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csa/montana
Den Mother
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 39594
Loc: montana
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You are most Welcome! I'm very excited so many have applied this system to their Dobs and are enjoying it.
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Carol
AstroTech 16" Dob (Thanks ASTRONOMICS!)
Vixen 80MF/AstroTech Voyager
Masuyama's 7.5, 15, 25W, 35mm,
Pentaxes; 5XW, 7XL, 10XW.
14mm Meade 4000 UWA
TV Panoptics; 22, 35
DreamCatcher Dobservatory, #2
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shmish
member
Reged: 04/22/07
Posts: 79
Loc: Vancouver BC
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Here is another source of digital inclinometers. This one has magnets on the sides and not the base. I think the easiest way to use it is to level it on its side then press zero. Now when it is upright it will read 90°. So when you stick it to your tube and the tube is pointing straight up you'll get 90°. It's called the Tilt Box from Lee Valley.
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6" SkyWatcher Dob
25mm Antares Elite
15mm Orion Ultrascopic
8.9mm Siebert Star Splitter
2x Celestron Ultima Barlow
Vancouver BC
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Philip Levine
super member
Reged: 03/22/07
Posts: 156
Loc: near Boston, MA
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Hi All,
Finally finished modifying my Zhumell dob, with degree circles, Wixey, AND Cyclopes red LED lights (purchased for about $12 ea. at Cabelas.com). The small red LED (has 3) is battery operated, I attached one to illuminate the Wixey, and one to illuminate the degree circles.
Thanks to all for the great ideas and help (especially csa/montana, skyarcher, rnabholz).
See photos.
Now all I need are clear skys!
Phil
Edited by Philip Levine (05/26/07 09:28 PM)
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Tom Andrews
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 01/25/07
Posts: 1000
Loc: Albuquerque, NM
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Philip,
Congrats on your setup! You're not going to believe how many objects you'll see with this system. I've been observing off and on since 1995 and in the last month since I finished my "Push-To" system, I've logged more objects than all previous years combined.
By the way, your hyperlink isn't working. I keep getting an error message. I would like to see your pictures. To attach here, type your post, check the box at the bottom which says,
"I want to preview my post and/or attach a file."
Hit the "Continue" button which will give you a preview of your post and a box at the bottom to attach files. It gives you a "Browse" button so you can easily locate your picture files.
Enjoy the sights!
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Tom
The Secret To Life:
Focus on what you have, not on what you don't;
Focus on what you can do, not on what you can't.
************************************************
2007 Discovery 12.5" PDHQ Split-Tube Dob w/manual setting circles/Telrad/Zhummel 8x50 RACI finder scope (*For Sale*)
Coulter Odessey 8" Dob
Celestron C11-SGT
Garrett Optical 15x70 Gemini Binoculars on homemade Parallelogram w/Setting Circles
The Albuquerque Astronomy Society (TAAS)
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Philip Levine
super member
Reged: 03/22/07
Posts: 156
Loc: near Boston, MA
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Another photo with Cyclopes red LED
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_________________________________________________
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Zhumell 10" Dob (modified with degree circle and Wixey inclinometer)
26mm 2" GSO eyepiece
9mm 1.25" GSO eyepiece
13mm Nagler T6
GSO ED Barlow
RACI 8x50 finderscope
Crayford focuser
DewBuster w/homemade heater strips
Nikon 10x50 EX binoculars
University Optics 11x80 binoculars
Surveyor Tripod w Universal Astronomics Parallelogram
member International Dark-Sky Association
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csa/montana
Den Mother
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 39594
Loc: montana
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Phillip: Fantastic job. I really like the lights! 
I'd like to thank all of you also, that have installed this, contributed to the thread, because each one of you adds a little more to the system, which makes it better for all!
Carol
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Carol
AstroTech 16" Dob (Thanks ASTRONOMICS!)
Vixen 80MF/AstroTech Voyager
Masuyama's 7.5, 15, 25W, 35mm,
Pentaxes; 5XW, 7XL, 10XW.
14mm Meade 4000 UWA
TV Panoptics; 22, 35
DreamCatcher Dobservatory, #2
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csa/montana
Den Mother
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 39594
Loc: montana
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Smish: Thanks for the link!
