34 replies to this topic

[akulapanam]

Larry as I noted above Teleskop Service does sell the part you need today.

[Hawkdl2]

Thanks, but all I can find on the TS site is a 600 euro upgrade that includes a new focuser as part of a complete rebuild.  I am pretty sure Ron's adapter will cost closer to the $150 of the current adapter for tube RCs and not require a new focuser.  Unless I missed an adapter-only option from TS, I am inclined to wait to see what Ron offers.  

 

Larry

[akulapanam]

You have to e-mail. TS there option minus the focuser will be roughly the same price.

[Hawkdl2]

I received the truss version of the isolation flange from Ron at Moonlite to field test, and installed it last weekend.   I'm posting it here instead of a new thread so the information about the two flanges for tube and truss RCs is together and easy to find.

 

The piece is extremely well made and finished.  In addition, Ron has improved the original flange made for the tube RCs to include a built-in collimation ring.  The installation process is essentially the same as Tolga demonstrated in his video for the tube RCs except that because the backplate of the truss RC is flat aluminum instead of the convex cast aluminum back of the tube RCs, there is less clearance between the mirror cell and the backplate of the OTA.  Ron supplied me with three lengths of bolts since I do not think he had access to a truss RC to test the fit (20mm, 25mm and 30mm thread length).  Here was the trick: The back of the mirror cell has 6 radial arms that hold the mirror and if the holes for the bolts are drilled over where the arms of the cell are, the 25mm bolts will just barely make contact with the arms of the cell.  20mm bolts are too short and 30mm are way to long.  If the holes are drilled to be between the arms, the 25mm bolts are fine.  To properly align the flange to the optical path, pilot marks are made with a drill while the cell and backplate are assembled. However, there's no way to see where the arms are unless the OTA's backplate is first partially removed from the mirror cell.  Not knowing this, I made the hole pilot marks with a drill as Tolga shows in his video, assuming there would be clearance, but that ended up placing the drill holes right over the mirror cell arms.  The solution is to dissemble everything and mark where the arms are, then reassemble and drill the pilot marks, then disassemble again to finish drilling the holes, or do what I did, just align the drill marks however you want and then grind down the bolts about 2mm.  Of course, if you "know" where the arms are you can align the pilot drill marks to avoid the 6 arms.  If anyone is curious, the arms are coincident with the three main collimation bolts and the three fan holes in the back plate.  Split those distances when you make the pilot drill marks and you can easily use the 25mm bolts without having to disassemble the back plate and mirror cell twice. 

 

I'm really happy with this flange/collimation ring.  The overall height of the new flange/ring is about 10mm less than the stock arrangement with a collimation ring, so I now have a bit more backfocus distance to play with - not to mention compelte separation of the mirror from the focuser and imaging train.  Voila, "new" RC.

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[gomezdb]

Tolga/Ron, clever way to address the issues related to the mirror cell and focuser. Have you tried to sell this idea to GSO to see if they can put it in practice for all new OTAs?

Clear skies!
Diego

[akulapanam]

Tolga/Ron, clever way to address the issues related to the mirror cell and focuser. Have you tried to sell this idea to GSO to see if they can put it in practice for all new OTAs?

Clear skies!
Diego

All new truss ones already have this built in.

[gomezdb]

 

Tolga/Ron, clever way to address the issues related to the mirror cell and focuser. Have you tried to sell this idea to GSO to see if they can put it in practice for all new OTAs?

Clear skies!
Diego

All new truss ones already have this built in.

 

Hi there,

 

Thanks for your comment. I am aware that the new truss versions already include this feature but it hasn’t been added to the tubes types yet ( well as far as I know). I’d love to have a truss version however I am fully mobile so I don’t think it is an option for me right now. 

 

Clear skies,

Diego

[ollie31770]

It appears that Moonlite no longer sells this adapter.  Does anyone know of something similar that's available?

[akulapanam]

It appears that Moonlite no longer sells this adapter. Does anyone know of something similar that's available?

Teleskop Express made something similar.

[Corsica]

I agree that the OTA likely was the cause of the differential flexure.  However, after this modification, I am hoping the differrential flexure issue will be greatly reduced or eliminated.  Once I do some imaging runs with the guide scope, I will report back with my results.  I do have a ONAG device and it does work well and I don't get any elongated stars using it.  However, I do struggle finding guide stars on some DSO's.  Using a guide scope, I do find many guide stars so hoping I can also use the guide scope at times when I need it.

 

James

I am not sure which mount you own but you could be interested on this CN post and related thread as well as the links on optimal guiding provide in the post:

 

https://www.cloudyni...s/#entry8849069

 

If you could use longer guider exposure time values you would then have access to more guide stars since the limiting magnitude will go up. Binning also helps on that ground.

 

Finally there is another option which is full frame guiding.

This technology works with very low SNR values at which you can barely see any star.

We are in the process to release a new improved ASCOM version version of SKSS.

Now SkyGuide and SkyGuard will be different applications:

 

https://www.innovati...iding-focusing/