10248 replies to this topic

[norvegicus]

Made an ID plate for an ATM Dob for a CN member.  Laser engraved gold anodized aluminum, 8" x 4".

 

There is a typo, since fixed....

 

Edited by norvegicus, 23 April 2025 - 06:44 AM.

[CHASLX200]

Moved the GP mount to cut some base boards.

[Kitfox]

Made an ID plate for an ATM Dob for a CN member.  Laser engraved gold anodized aluminum, 8" x 4".

 

There is a typo, since fixed....

 

IMG_5016.jpeg

 

Glad you caught that!  Do you have the engraver?  I love the layout.  Kitfox Acres Observatory needs something like that...

[norvegicus]

Glad you caught that!  Do you have the engraver?  I love the layout.  Kitfox Acres Observatory needs something like that...

I do.  I'd be happy to make you something.

[deSitter]

Wow seems I started something good! I love my badges! I'm going to tackle that little problem soon. It's gonna be very, very nice.

 

-drl

[luxo II]

Compact backend for my MCT, assembled... it's just 38mm from the front surface of the primary to the rear of the backplate, and with collimation for the primary independent of the backplate. Foam ring keeps external air (and dust) out of the interior of the scope. Focuser is a TS UNC2G2 R&P.

 

Minimizing the backfocus was one part of  the approach to achieve F/12 and a small secondary mirror.

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Edited by luxo II, 25 April 2025 - 05:53 AM.

[Garyth64]

What size is the secondary for the f/12?  Generally, I think that the smaller the f-ratio is the larger the secondary.  I like playing with the math.

[luxo II]

Gary the secondary is 65mm. Assembled the flashlight test shows the CO is 27%. Primary is about f/3.5 - I haven't measured the RoC accurately. Maybe next time.

Edited by luxo II, 25 April 2025 - 07:47 PM.

[CHASLX200]

Moved the 826 to another room so drywall can be slapped up.

[cavedweller]

While testing a CI-700, I decided to break the barrier that was preventing me from using my Meade 178ED. I was able to attach a D-style dovetail plate to the cradle and mount it on the CI-700. This is way too much scope for this mount, especially with the pier extension. It was very shakey, mostly from the tripod. I had to add weights from another CI-700 kit to balance it. Beyond that, the views were very sharp with no color on Jupiter. I could see some markings on Mars with an Orion 3mm planetary EP. I switched to a Meade RG 20mm WA and M13 is sparkling. I am very happy with this scope. I just need to put it on a better mount next time I have it out.

 

 

[CHASLX200]

While testing a CI-700, I decided to break the barrier that was preventing me from using my Meade 178ED. I was able to attach a D-style dovetail plate to the cradle and mount it on the CI-700. This is way too much scope for this mount, especially with the pier extension. It was very shakey, mostly from the tripod. I had to add weights from another CI-700 kit to balance it. Beyond that, the views were very sharp with no color on Jupiter. I could see some markings on Mars with an Orion 3mm planetary EP. I switched to a Meade RG 20mm WA and M13 is sparkling. I am very happy with this scope. I just need to put it on a better mount next time I have it out.

 

 

Meade 178ED on Celestron CI-700.JPG

AP800 can do it. I got rid my 2 CI-700's.

[starman876]

While testing a CI-700, I decided to break the barrier that was preventing me from using my Meade 178ED. I was able to attach a D-style dovetail plate to the cradle and mount it on the CI-700. This is way too much scope for this mount, especially with the pier extension. It was very shakey, mostly from the tripod. I had to add weights from another CI-700 kit to balance it. Beyond that, the views were very sharp with no color on Jupiter. I could see some markings on Mars with an Orion 3mm planetary EP. I switched to a Meade RG 20mm WA and M13 is sparkling. I am very happy with this scope. I just need to put it on a better mount next time I have it out.

 

 

Meade 178ED on Celestron CI-700.JPG

another happy Meade 178ED owner.  Good to see.  Loved the one I had. 

[jragsdale]

The 4" Unitron I just picked up didn't have the solar projection setup so I snagged some 5/8" tubing at a local metal supply shop and 3D printed a pair of screens, copying the dimensions exactly from another pair I have. Came out really nice! Metal thumbscrews and metal threads so should be durable and long lasting too! Used PETG so it is much more heat resistant for this application.

 

[deSitter]

The 4" Unitron I just picked up didn't have the solar projection setup so I snagged some 5/8" tubing at a local metal supply shop and 3D printed a pair of screens, copying the dimensions exactly from another pair I have. Came out really nice! Metal thumbscrews and metal threads so should be durable and long lasting too! Used PETG so it is much more heat resistant for this application.

 

20250428_092749.jpg

 

That's very cool! But I never understood this system - you need a 2nd screen to cast a shadow, and the image is backward. The right-angle screen of classics has a built-in shadow maker and the image is correct.

 

-drl

[starman876]

That's very cool! But I never understood this system - you need a 2nd screen to cast a shadow, and the image is backward. The right-angle screen of classics has a built-in shadow maker and the image is correct.

 

-drl

the black screen prevents sunlight from hitting the image screen providing for a clearer and brighter picture on the viewing screen.   The focuser goes into the hole and therefore blocks all direct sunlight from hitting the viewing screen.    Only light provided through the scope is seen on the viewing screen. 

