30 replies to this topic

[xavier]

Beside the Low Profile adapters for the Unitron - Polarex draw tubes we also made an adapter to use the Unihex A or B on a 1.25" focuser. So the Unihex fits almost all kind of telescopes.
The Unihex on the TEC140. Competition for the wonderful TEC Turret.
Xavier

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[xavier]

another view

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[R Botero]

Great Xavier! I want one!

[xavier]

What do you want, Roberto? The TEC or the adapter ;-)

Ok, there we go again...
We can start a second batch of adapters if we have enough orders.
It can be the draw tube adapters or the Unihex adapter.

Xavier

[starman876]

New life for the Unihex. I like it. Considering I have a good number of Unihexes I should order some of these. How much for 10 of them.

[AllanDystrup]

You can count me in for one UHex/1.25" adapter Xavier (if you haven't already done so :-).

Thanks again for the initiative,
Allan.

[Terra Nova]

Great idea Xavier. You have inspired me. The next time I am at the machine shop I am going to open up a 2 inch to 1.25 inch adapter to the diameter of the Unihex draw tube so that I can use my Unihex in scopes with a 2 inch focuser like my AT102/F11 and my Stellarvue 80/9D.

[xavier]

People asked me photos of the Unihex - 1.25" adapter

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[xavier]

The adapter mounted on a Unihex

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[Terra Nova]

Hi Xavier,

I am making a 2 inch adapter to hold my Unihex in its drawtube for a 2 inch focuser but I am also interested in a1.25 inch adapter which is a great deal more machine work due to matching the threads perfectly. It would be easier to purchase one. How much are you asking for them?

[AllanDystrup]

That looks nice Xavier.

Do you think you will put a Unihex/T2-female adapter into production too ?

Best regards,
Allan

[xavier]

Hi Terra,
The Unihex adapter is 78USD plus shipping.
It's black anodized and has a 1.25" filter tread.

What type of Unihex are you using?
There is a small difference between the Unihex types.
Perhaps you can post a photo of the draw tube side of the Unihex?
There are two small screws at this side. The distance between the screws is very important.
Xavier

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[xavier]

Hi Allan,
We will first make a prototype of the Unihex T2 adapter.
I'll ship you the prototype to test.
Normally it shouldn't be a problem.
Xavier

[xavier]

About the timing of the next batch of Unitron adapters.
The production will start next week.
We're still open for requests.
Xavier

[Terra Nova]

Hi Xavier, my Unihex is a slant letter, late 60s Unihex A. Here's a picture. you can see that the threaded drawtube is just slightly larger than the 1.25 inch eyepiece holder. It fits flush with a nice smooth slip fit directly in the focuser tube and I don't need to use the clamp.

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[Terra Nova]

Here's a picture of the back. I definitely want one of your 1.25 inch adapters, put me down for your upcoming production run. PM sent.

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[AllanDystrup]

I'll be looking forward to test the Unihex/T2 prototype Xavier, on my Zeiss (w/ T2 bayonet and also with T2 1.25" nosepiece), as well as on my Unitron (w/ your T2-adapter) telescopes.

Thanks,
Allan

[xavier]

Hi Terra,

Your Unihex seems to be a more recent model than mine. It shouldn't be a problem for the adapter.

Xavier

[xavier]

Made a small cabinet to store all my Polarex stuff for observations.

On the left of the computer are the large drawtubes with the adapters.

The darker wooden box is an old box to store eyepieces. Two of them came with a Polarex.

One was filled the other one was empty.
It didn't take long to fill it...

On the right there is a Unihex and two Polarex Herschel wedges.
Still use them and they give a great image. Compared them with an Intes 1.25" Herschel wedge and there is no difference.

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[AllanDystrup]

Hi Xavier,

I have a Polarex Herschel wedge, but I've never used it -- I've always used an objective solar filter instead.

Do you care to describe how you use your wedge for solar observation (with a filter, or... ?).

Best regards,
Allan

[xavier]

Hi Allan,

You know you need to be careful observing the Sun. Also with a Herschel Wedge.

First you need to open the back of the wedge completely.
Use a neutral density filter screwed in the eyepiece. I use a Baader ND3.
to optimize the image you can add a Solar Continuum filter.

If the image is to clear you can put the solar diaphragm before the lens.

Never use the wedge without a filter.

I find the views better than with a front filter.

Xavier

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[AllanDystrup]

Thank you Xavier, for your guidelines for using the Unitron solar wedge!

I've been very satisfied with the Baader AstroSolar film, but I'd like to give the Uni Herschel wedge a try (I'll do a 'first light' with the Baader ND3 + solar diaphragm -- cant be too careful here ...).


If it's not too late for the current run of adapters, I'd like to order another Unitron std. drawtube/T2 adapter (for my 2.4" Uni).

Best regards,
Allan

[Terra Nova]

I have often thought of using my Unihex with my non-Unitron telescopes with standard 1.25 and 2 inch focusers. So I spent a little time in my friend's machine shop today using his lathe. And this is what I 'turned' up with.

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[Terra Nova]

Initially, I started top machine down the upper "eyepiece" end of an old Orion 1.25 inch eyepiece extension tube, but when I began threading it after trimming the length and reducing the diameter, I realized that the Chinese aluminum just wasn't up to the task. So I used a solid block of aircraft grade Alumunum, and it threaded beautifully. The threads were measured from the original Unihex tube with a thread gage. They were a standard metric thread.

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[Terra Nova]

Here you can see my Unihex adapter mating the Unihex to my Sears 6344. All I have still have to do is blacken the inside of the new adapter and it's ready for starlight.

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