1316 replies to this topic

[Mert]

You'll be a happy camper, I can assure you that!

[PeteM]

Man, that looks good! Maybe I should be looking for a 12" closed tube RC...

[nateman_doo]

added panel #3.

 

We havent seen the sun in weeks.  Its crazy.  yall gotta stop buying new gear.  its only a few panels so its not as clean as the top right which is where I started this project and got dozens of hours on that spot. maybe if the clouds ever disappear?  Its like a nuclear winter in the north east.  Plant life will be suffering soon.

[paseve]

Thanks for the parts nateman!   Outstanding quality - you're a real craftsman!!  I got everything back together and collimated pretty well I think - no tweaks made outside.

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Edited by paseve, 27 January 2024 - 09:31 PM.

[nateman_doo]

Man, that just looks super clean.  you actually have clear skies?!  why have I been so forsaken here?

[grazer]

Hi all,

 

I've just stumbled across this thread - really cool stuff ! I've seen a few people mention Nate's instruction video but I can't find a link to it. Does anyone have a link they could share please ?

 

Grazer

[nateman_doo]

For some reason i dont get updates to this thread.  Sent the link via PM.

[DavesGalaxy]

Hi All,

 

It's been a while since I got my adapter and I've been working on this long M 81 project.  I have been taking my scope in and out of the house as I have a portable setup.  So I decided to check my collimation, and guess what?  Still spot on!!!  I hope to be wrapping up my project soon so I can share my masterpiece    Thanks again James for an excellent adapter that makes my RC8 and easy grab and go with no worries about collimation!

 

- Dave

[nateman_doo]

Hi All,

 

It's been a while since I got my adapter and I've been working on this long M 81 project.  I have been taking my scope in and out of the house as I have a portable setup.  So I decided to check my collimation, and guess what?  Still spot on!!!  I hope to be wrapping up my project soon so I can share my masterpiece    Thanks again James for an excellent adapter that makes my RC8 and easy grab and go with no worries about collimation!

 

- Dave

  awesome! 

 

I want to see how well my scope keeps the collimation as It sits in the case on the drive to texas for the eclipse.  

here is where its at now:

[Mert]

Simply fantastic result! The best I have seen soo far.

[nateman_doo]

Simply fantastic result! The best I have seen soo far.

Thanks!  whoever mentioned to use the spider veins to do your initial cheshire alignment was the magic bullet for me.  I used the joints where it connects to the scope body as a guide to get it centered by eye, and this was the result.  I had NO adjustments to make.  that being said Its a perfectly balanced image.   I may have my reducer/corrector off a bit in the spacing, but I dont want to touch anything.  We all learn from each other here.

Edited by nateman_doo, 11 February 2024 - 06:46 AM.

[DavesGalaxy]

Thanks!  whoever mentioned to use the spider veins to do your initial cheshire alignment was the magic bullet for me.  I used the joints where it connects to the scope body as a guide to get it centered by eye, and this was the result.  I had NO adjustments to make.  that being said Its a perfectly balanced image.   I may have my reducer/corrector off a bit in the spacing, but I dont want to touch anything.  We all learn from each other here.

Yep I think that was me   My eyes are too bad for a cheshire (which is also why I no longer do visual) so the OCAL is a game changer!  I am happy to contribute and more to come 

 

Posted 18 December 2023 - 07:02 AM

I feel my way to collimate with the OCAL 3.0 is now perfect!  I use one of those ring lights used for video conferencing as it has a hole in the middle to allow adjustment of the secondary screws then it is attached to a Smallrig adjustable arm attached to the telescope via a Vixen clamp.  Now I can re-collimated in the field if needed in the dark without needing my flat panel and with the scope mounted!  Thanks to the primary decoupler, I can now focus on getting the focuser and secondary perfectly aligned by using the blue circle to align the focuser to the center mark and the red circle to align the secondary to the OCAL's camera till both are concentric to each other (before starting align the green circle with the draw tube of the focuser using the offset setting).  The a final rough alignment of the primary using the spider vanes as my guild and the OCAL's cross lines rotated to match the vanes.  This is just a rough alignment as as only star alignment to zero in on the perfect primary alignment.  I have confirmed this with a laser and a Cheshire eyepiece to confirm this is accurate then put those away for good :-).

Also I should point out, all I have to do is replace the camera with the OCAL so that my alignment is exactly how it would be with the camera mounted at the proper back focus.  No more needing to remove the secondary or the baffle tube extension to align the focuser to the secondary :-)

 

-Dave

Edited by DavesGalaxy, 11 February 2024 - 07:00 AM.

[nateman_doo]

sounds familiar.  using the secondary position to align the primary wasnt easy without great young eyes.  But seeing the transition where the vane hits the mount itself is a much easier transition.

[Mert]

Thanks! whoever mentioned to use the spider veins to do your initial cheshire alignment was the magic bullet for me. I used the joints where it connects to the scope body as a guide to get it centered by eye, and this was the result. I had NO adjustments to make. that being said Its a perfectly balanced image. I may have my reducer/corrector off a bit in the spacing, but I dont want to touch anything. We all learn from each other here.

Can I ask you which Cheshire you use?
I don't have one and maybe will order to add to my already extensive toolkit.

