10389 replies to this topic

[deSitter]

I installed a focuser motor, Meade #1244, which was NOS, on my ETX90. The scope is now as tricked out as possible. There is something just plain fun about this scope. That could have been the last new Meade thing I ever buy.

 

-drl

[deSitter]

I finished the final tweaks to my new short tripod. The rediuction of final height is about 11" - a HUGE improvement. Can't wait to get the 10" up on it! Will get lots of pics and describe the whole process. The final tripod is a sort of Tak-like 2-tone of eggshell and dark grey. It goes very well with the LXD650 mount head.

 

-drl

[CHASLX200]

Getting the CI700 ready for new owner and getting my AP800 back on Cave legs. Now i can live again and stop buying mounts i don't care for.

[Mr Magoo]

Picked up an old orange tube C8 recently that is in great shape. The scope was stored in its trunk for years but the tripod must have been in the garage was really grungy. I got it all cleaned up, replaced a missing roll pin, and adjusted. I also figured out that the scope is pretty much useless without a wedge which is missing. On the hunt for a wedge now so I can get this baby out for a test run. 

[Michael Covington]

Consider a homemade wooden wedge for your latitude.  Such a thing served me well for years.
https://www.covingto...edge/index.html

 

[deSitter]

Consider a homemade wooden wedge for your latitude.  Such a thing served me well for years.
https://www.covingto...edge/index.html

deSitter blue! I approve!

 

-drl

[andylsun]

An almost classic (nexstar 4 GT 2001) on a classic (EM-2 1998). Had to print a dovetail for the 4 GT. Will be sitting right next to it when it runs just in case.

 

first light testing hopefully tonight.

 

if nothing else practice the polar alignment and see how the GOTO is.

 

 

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Edited by andylsun, 18 July 2024 - 06:15 AM.

[norvegicus]

My kind of rig, looks like a fun project.

 

I can't quite tell what kind of clamp you're using.  When I printed dovetails I learned that they don't play well with simple set screw based clamps, as the plastic deforms around the set screw and loosens up permanently.  A metal plate glued to that side of the dovetail will spread the pressure.  A clamp with big wide pressure pads works fine.

 

In the end I chose to print adapter plates to accept metal dovetails.  If you design so that it's all through bolted it's plenty stiff and strong and you can proceed worry free.

 

My other printing comment is that I'd recommend more infill, like 45%, which is 85% as strong as solid plastic but open enough to prevent warping.  Also thick walls, like however many perimeters it takes to get to 2mm, adds a lot of stiffness.

Edited by norvegicus, 18 July 2024 - 07:05 AM.

[andylsun]

My kind of rig, looks like a fun project.

 

I can't quite tell what kind of clamp you're using.  When I printed dovetails I learned that they don't play well with simple set screw based clamps, as the plastic deforms around the set screw and loosens up permanently.  A metal plate glued to that side of the dovetail will spread the pressure.  A clamp with big wide pressure pads works fine.

 

In the end I chose to print adapter plates to accept metal dovetails.  If you design so that it's all through bolted it's plenty stiff and strong and you can proceed worry free.

 

My other printing comment is that I'd recommend more infill, like 45%, which is 85% as strong as solid plastic but open enough to prevent warping.  Also thick walls, like however many perimeters it takes to get to 2mm, adds a lot of stiffness.

My dovetail clamp uses a metal block not a screw to lock the dovetail in place. Large contact surface area.

 

I resin printed the dovetail in siraya tech blu. I loathe working in resin but it seemed the best material compared to FDM. I do think you are right that an adapter plate to an existing metal dovetail would be best, the 4GT has a weird geometry at the mount as it’s not designed for any kind of adapter other than the one it ships with.

 

i could split my model and try to mill the plate itself. That would be best.

Edit: Uploaded the 4GT side of the CAD model. CURVES EVERYWHERE

 

TBH the printed part is temporary but like a lot of my temporary prints they end up used for longer than they should.

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Edited by andylsun, 18 July 2024 - 08:02 AM.

[norvegicus]

Yeah I am still using quite a few printed prototypes because they work fine.

 

That part looks pretty solid; the walls are thicker than I realized and I've heard good things about Siraya Tech Blu.  I've been considering a resin printer but don't really have the room at this point and the toxic materials creep me out.  I like the bolster at the end to add strength to the narrow part of the dovetail, it avoids the super high stress corner right there; nice design work.

