1214 replies to this topic

[ekallgren]

That is a very nice result nateman_doo, the stars look very good across the field. 

 

Very inspirational, I'm excited to get to work on mine. 

 

Just received notification that the new plate will be delivered today.

 

Once I get it put back together and collimated, and out under some clear skies I will post the results here.

 

 

[pfile]

lol my cat is sleeping on top of the RC6 box which is where the extensions are. but i found the old focuser sitting out and the ID of the female end is about 89mm. in a few hours i can try to measure "A" on the RC6

 

rob

i measured 23.8mm from the edge of the extension tube to the flat part of back on the 6RC. it's not a terribly accurate measurement, it could be a little less. the bevel around countersink hole for the large collimation screw is partially covered by the extension tube.

 

rob

[nateman_doo]

i measured 23.8mm from the edge of the extension tube to the flat part of back on the 6RC. it's not a terribly accurate measurement, it could be a little less. the bevel around countersink hole for the large collimation screw is partially covered by the extension tube.

 

rob

Thanks!  Will update the measurements and see how it turns out.

 

 

That is a very nice result nateman_doo, the stars look very good across the field. 

 

Very inspirational, I'm excited to get to work on mine. 

 

Just received notification that the new plate will be delivered today.

 

Once I get it put back together and collimated, and out under some clear skies I will post the results here.

 

Nice!  much sooner than I thought.  Looking forward to an independent review! 

[Mert]

Wish I were in the USA, shipping will be an adventure from over here, I'm convinced your solution is definite

[nateman_doo]

 

Wish I were in the USA, shipping will be an adventure from over here, I'm convinced your solution is definite

Step into my office...

[Mert]

Does the mirror come out of the backplate loosening the collimation screws?

[ekallgren]

Well, I received the adapter from nateman_doo and I reassembled the scope and to my surprise the collimation is not very far off.

 

I'm very happy with the quality of the adapter it is excellent. nateman_doo is a craftsman and i would say very good at his craft.

I need to get my collimation tools back from a friend so I can dial this thing in.  

Here is the preliminary screenshot from CCD inspector, and a Cheshire more to follow.

 

 

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Edited by ekallgren, 15 July 2022 - 05:38 PM.

[nateman_doo]

Does the mirror come out of the backplate loosening the collimation screws?

 

Take the rear mirror cell out of the scope, unscrew the baffle, take the mirror off and just send the mirror cell.  With the factory collimation screws.  I use that chunk the mirror sits in to indicate the entire part concentric to the optical path.

[nateman_doo]

Well, I received the adapter from nateman_doo and I reassembled the scope and to my surprise the collimation is not very far off.

 

I'm very happy with the quality of the adapter it is excellent. nateman_doo is a craftsman and i would say very good at his craft.

I need to get my collimation tools back from a friend so I can dial this thing in.  

Here is the preliminary screenshot from CCD inspector, more to follow.

 

How do you use the CCD inspector?   Id love to see the setup you are using in the daylight?

[ekallgren]

How do you use the CCD inspector?   Id love to see the setup you are using in the daylight?

All i do is set up my Flat Panel and take a flat and open it in CCD Inspector and under the "Analysis" dropdown pick "Flat frame Analysis' and it will produce that output.

[nateman_doo]

Interesting.  I have been using ASTAP or something like that.  Take a 30 second image of a random star field and do a tilt sensor analysis.  I even used it to collimate my refractor.  

 

As far as the RC collimation I put my farpoint astro fine laser into the tube, adjusted the adapter to point it at the secondart center, then adjusted the secondary to point the laser back on itself and then just fiddled with the primary via Cheshire and then on to the Star test.  Never touching the focuser or adapter.  

[Mert]

Please check pm, would like to order asap. 👍

[nateman_doo]

Yup. I'm away this week.

[Mert]

👍

[ekallgren]

Let me start by saying that nateman_doo's adapter made the rest of the collimation a breeze.

I was able to get my collimation tools back from a friend this afternoon. 

Within an hour I had reached a point that I can't get it any better until I have a very steady night under the stars.

 

Here is a scene shot of a flat in CCD Inspector. What do you think?  So far, I couldn't be happier.

 

  

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[nateman_doo]

That is absolutely music to my ears.  Can't wait to see some star tests! 

[ekallgren]

I was finally able to get the Optical and Mechanical axis to lineup.

 

Thank you for suppling such a service and a great part!

 

I still haven't had it under the stars as yet, but I think that this has taken the scope to a new level.

 

I will post the ongoing results here.

[nateman_doo]

Yea, i kinda fell in love with the scope all over again.  Glad it's working out for you! Cant wait for more updates! 

[Mert]

What is the turnaround time? I need to plan for shipment etc.

[nateman_doo]

It takes 2 full days to complete once I sit down with the scope back and the Aluminium.  

[ekallgren]

I was able to get out last night to work on the "Collimation".

As you can see from the attached it is very close. It needs a bit more work.

The skies were not very steady.

This is a stack of 100 X 120 sec 

Getting close.

Should have taken flats also, but not really necessary for this exercise.

C&C?

 

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[pfile]

by the way, speaking of flats, the baffle extensions for these various GSO RCs are pretty important. if you don't have one it's worth picking one up.

 

rob

[Mert]

I was able to get out last night to work on the "Collimation".
As you can see from the attached it is very close. It needs a bit more work.
The skies were not very steady.
This is a stack of 100 X 120 sec
Getting close.
Should have taken flats also, but not really necessary for this exercise.
C&C?

That looks superb, also the stars in the corners look perfectly round

Edited by Mert, 20 July 2022 - 12:00 PM.

[unimatrix0]

by the way, speaking of flats, the baffle extensions for these various GSO RCs are pretty important. if you don't have one it's worth picking one up.

 

rob

I made my own with a 3D printer, but if anyone wants to know and have a 3D printer at home, it can be done very fast and improves the images a lot, since no unwanted light messes with the images. 

https://youtu.be/nHuLrYe-oik

 

 

Here is the one for RC6 and RC10, I haven't found it for the RC8, but anyone with the RC6 model downloaded can mess with the dimensions in your favorite slicer. 

https://www.thingive...ngutier/designs

[pfile]

yeah, i don't have a 3D printer so had to buy. be warned though that joel has discovered that there are definitely multiple baffles for the 6 and so there are accordingly 2 different designs for the extension.

 

not sure about the 8 and the 10 regarding different designs but given GSO's MO anything is possible.

 

rob