[DevonRob]

Yep I think that was me   My eyes are too bad for a cheshire (which is also why I no longer do visual) so the OCAL is a game changer!  I am happy to contribute and more to come 

 

Posted 18 December 2023 - 07:02 AM

I feel my way to collimate with the OCAL 3.0 is now perfect!  I use one of those ring lights used for video conferencing as it has a hole in the middle to allow adjustment of the secondary screws then it is attached to a Smallrig adjustable arm attached to the telescope via a Vixen clamp.  Now I can re-collimated in the field if needed in the dark without needing my flat panel and with the scope mounted!  Thanks to the primary decoupler, I can now focus on getting the focuser and secondary perfectly aligned by using the blue circle to align the focuser to the center mark and the red circle to align the secondary to the OCAL's camera till both are concentric to each other (before starting align the green circle with the draw tube of the focuser using the offset setting).  The a final rough alignment of the primary using the spider vanes as my guild and the OCAL's cross lines rotated to match the vanes.  This is just a rough alignment as as only star alignment to zero in on the perfect primary alignment.  I have confirmed this with a laser and a Cheshire eyepiece to confirm this is accurate then put those away for good :-).

Also I should point out, all I have to do is replace the camera with the OCAL so that my alignment is exactly how it would be with the camera mounted at the proper back focus.  No more needing to remove the secondary or the baffle tube extension to align the focuser to the secondary :-)

 

-Dave

Def be interested to see a vid clip or some photos of your process. The OCAL 2.0 I have is OK - but doesn't sound nearly as useful as you're finding the 3.0.

[Mert]

Thanks! whoever mentioned to use the spider veins to do your initial cheshire alignment was the magic bullet for me. I used the joints where it connects to the scope body as a guide to get it centered by eye, and this was the result. I had NO adjustments to make. that being said Its a perfectly balanced image. I may have my reducer/corrector off a bit in the spacing, but I dont want to touch anything. We all learn from each other here.

Can I ask you which Cheshire you use?
I don't have one and maybe will order to add to my already extensive toolkit.

[nateman_doo]

its a 2" cheshire from Farpoint astro.  my entire process uses the farpoint kit.  they have a very fine 2" laser that I point down the center at the center of the secondary, and adjusting the plate to put the beam in the center (while using a telescopic mirror), then adjust the secondary to put the beam back on itself.  Never touching them again.  Cheshire to now use the factory collimation screws on the primary to get the primary aligned leaving equal amounts of the spider vane studs in the view.

[slagrim]

Long time I struggled to collimate my Orion 8-inch RC. As soon as I put imaging train (ASI2600MM Pro+OAG-L+EFW) on the tube with all required extensions and tuning up with stars, I was getting oblong stars as soon as mount made 30 and more degrees. I replaced original focuser for TS-Optics 2.5" R&P. It did not help a lot and my RC started to collect dust on garage shelf. Right before last Christmas, I found Nate’s thread about R/C Collimation adapter. There was over twenty pages already and I have read all of them. It was like a shot in the arm and I contacted Nate to make an adapter for me. I watched Nate’s instruction video and as soon I got the adapter, I mounted it on the tube. I took me over two (!!!) hours to install it – not because it was so complicated. I was able to install it in 15 minutes, but . . . I felt myself like a kid who got a new toy. I was playing with it! Drilled one hole, de-burr it, wiped all parts, step back and look at it, drill another hole and so on. Collimation was easy. Now, weather started to play major role. I got my first picture only last week having just 12 hours of exposure with narrow-band Chroma SHO filters. And here is the picture. Nate! Here is your big contribution in it. Thank you very much!

Edited by slagrim, 16 February 2024 - 01:31 AM.

[nateman_doo]

That target has always been on my bucket list!  I am happy you fell in love with your scope all over again!  Id love to see the install??  

 

 

There is someone out there with a 10" version I am still anxiously waiting some images.... You know who you are  

[Mert]

its a 2" cheshire from Farpoint astro. my entire process uses the farpoint kit. they have a very fine 2" laser that I point down the center at the center of the secondary, and adjusting the plate to put the beam in the center (while using a telescopic mirror), then adjust the secondary to put the beam back on itself. Never touching them again. Cheshire to now use the factory collimation screws on the primary to get the primary aligned leaving equal amounts of the spider vane studs in the view.

That sounds very straight forward.
I will change my procedure slightly to see if I can improve.

[slagrim]

That target has always been on my bucket list!  I am happy you fell in love with your scope all over again!  Id love to see the install?? 

Here is how it looks:

[slagrim]

And here is closeup:

[nateman_doo]

Here is how it looks:

RC8+2600MM+EFW+OAG-L.jpg

Man, that is such an awesome image.  Its such a clean setup in what looks like a Mediterranean villa on a mountaintop somewhere.

[nateman_doo]

I keep checking my tilt on this scope and I sometimes really just stare in awe.  So I thought I would just do a random check of something lower on the horizon, and then much higher.  

 

on the very first post of this thread, if you look at the front of my scope there is a ZWO 120 with a CS lens in front. I use it as an all-sky view with sharp cap to know when something is going to hit a tree, or clouds or whatever.  Here is the view as I write this of M101:

 

Here is the sensor tilt analysis in that location:

 

I left the windows time in the bottom corner.  I am going to take another screen shot and do another tilt sensor analysis and I expect the numbers to be very similar.  

[DevonRob]

That's a neat idea - might even do that myself as I have a lot of trees to contend with.