Carol
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Carol
AstroTech 16" Dob (Thanks ASTRONOMICS!)
Vixen 80MF/AstroTech Voyager
Masuyama's 7.5, 15, 25W, 35mm,
Pentaxes; 5XW, 7XL, 10XW.
14mm Meade 4000 UWA
TV Panoptics; 22, 35
DreamCatcher Dobservatory, #2
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veebs2
special label
Reged: 03/13/07
Posts: 285
Loc: DeKalb, IL
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I got my push-to system completed yesterday afternoon and thankfully last night was perfectly clear. With the push-to system and Stellarium, I was able to locate M13 (which had eluded me), M5, M81, M82, Saturn, Venus, Jupiter and the Moon. Even though the moon washed everything out, it was very exciting knowing I will now be able to locate items in the sky. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this thread!!
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Paul
Zhumell 10" (My Mistress - name given by my wife)
Hyperions - 5mm, 13mm and 24mm
Stratus - 8mm and 17mm
Howie Glatter 2"-1 1/4" Holograpic w/ Barlow
Lumicon OIII Filter
Telrad
DeKalb, IL
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csa/montana
Den Mother
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 39594
Loc: montana
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Paul: Congratulations & thank you for your "first light" with the great, simple system.
Glad to hear it's working so well for you!
Carol
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Carol
AstroTech 16" Dob (Thanks ASTRONOMICS!)
Vixen 80MF/AstroTech Voyager
Masuyama's 7.5, 15, 25W, 35mm,
Pentaxes; 5XW, 7XL, 10XW.
14mm Meade 4000 UWA
TV Panoptics; 22, 35
DreamCatcher Dobservatory, #2
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Tom Andrews
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 01/25/07
Posts: 1000
Loc: Albuquerque, NM
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Paul,
Congratulations! You're going to have hours of great observing with this system. I finished mine a month ago and the only other problem besides weather is there aren't enough hours in a night to see everything! If you can stay out late enough for Sagittarius to come up, it's full of clusters and nebulae; one of the best constellations! It doesn't come up until midnight here in Albuquerque, at least not high enough for me to see it with all the obstructions.
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Tom
The Secret To Life:
Focus on what you have, not on what you don't;
Focus on what you can do, not on what you can't.
************************************************
2007 Discovery 12.5" PDHQ Split-Tube Dob w/manual setting circles/Telrad/Zhummel 8x50 RACI finder scope (*For Sale*)
Coulter Odessey 8" Dob
Celestron C11-SGT
Garrett Optical 15x70 Gemini Binoculars on homemade Parallelogram w/Setting Circles
The Albuquerque Astronomy Society (TAAS)
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Sky Captain
Metal Whisperer
Reged: 11/07/04
Posts: 7109
Loc: Issaquah, WA.
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This thread has definitely intrigued me! After studying it for a few weeks now, I decided to make a "push-to" system for my LightBridge. It certainly won't cost $12, but its going to be cool! After many nights of calculations, I came up with a circle diameter that will work for me.
I went down to Staples and had them print the circle and then laminate it. I'll post my progress here, as it's going to take atleast a week to finish it.
Many thanks to all who have posted on this thread, and the many pictures to go along with. 
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Equipment Overload!
Kerry
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Tom Andrews
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 01/25/07
Posts: 1000
Loc: Albuquerque, NM
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Kerry,
Be sure to post your pictures after completion and then your experience using it.
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Tom
The Secret To Life:
Focus on what you have, not on what you don't;
Focus on what you can do, not on what you can't.
************************************************
2007 Discovery 12.5" PDHQ Split-Tube Dob w/manual setting circles/Telrad/Zhummel 8x50 RACI finder scope (*For Sale*)
Coulter Odessey 8" Dob
Celestron C11-SGT
Garrett Optical 15x70 Gemini Binoculars on homemade Parallelogram w/Setting Circles
The Albuquerque Astronomy Society (TAAS)
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Sky Captain
Metal Whisperer
Reged: 11/07/04
Posts: 7109
Loc: Issaquah, WA.
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Quote:
...and the many pictures to go along with.
