft diameter Pillow Block Mount Build [Re: BarabinoSr]       #5717388 - 03/06/13 10:10 PM Attachment (91 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I dissembled the Meade mount. Parts from top to bottom- RA Drive Cover, 2- 1" pillow block bearings,RA Circle hub, Cradle to join pedestal,Declination Axis ,Right Asension Axis Drive assembly, with clock drive attached. Post Extras:       BarabinoSr Pooh-Bah Reged: 11/17/05 Loc: Slidell La Re: A 1" Shaft diameter Pillow Block Mount Build [Re: BarabinoSr]       #5717450 - 03/06/13 10:41 PM Attachment (85 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Another shot. Note how easily the declination shaft fits into the 1" inside diameter pillow blocks.Also shown is the drive assembly and parts, none of which will be used in this build. Post Extras:       obin robinson sage Reged: 10/25/12 Loc: League City, TX Re: A 1" Shaft diameter Pillow Block Mount Build [Re: BarabinoSr]       #5717460 - 03/06/13 10:46 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   For what it is worth that is a Starfinder EQ you are disassembling. Before you toss out any old parts please let me know. I might be able to use them. obin Edited by obin robinson (03/06/13 10:47 PM) Post Extras:       Chuck Hards sage Reged: 05/03/10 Loc: The Great Basin Re: A 1" Shaft diameter Pillow Block Mount Build [Re: obin robinson]       #5717486 - 03/06/13 10:56 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   A Classic, old-school mount concept. I love it! Keep updating! Looks like self-aligning pillow blocks, yes? Post Extras:       BarabinoSr Pooh-Bah Reged: 11/17/05 Loc: Slidell La Re: A 1" Shaft diameter Pillow Block Mount Build [Re: Chuck Hards]       #5719405 - 03/07/13 09:30 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Thanks guys. The next phase involved the removal of some light rust on the Right Ascension shaft. The pictures above were made before the rust was taken off the shaft. With the four pillow blocks in hand I needed a shaft for the declination axis, and bought a 48-inch long x 1" diameter shaft from a firm called onlinemetalsupply for a price of only $13.77. My starting point to the correct length for this shaft was to work it to a shorter length depending upon what scope would be mounted up there. Post Extras:       BarabinoSr Pooh-Bah Reged: 11/17/05 Loc: Slidell La Re: A 1" Shaft diameter Pillow Block Mount Build [Re: BarabinoSr]       #5719497 - 03/07/13 10:12 PM Attachment (96 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I began to see how this mount would come togather, and I made a few rough sketches,nothing major.this would be the easiest and simplest of assemblies, that would be very cost efficient. The best way I chose to approach this would be to obtain 3 pieces of 1/2" thick x 6" #6061 Aluminum Flat Bar . In the picture, from top left to bottom right are the following parts- Declination axis bearing plate: holds the 2 pillow block bearings and the shaft itself. Right Ascension axis bearing plate: holds RA axis and its pillow block bearings. Mounting Cradle. Next to the cradle is a little piece of specifically cut 3/4" thick x 3" x 3"x 3" aluminum #6061 wedge. How important is this? Without it I would not be able to connect the mount to the cradle and to the pedestal base, and I cut this with my band saw. 2 pieces of 3" 1 1/2" aluminum angle. 12-2" Stainless Steel Bolts, and matching nuts. Four bolts,nuts and 2 washers each of the 3 plates. 24- washers. The nylon block would serve as a declination axis slo-motion. To be cut as needed. Post Extras:       BarabinoSr Pooh-Bah Reged: 11/17/05 Loc: Slidell La Re: A 1" Shaft diameter Pillow Block Mount Build [Re: BarabinoSr]       #5719545 - 03/07/13 10:33 PM Attachment (94 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   A few days later I started the assembly of this mount.You may wonder why I chose #6061 Aluminum parts for this project- its because this is extremely strong yet light . The old declination shaft of the Meade is now the Right asension axis of the new pillow block mount. In the forefront, you can see that the wedge is attached to the cradle and the 2 angle pieces are joined to the base of that wedge. Four holes, two in each angle and four in the RA axis plate will allow the wedge to be mounted to the base of the Right Ascension axis assembly. The aluminum bar is only a piece that was removed from the declination plate. Post Extras:       obin robinson sage Reged: 10/25/12 Loc: League City, TX Re: A 1" Shaft diameter Pillow Block Mount Build [Re: BarabinoSr]       #5719923 - 03/08/13 07:17 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Looking good! Keep up the good work! obin Post Extras:       neo Carpal Tunnel Reged: 02/12/08 Loc: Iasi, Romania Re: A 1" Shaft diameter Pillow Block Mount Build [Re: obin robinson]       #5719976 - 03/08/13 08:00 