Telescope Reviews: Re: Lazy Susan For Intelliscope

The more that I read this thread, the more that I feel that Orion really needs to have their own "technical" website....let's see now, they could call it..."The Doctor Is In"

Their Intelliscope series really brings this home, in that they sell a line of Dobs with superior optics, and an amazingly accurate COL, but one that uses a flawed base, and has undersized altitude bearings.

Oh sure, we amateurs can experiment and correct this Azimuth flaw, but, IMO, instead of ignoring this issue as Orion seems to have done, they should address this problem and offer their own solutions perhaps in a news letter or a technical bulletin sent out to all registered owners!

The Lazy Susan solution is a fine one, if it is done correctly,( and we have to experiment to find how without destroying Az senors) and again,in my opinion, Orion should be right on top of this! I'm sure that they must be sending out these Az sensor boards like pop corn!...LOL!

Another accident waiting to happen are the magnetic senors on the azimuth board. It would be so simple, and inexpensive to protect them, and yet, they have done nothing about this situation except to provide you with a new Az sensor board.

I realize that Orion does not manufacture these, but couldn't they at least pass this on to those that do?

I am a great fan of Orion, and have passed along technical suggestions, which seem to be ignored.

Apparently in their new XX model, they have improved the base Az problem as well as added larger diameter Alt bearing for smoother altitude operation, so perhaps they don't ignore all suggestions!

I have moved away from the lazy susan approach, removing same, and instead using the Scope Stuff Formica ring and new "Virgin Teflon" sliders.

The Lazy Susan bearings were constantly getting "gunked up" in this windy NM high desert environment, and required constant degreasing/cleaning, and relubing of the bearings!

Another must is to attach the magnetic disc. to the base with a few dabs of quality contact cement. This solves once and for all the problem of azimuth encoder slippage with the resultant need to constantly be re tightening the main center bolt...LOL!

Cheers!
Bob

12" F/4.9 Intelliscope with COL

10" F/5.0 Coast Instrument Treckerscope,circa 1956

Stratus 35mm. Naglers 22T4, 17T4, and 12T4. BO/TMB 7mm and 5mm. TeleVue Paracorr

Barlows: GSO 2"ED 2x, Orion Shorty Plus 2.2x, TeleVue 2.5x and 3x.

Edited by Bob W6PU (09/04/08 01:24 AM)

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