 

You probably won't need to replace that.

[Bomber Bob]

The set of 5 Takahashi Wood Legs arrived late yesterday.  Will post BEFORE pix later.  The 3-leg set is period-correct for my late-1960s Tak S-1 EQ.  The orphan pair are a mess -- they'll need a serious cleaning before I post them on the Giveaway Thread.  Aside from some surface scratches, the 3 look good -- all the slats are straight, with no cracks or chips.  The hardware will need a good soak in Rustoleum, so it'll be a while before I have the complete Kit on display, but it should be a pretty sight.

[andylsun]

Quick update. It works! After fixing my 20t vs. 16t steps per degree mistake, GOTO worked great and got close. Polar scope got me within 0.5 degrees which wasn’t very good, I need more practice.

 

the polar scope is sharp as hell but has something growing on the inside surfaces, it’s really dirty.

 

im not going to risk making it worse by taking it apart. The only obvious way in is through the front lens set.

 

I got some images but due to polar alignment issues and using my nexstar for the first time they weren’t usable. It does look like there’s very little periodic error but will know more tonight when I get guiding going.

 

also first meridian flip. No crashy. This is my first GEM. All my other mounts are either fork (LX200 onstep’d) or strain wave (DIY onstep’d) with short lenses.

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Edited by andylsun, 19 July 2024 - 06:00 AM.

[deSitter]

Quick update. It works! After fixing my 20t vs. 16t steps per degree mistake, GOTO worked great and got close. Polar scope got me within 0.5 degrees which wasn’t very good, I need more practice.

 

the polar scope is sharp as hell but has something growing on the inside surfaces, it’s really dirty.

 

im not going to risk making it worse by taking it apart. The only obvious way in is through the front lens set.

 

I got some images but due to polar alignment issues and using my nexstar for the first time they weren’t usable. It does look like there’s very little periodic error but will know more tonight when I get guiding going.

 

also first meridian flip. No crashy. This is my first GEM. All my other mounts are either fork (LX200 onstep’d) or strain wave (DIY onstep’d) with short lenses.

This happened to both my LXD75 polar scope, and an illuminated reticle guiding eyepiece. The thing they have in common - the infernal lubricant used on the helical focusing mechanism. Somehow it insinuates itself on everything. One learns to not see it

 

-drl

[andylsun]

This happened to both my LXD75 polar scope, and an illuminated reticle guiding eyepiece. The thing they have in common - the infernal lubricant used on the helical focusing mechanism. Somehow it insinuates itself on everything. One learns to not see it

 

-drl

Thanks!

 

id love it to be pristine, but you’ve seen the rest of the mount… I’m not even going to repaint the outside as I like things to visually show their life even if the insides are regreased.

[starman876]

I have observed my project standing in the corner while I await my new Hasting tube.  I think its time for a call

[Cavs56]

I had the Meade 826 cleaned and ready for a night under the skies. This was a couple of weeks ago. Took it out around 5:00pm. Tried to get the finder close at least had trees around 300yds out. Mom called at 5:45 ( she’s 90 and not doin well ) I took her to emergency. She’s doing ok not great but ok. Got home at 2:15pm saw Saturn but too cloudy. Covered with a tarp. It was supposed to be clear for two days. A lot of dew so I decided to let it in the sun for the day. Went to be with mom for the day. Went out to eat in the evening and what did I see when we came out? Storm clouds over our house. Sure enough it rained. Had to clean the mirror again re-collimate. Got it under the stars last night collimation was close moon was awesome sky was unstable around 120x Got one crater in Plato’s crater.

[ccwemyss]

Started working on an adapter so a dovetail saddle can go onto the Pentax MS-3N mount in place of the fixed clamshell. There was a 4" disk of 3/4" aluminum in the scrap pile, from having cut out blocks to attach the Edmund 4" to a dovetail plate. Somewhat oversized, not exactly round, and pretty rough from the bandsaw. But the only thing on hand with enough width and thickness. 

 

After some further trimming on the bandsaw to get closer to round, over to the belt sander for some additional cleanup. But the belt was pretty worn, and not cutting well.

 

OK, open up McMaster and put some new belts in the cart. While there, I decided to take a look at their aluminum stock to begin thinking about options for the legs.