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Looks great! Keep posting with lots of pics . It looks like the RA shaft could use a bit o trimming. Seems a bit long. But being steel, I know it's bit discouraging. Do you have a drive for DEC shaft too? Post Extras:       BarabinoSr Pooh-Bah Reged: 11/17/05 Loc: Slidell La Re: A 1" Shaft diameter Pillow Block Mount Build [Re: neo]       #5720089 - 03/08/13 09:19 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   The plan is to trim the axis lengths soon as the clock drive is attached and placed and the counterweights have been settled upon.. I certainly would want them shorter to lighten the weight of the mount.The Dec. axis at 48 inches will be shortened to 30", which seems to be the optimal length for the 8" which is the heaviest of the scopes that will be used on it and also the number of counterweights I have. Post Extras:       Geo. Carpal Tunnel Reged: 10/01/08 Loc: Upstate NY Re: A 1" Shaft diameter Pillow Block Mount Build [Re: BarabinoSr]       #5720165 - 03/08/13 09:56 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Leave room for some worm gear drives! Post Extras:       bremms scholastic sledgehammer Reged: 08/31/12 Loc: SC Re: A 1" Shaft diameter Pillow Block Mount Build [Re: Geo.]       #5720352 - 03/08/13 11:42 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   My pillow block 1" uses tapped base pillow blocks. It's very compact since the pillow blocks don't have the mounting flanges. Post Extras:       mikey cee Postmaster Reged: 01/18/07 Loc: bellevue ne. Re: A 1" Shaft diameter Pillow Block Mount Build [Re: bremms]       #5720485 - 03/08/13 12:56 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Gary....Copy Cat!! Post Extras:       BarabinoSr Pooh-Bah Reged: 11/17/05 Loc: Slidell La Re: A 1" Shaft diameter Pillow Block Mount Build [Re: mikey cee]       #5721229 - 03/08/13 09:11 PM Attachment (64 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Yeah Mikey! I always liked the design concept,and Bremms the pillow blocks do fit plush against the plates. One feature I incorporated into each plate were the slightly large bolt holes for the bearings. This allowed me to line the declination axis directly in front of the RA axis, critical for proper scope balance and to help protect the drive . The Pipe Cap with the mounting wedge fits a 4" inside diameter pipe, so I searched and found a local supplier and purchased for $60.00 a section of 9 feet long 4" inside diameter x 1/4" thick section , and the two pedestals would be made from these. I needed to cut this pipe into two sections,and the company cut it into 5' and 4' lengths for easy transportation in my truck. Post Extras:       BarabinoSr Pooh-Bah Reged: 11/17/05 Loc: Slidell La Re: A 1" Shaft diameter Pillow Block Mount Build [Re: BarabinoSr]       #5721274 - 03/08/13 09:44 PM Attachment (46 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Even though the supplier cut these for me, I still had to prepare them for the proper size. For the refractor pedestal to be effective for me due to my height,I would need to look at the RA axis assembly without bending and also to train the refractors at something in the zenith without bending that much.I did not see how these pipes would be trimmed with a mere hacksaw, so I consulted with my Protege Mel Dawson of Riverview FL, and he suggested I buy an angle grinder to make the necessary cuts.I got ahold of one and bought some cutting discs. That got the job done after a lot of intense sparking. It's a great tool to have!! Having two sets of three legs from a couple of Edmund pedestals it was a simple matter to mount them to each pipe, and I replaced those wingnuts with stainless steel nuts and bolts. Post Extras:       BarabinoSr Pooh-Bah Reged: 11/17/05 Loc: Slidell La Re: A 1" Shaft diameter Pillow Block Mount Build [Re: BarabinoSr]       #5722127 - 03/09/13 11:39 AM Attachment (43 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Here's pictures of each Pedestal, after the legs were mounted up. The unfinished refractor unit. Post Extras:       BarabinoSr Pooh-Bah Reged: 11/17/05 Loc: Slidell La Re: A 1" Shaft diameter Pillow Block Mount Build [Re: BarabinoSr]       #5722145 - 03/09/13 11:49 AM Attachment (37 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Reflector pedestal. With each put togather, it is now time to make sure that they are at the correct height for my requirements. each Pedestal will have its own legs,one set coming from the old VersaPed. In these views I just used one set for these images. Edited by BarabinoSr (03/09/13 11:51 AM) Post Extras:       Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | (show all) Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Extra information 12 registered and 18 anonymous users are browsing this forum. 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