Will do Tom.
I have an up coming star party to test it out on. 
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Equipment Overload!
Kerry
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jack45
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/07/03
Posts: 2462
Loc: Lacey WA
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Carol
Many thanks!
I'm doing two scopes now with your plans and will save a lot of money! Again, great job!!!
Clear Skies!
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16"f/4.5 Discovery Split Tube/TV Paracorr
12.5"f/5 Discovery PDHQ
Orion f/4.9 XT12"Intelliscope
BV's/Bugress Model 24/Stellarvue Model BV3A
TV Smooth Side Plossls,7.4mm,10.5mm,13mm,17mm
,21mm & 26mm
Nagler EPs 9mm T/2,13mm T/1,16mm T/2,20mm T/2,26mm T/5
Axiom EPs 23mm,31mm LX
UO EPs 5MM,6MM,7MM,12.5MM
Wish List: 21mm,17mm,10mm,8mm Ethos,28"Starmaster f/3.7
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csa/montana
Den Mother
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 39594
Loc: montana
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Jack45: You are most welcome! I'm so glad so many of my fellow observers are using this great "system"!
Be sure to post pictures & your first lights with both your scopes!
Carol
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Carol
AstroTech 16" Dob (Thanks ASTRONOMICS!)
Vixen 80MF/AstroTech Voyager
Masuyama's 7.5, 15, 25W, 35mm,
Pentaxes; 5XW, 7XL, 10XW.
14mm Meade 4000 UWA
TV Panoptics; 22, 35
DreamCatcher Dobservatory, #2
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Sky Captain
Metal Whisperer
Reged: 11/07/04
Posts: 7109
Loc: Issaquah, WA.
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Quote:
I'll post my progress here, as it's going to take atleast a week to finish it.
Well, its going a little faster that I thought. I'm putting a big twist on my setting circle design. Here is the second step. The photo shows the 3-axis router table cutting the disc that the setting circle will be laminated to. The O.D. is 23.5 inches and the I.D. is 12-5\8ths". The I.D. will go over the center roller bearing of the LightBridge.
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Equipment Overload!
Kerry
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Sky Captain
Metal Whisperer
Reged: 11/07/04
Posts: 7109
Loc: Issaquah, WA.
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Here is the unfinished\cut disc laying on the base for final fitting.
This design will allow me to rotate the setting circle 360 degrees, this is a change from some of the other designs I saw which are limited to a smaller area of adjustment. Certainly nothing wrong with that method, but the LightBridge bearing system lets me get away with this design, and its less work.
Edited by Sky Captain (05/30/07 12:52 AM)
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Sky Captain
Metal Whisperer
Reged: 11/07/04
Posts: 7109
Loc: Issaquah, WA.
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After bending the tab over and threading it for a locking screw, I laminated the circle to the disc. I cut and trimmed it to fit. The LightBridge bearing is 0.155" thick, and the aluminum disc with circle laminated to it is 0.107 thick. This is enough clearance for the top to rotate and the disc will remain stationary.
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Equipment Overload!
Kerry
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BradC
sage
Reged: 01/31/07
Posts: 446
Loc: St. Louis, MO
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Niiiiiice.
Taking it to the next level! Looks great, Kerry!
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My God! It's full of stars!
Zhumell 10" dob - First Light Report
Celestron OptiView 10x50 LPR Binoculars
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jack45
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/07/03
Posts: 2462
Loc: Lacey WA
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Sky
Great job!
Clear Skies!
--------------------
16"f/4.5 Discovery Split Tube/TV Paracorr
12.5"f/5 Discovery PDHQ
Orion f/4.9 XT12"Intelliscope
BV's/Bugress Model 24/Stellarvue Model BV3A
TV Smooth Side Plossls,7.4mm,10.5mm,13mm,17mm
,21mm & 26mm
Nagler EPs 9mm T/2,13mm T/1,16mm T/2,20mm T/2,26mm T/5
Axiom EPs 23mm,31mm LX
UO EPs 5MM,6MM,7MM,12.5MM
Wish List: 21mm,17mm,10mm,8mm Ethos,28"Starmaster f/3.7
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