[Garyth64]

I use an orphaned solar projection system from a 4" Unitron in outreach events.

 

Here is the set up using just a 60mm x 700mm  scope:

 

-I blew the image up a little.

 

 

These are the brackets I had   norvegicus make for me.

Edited by Garyth64, 29 April 2025 - 11:49 AM.

[norvegicus]

Those look familiar.  Glad they worked out for you.  

[Garyth64]

Those look familiar.  Glad they worked out for you.  

I was looking for your name so I could spell it right.  that's why I didn't fill in the blank until now.

 

The brackets are excellent!  thanks again

Edited by Garyth64, 29 April 2025 - 11:51 AM.

[jragsdale]

These are the brackets I had   norvegicus make for me.

I decided to 3D print some Unitron clone rings as well, starting here with the 4" Unibalance rings. I need to find some thicker green felt to make it closer to the original but I tried to make it as close as possible while still making it easy to print and very strong.

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[mpsteidle]

This is way too much scope for this mount, especially with the pier extension. It was very shakey, mostly from the tripod.

Fortunately this is counter balanced by the massive cool factor.

[clamchip]

My new ETX-125EC suffered a catastrophic failure to Dec drive in the left fork and is why it was noted

in the seller's ad the drive doesn't work. Her son worked on it and is why the motor fell out, I think he

knew it was over for the poor scope and didn't put it back together completely.

It looks to me like the drive overpowered the stop and broke all the Dec motor mounts cast into the plastic

fork arm. I good reason not to lock down the clutch too tight on these early models, and also the reason

why Meade quickly made an aluminum skeletal framework for these mounts. 

RA drive works great! I can slew at high speed, not that that will do me any good. And most importantly 

I can track. Too bad but there's nothing I can do, it's not repairable.  

Now the optical tube, there's nothing wrong with it and it is the whole reason I bought the crippled instrument.

It's the most beautiful anodized blue. These ETX are known for superb optics. This will be my 3rd 125. I haven't

hung on to them long in the past and I think this is because the f/15 focal ratio is a bit claustrophobic. No, that's

not the reason, I'm very accustom to f/15 with my love of the f/15 achromat. I think it's more because the

ETX is "easy come, easy go" meaning they are readily available and easy to sell, so when I have a panic attack

from too many telescopes the ETX are my first to go.

This one is going right to bench test, after I clean it up. I just know I'm going to see close to perfection. Although

it is a pretty rare sight to see a Spot Mak test perfect. The optics are the best they can be with what there is to

work with, the secondary figure is fixed and really cannot be figured independently. But even with this handicap

a Spot Mak is marvelous.

 

Robert

Edited by clamchip, 01 May 2025 - 10:52 AM.

[deSitter]

My new ETX-125EC suffered a catastrophic failure to Dec drive in the left fork and is why it was noted

in the seller's ad the drive doesn't work. Her son worked on it and is why the motor fell out, I think he

knew it was over for the poor scope and didn't put it back together completely.

It looks to me like the drive overpowered the stop and broke all the Dec motor mounts cast into the plastic

fork arm. I good reason not to lock down the clutch too tight on these early models, and also the reason

why Meade quickly made an aluminum skeletal framework for these mounts. 

RA drive works great! I can slew at high speed, not that that will do me any good. And most importantly 

I can track. Too bad but there's nothing I can do, it's not repairable.  

Now the optical tube, there's nothing wrong with it and it is the whole reason I bought the crippled instrument.

It's the most beautiful anodized blue. These ETX are known for superb optics. This will be my 3rd 125. I haven't

hung on to them long in the past and I think this is because the f/15 focal ratio is a bit claustrophobic. No, that's

not the reason, I'm very accustom to f/15 with my love of the f/15 achromat. I think it's more because the

ETX is "easy come, easy go" meaning they are readily available and easy to sell, so when I have a panic attack

from too many telescopes the ETX are my first to go.

This one is going right to bench test, after I clean it up. I just know I'm going to see close to perfection. Although

it is a pretty rare sight to see a Spot Mak test perfect. The optics are the best they can be with what there is to

work with, the secondary figure is fixed and really cannot be figured independently. But even with this handicap

a Spot Mak is marvelous.

 

Robert

 

Make sure to test at the back port instead of the flip mirror - but you know that.

 

-drl

[Mike W]

Making a riser for my surveyors tripod with extra long 4" pvc coupling and 4"-2" adapters

 

[icomet]

My last Cave Astrola going through its final tweeking.

 

Clear Skies. 

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[clamchip]

Make sure to test at the back port instead of the flip mirror - but you know that.

 

-drl

I'm hoping to put an eyepiece in the scope to set the mirror spacing. In fact I might even have the supplied 26mm

the ETX comes with and I'll bet it will put the mirror spacing right where the engineer wanted best correction.

Once I have the optimum mirror spacing I'll bench test the telescope and see what I find without touching the focus

knob for starters.

I'll remove the whole plastic control box so I have lots of room to test on both sides of focus and see how it all

looks. 

 

Robert

Edited by clamchip, 01 May 2025 - 03:34 PM.