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Is this Pinched Optics?

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#1 PirateMike

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Posted 10 March 2017 - 10:32 PM

I have an older AT65EDQ and I am wondering if these "triangular stars" are caused by pinched optics. If so, is there a way for myself or others to correct the issue?

 

M44_cr.png



#2 rockstarbill

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Posted 10 March 2017 - 10:34 PM

Sure is. Did you loosen the ring around the flattening element?



#3 junomike

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Posted 10 March 2017 - 10:34 PM

Looks like Pinched Optics to me.  Seems like this shows up in the  AT65EDQ on a weekly basis.

 

Mike



#4 rockstarbill

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Posted 10 March 2017 - 10:35 PM

That's because it surfaces when it is cold out. :)



#5 rockstarbill

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Posted 10 March 2017 - 10:38 PM

https://www.youtube....h?v=Sj_IyhRspTM

 

Note: My 65 Quad does not allow the retaining ring by the objective to be removed, so I only loosened the ring by the flattening element. This video shows both and explains why this happens.



#6 leveye

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Posted 10 March 2017 - 10:39 PM

Anytime I've ever had this issue I was told by the company that is was pinched optics and that the retainer and spacer rings needed to be loosened and just snugged back together. They had been cranked on too tight. It may not look so bad in the warmer months.


Edited by leveye, 10 March 2017 - 10:40 PM.


#7 PirateMike

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Posted 10 March 2017 - 10:43 PM

Sure is. Did you loosen the ring around the flattening element?  I haven't loosened any rings. Should I loosen the ring to the flattening lens?

 

That's because it surfaces when it is cold out.  It sure has been cold here in Puerto Rico lately!  shocked.gif


Edited by PirateMike, 11 March 2017 - 01:50 AM.


#8 PirateMike

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Posted 10 March 2017 - 10:43 PM

I'll loosen the rings and see what happens. Thanks



#9 jpbutler

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Posted 10 March 2017 - 10:45 PM

Sure is. Did you loosen the ring around the flattening element?  I haven't loosened any rings. Should I loosen the ring to the flattening ring?

 

That's because it surfaces when it is cold out.  It sure has been cold here in Puerto Rico lately!  shocked.gif

Puerto Puerto Puerto Rico.

You lucky dog.

We had snow today.

 

John



#10 EdmontonAB

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Posted 10 March 2017 - 11:01 PM

Just had this problem and fixed it by loosening the retaining ring of the flattener.  http://www.cloudynig...q-apo-not-good/



#11 PirateMike

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Posted 10 March 2017 - 11:08 PM

 

Sure is. Did you loosen the ring around the flattening element?  I haven't loosened any rings. Should I loosen the ring to the flattening ring?

 

That's because it surfaces when it is cold out.  It sure has been cold here in Puerto Rico lately!  shocked.gif

Puerto Puerto Puerto Rico.

You lucky dog.

We had snow today.

 

John

 

I feel your pain. I came here from New Hampshire. My last month there was January 1987, record snowfall for that month.



#12 PirateMike

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Posted 10 March 2017 - 11:09 PM

Just had this problem and fixed it by loosening the retaining ring of the flattener.  http://www.cloudynig...q-apo-not-good/

I going to give it a try. Thanks for the link.



#13 PirateMike

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Posted 10 March 2017 - 11:41 PM

I loosened the ring around the flattener and the main objective. Loosened just enough to have the lenses move around when the scope is shaken side to side.

 

I'll update with the results in a week or so.



#14 EdmontonAB

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Posted 10 March 2017 - 11:49 PM

I would feel confident that your issue is now fixed.  Keep us posted.



#15 rockstarbill

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Posted 10 March 2017 - 11:50 PM

I did  the same with my AT65EDQ, and I am still waiting for the sky to clear up to test it. mad.gif



#16 PirateMike

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Posted 11 March 2017 - 01:02 AM

I did  the same with my AT65EDQ, and I am still waiting for the sky to clear up to test it. mad.gif

Let's compare results. smile.gif



#17 rockstarbill

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Posted 11 March 2017 - 01:07 AM

Sure thing, Mike.

 

I loosened mine quite a bit. I did it once and it wasn't enough. 

 

http://www.astrobin..../?real=&nc=user



#18 PirateMike

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Posted 11 March 2017 - 02:16 AM

It seems that the objective lenses jiggle around just a little less when I tighten down the dew shield screw nice and snug. I have to assume that this could be an issue. I will test to see if this is so.

 

I'll put the tube rings back on and see if that lessens the jiggle on the flattener lens too and if it makes any difference in pinching.


Edited by PirateMike, 11 March 2017 - 02:19 AM.


#19 rockstarbill

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Posted 11 March 2017 - 02:17 AM

Mine had no jiggle before, and a little bit after. Once you connect them the jiggle will go away yes. Curious to hear your experience.



#20 Richard Whalen

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Posted 12 March 2017 - 10:21 PM

hopefully just pinched optics, but if making it loose does not work might be a badly figured lens. 



#21 PirateMike

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Posted 13 March 2017 - 08:56 AM

I took my telescope out last night for a visual check after I cleaned all the lenses and put it back together. The retaining rings have a very loose thread, and when kept loose so as not to pinch the optics, the ring can self tighten. I am wondering what to do so that the rings will stay in place ever so slightly above the lens.

 

The views through the scope are better than they have ever been, very noticeable difference. Looking good so far. I'm just waiting for the moon to go away to take some images of hopefully round stars.


Edited by PirateMike, 13 March 2017 - 08:57 AM.


#22 PirateMike

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Posted 16 March 2017 - 12:11 AM

So, while waiting for the moon to go away in order to test out my "adjusted" scope, I have purchased a few items to add to my setup. tomatodance.gif tomatodance.gif tomatodance.gif

 

http://www.teleskop-...65mm-f-6-5.html

 

and some M48 extensions from OPT

 

Now I will be able to screw my camera equipment onto my telescope. Just waiting for delivery.  



#23 rockstarbill

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Posted 16 March 2017 - 02:10 AM

Not a bad idea. The slide in adapter isn't my favorite. If the optics are fixed I may look into that

#24 PirateMike

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Posted 26 March 2017 - 08:40 PM

UPDATE

 

Tonight I will try to get at least one shot of the stars. Weather is breaking and it will most likely be clear later on.

 

Here is what I did to my scope...

 

I took the lens cell apart and cleaned all the lenses to perfection. Did the same on the flattener lens.

 

I put everything back together using a black sheet of the foam that kids use for school projects, you know, the kind found in drug stores that come in many different colors.

 

I cut the foam to the size of the holding rings (not so easy to do good, it took a few tries) and used that as a kind of gasket. The gasket stops the lenses from jiggling around and keeps the holding rings in place so that they won't loosen or tighten on their own. I put the gaskets directly under the holding rings.

 

I tightened down the holding rings onto the foam gaskets just enough to compress the foam ever so slightly.

 

Now to try out my engineering fix. Wish me luck.


Edited by PirateMike, 27 March 2017 - 03:44 PM.


#25 PirateMike

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Posted 27 March 2017 - 03:58 AM

Here are the results of my labor.

 

Target... little M104

 

 

Star Test Full.png

 

 




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