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Am I overmounting?

Started by KDizzle , Aug 08 2012 10:50 PM

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26 replies to this topic

#1 KDizzle

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Posted 08 August 2012 - 10:50 PM

Just got my pier today so finally I was able to put the mount head on something. But now I am thinking maybe I am overmounting?

Posted Image

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#2 solshaker

Vanguard

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Posted 08 August 2012 - 11:11 PM

impossible!

thats a beauty.

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#3 laconicsax

Vostok 1

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Posted 08 August 2012 - 11:16 PM

If that's an MX, you may be pushing the mount's capacity limit.

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#4 KDizzle

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Posted 08 August 2012 - 11:42 PM

Yep, ME. Do you think I need to use the counterweight bar? All jokes aside, scope should be here in a week or so - super excited. Although I have no idea how this mount works yet.

Pier is from pier-tech ('tri-pier'), with the pier caddy. I can't say I have seen a lot of piers, but compared with the wheely bars with the CGE Pro, this thing is seriously rock solid and super easy to roll around.

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#5 Tim2723

The Moon Guy

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Joined: 19 Feb 2004

Posted 09 August 2012 - 12:36 AM

As long as you can see the EP, there's no such thing as over-mounting. Nice hunk of anodize though! Lotsa holes. Can't have too many holes.

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#6 bilgebay

Fly Me to the Moon

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Posted 09 August 2012 - 03:06 AM

As long as you can see the EP, there's no such thing as over-mounting.

+ 1

Congratulations on the new equipment. The mount and tripod look beautiful!

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#7 jchoy46

Vostok 1

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Posted 09 August 2012 - 06:02 AM

thats some great gear you have there... grats... can i have the old cgem

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#8 Midnight Dan

James Webb Space Telescope

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Posted 09 August 2012 - 06:10 AM

That's one gorgeous mount! :bow:

-Dan

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#9 Husbyggarn

Mariner 2

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Posted 09 August 2012 - 06:58 AM

Well, not if you're going to focus your scope with an excavator...

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#10 JAT Observatory

NOT a Wimp

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Posted 09 August 2012 - 08:58 AM

Make sure that scope is locked down tight so it doesn't slide off and break your foot.

Nice mount.

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#11 SomeDoSomeDont

Mariner 2

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Posted 09 August 2012 - 09:15 AM

Too much is never enough.

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#12 wormstar

Apollo

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Posted 09 August 2012 - 11:20 AM

Beautiful mount-wish I could have kept mine

I don't believe I have ever posted a negative comment before, but that tripod looks like a weak link in the stability department?? Does it seem rigid?

Keith

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#13 KDizzle

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Posted 09 August 2012 - 12:22 PM

Actually the try pier seems super robust to me in comparison with the one I have for the my CGE Pro. I even stood on the platform to test its "bounciness" and it was pretty solid. The pier itself is solid as a rock. The legs from the pier are the weirdest part but I think I figured it out. I was able to get them bolted onto the lets for the pier caddy. I reckon the pier et al is rated to 600 lb capacity and I should be coming in around maybe 300 or so. I guess the real test will then be when the new OTA comes and we see what kind of results it puts out. Of course my assumption is that if they are bad it will be user error.

This is the pier:
http://www.pier-tech...escope_pier.htm

This is the caddy thing:
http://www.pier-tech..._pier_caddy.htm

Now, as you can see, I probably didn't do it right because my pictures don't look like theirs. They seem to have removed the "tripod leg things" and somehow attached the pier directly to the caddy, but I wasn't able to figure that part out. I guess maybe I'll ask.

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#14 Jared

Cosmos

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Posted 09 August 2012 - 01:59 PM

I'm worried that you might need a counterweight extension in order to properly balance that refractor. How long is the stock counterweight shaft on the ME?

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#15 EyeSage

Vostok 1

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Posted 09 August 2012 - 02:37 PM

Just got my pier today so finally I was able to put the mount head on something. But now I am thinking maybe I am overmounting?

That's like asking if you might have too much money... no such thing.

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#16 shark-bait

Apollo

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Posted 09 August 2012 - 04:34 PM

I would try some "anti-gravity" counter weights to get a good balance.

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#17 wormstar

Apollo

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Posted 09 August 2012 - 05:09 PM

Cool, I'm glad its robust, it certainly does look awesome

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#18 s2jesse

Vostok 1

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Joined: 17 Jan 2005

Posted 09 August 2012 - 05:45 PM

Just got my pier today so finally I was able to put the mount head on something. But now I am thinking maybe I am overmounting?

Lol

I was wondering the same thing with mine the other day.

https://www.dropbox....zda2/noflex.jpg

Since yours is the big daddy you might be ok...

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#19 rigel123

ISS

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Posted 09 August 2012 - 09:41 PM

Next thing you are going to tell us is that it is a 6" refractor in the picture riding on that massive mount!

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#20 orlyandico

Cosmos

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Joined: 10 Aug 2009

Posted 10 August 2012 - 12:07 AM

No, you are undermounted to tell the truth :grin:

http://www.skyandtel...-159744325.html

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#21 jmiele

Patron Saint?

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Posted 10 August 2012 - 10:45 AM

Just got my pier today so finally I was able to put the mount head on something. But now I am thinking maybe I am overmounting?

The mount should be ok, however, I would see if Andy Homeyer can make you a cradle for the tube. It would increase rigidity.

Best, Joe

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#22 KDizzle

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Posted 10 August 2012 - 09:55 PM

So I put my NP101is on there for the night and thought I would try to learn the software tonight. But really one counterweight all the way up is too much... I am thinking it might even be better to run without a counterweight.

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#23 brianb11213

Cosmos

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Posted 11 August 2012 - 01:28 AM

So I put my NP101is on there for the night and thought I would try to learn the software tonight. But really one counterweight all the way up is too much... I am thinking it might even be better to run without a counterweight.

You probably need a styrofoam counterweight. Or stuff a Meade series 5000 40mm SWA "hand grenade" in the NP101, that will balance out a good few kilos of steel at the other end of the dec shaft ;-)

Actually that rig looks very well balanced, it might even cope with the capricious 60mph zephyrs that are commonplace in this part of the world. Your yard is sloping at a funny angle though ;-)

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#24 KDizzle

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Posted 11 August 2012 - 02:01 AM

Totally did not work. Kept getting the error "Mount hit something or is not well balanced." Not really any surprise there. Tried to bungie a 5 lb weight on there and couldn't get close.
Guess I'll just have to ... wait (pun intended) ... for the CDK. Maybe this upcoming week? /pray /cross-fingers /etc

Oh, P.S... the driveway "entrances" are sloped, but the top area there is actually very flat and has the largest expanse of non-tree hiddden sky...