 

And there's a category called "Rods and discs". Hmmm... turns out a 3" diameter by 1/2" thick piece of 6061 is $9.  Not worth the burned fingers and the wear on the new belt that costs almost twice that.

 

The 4" scrap is back in the pile. Good to know that when I need rounds for other things, it's better to start from McMaster than to order a square plate from Online Metals and wear out a bandsaw blade. 

 

Chip W. 

Edited by ccwemyss, 19 July 2024 - 02:44 PM.

[Bomber Bob]

The 5 "Takahashi" Legs:

 

 

I've seen some that are similar to these on the earliest Taks, but none were exactly like these 2 sets.

[deSitter]

The 5 "Takahashi" Legs:

 

S-1 Restore S02 - Leg Sets.jpg S-1 Restore S04 - Leg Sets.jpg

 

I've seen some that are similar to these on the earliest Taks, but none were exactly like these 2 sets.

Those look a lot like Polaris legs.

 

-drl

[Roger Belveal]

After repainting both inside and out of the tube, adding a Rigel Systems finder,  a helical focuser,  navigation knob, and finally getting the collimation spot on, I finished up refurbishing this little Celestron Comet Catcher today by adding a nice modest dew sheild, and adding a 9x50 right angle finder. This scope has quickly become my favorite. I'm even starting to like the color...😆

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[telesonic]

After repainting both inside and out of the tube, adding a Rigel Systems finder,  a helical focuser,  navigation knob, and finally getting the collimation spot on, I finished up refurbishing this little Celestron Comet Catcher today by adding a nice modest dew sheild, and adding a 9x50 right angle finder. 20240719_150653.jpgThis scope has quickly become my favorite. I'm even starting to like the color...

 

Roger,

Sharp looking re-do!

 

What did you use to make the dew shield? Plastic, metal, construction... etc.... I'd like to know more on how you went about that. I've got 2 of these scopes - both were basket case projects that have been repaired and repainted, and you probably have seen my white tube 2" helical focuser/ 3 vane spider modded one on here. They both could benefit from a dew shield for sure. I'd probably just make one, initially.

 

Cheers,

Temp

[Bomber Bob]

Those look a lot like Polaris legs.

 

-drl

Yeah, the 1967 to about 1970 Takahashi EQs & Tripods used the same designs (& possibly the same castings) as other better-grade exporters, like GOTO, ASTRO, etc.  But... the complete set doesn't have the dual clamps.  Honestly, the 1960s Eagle Tripod that I'm currently using with my Tak S-1 / TS-65 EQ Mount are closer to an exact match than either of these:

 

 

Imagine!  A Dishonest Seller on ZEN...

[Roger Belveal]

I went to Ace Hardware and found a nearly perfect size piece of aluminum vent pipe. I couldn't believe my luck! Just a matter of cutting it the right length. The nice thing about it is that it was long enough to make two of them, and since I have two C.Cs it will work out just fine. My other C.C is in like new condition! I don't think it's been used, and I might just keep it that way unless somebody offers me an insane amount of $ for it!😆

Roger,

Sharp looking re-do!

 

What did you use to make the dew shield? Plastic, metal, construction... etc.... I'd like to know more on how you went about that. I've got 2 of these scopes - both were basket case projects that have been repaired and repainted, and you probably have seen my white tube 2" helical focuser/ 3 vane spider modded one on here. They both could benefit from a dew shield for sure. I'd probably just make one, initially.

 

Cheers,

Temp

 

[Kasmos]

The 5 "Takahashi" Legs:

 

S-1 Restore S02 - Leg Sets.jpg S-1 Restore S04 - Leg Sets.jpg

 

I've seen some that are similar to these on the earliest Taks, but none were exactly like these 2 sets.

The legs on the left are definitely Vixen and yes they made some with those Unitron like spiked feet.

 

Jim sold the same type last year.

I remembered them because I was looking for some and they sold the day I came back from being out of town.

 

https://www.cloudyni...eader-tray-bin/

 

He's quite the Vixen expert so he might know more about this spike footed variant

Edited by Kasmos, 20 July 2024 - 02:18 AM.

[CHASLX200]

Just set the C11 on the CI700 for the buyer to demo the mount. Could have lost a foot as the 22lb weight took a slide. You know that sound when it slides down the shaft and goes thunk as it hits the tow saver. It really is a foot saver as that would for sure take out a foot. Will have to re rig the 826 to fit back on the AP800 today.