268 replies to this topic

[CHASLX200]

I would be happy to pay 6k for a 510 mount.

[starman876]

Looking forward to seeing more updates on the 510 Unitron. 

[jgraham]

Heh, heh, good news and bad news...

The good news is that it was unexpectedly clear around sunset last night so I had the 510 out taking a peek at Venus before it gets too low. I actually found it a couple of hours before sunset. I have seen Venus look so beautiful as it has through my 155 and the 510.

The bad news is that I didn't have time to write.

However...

I took some pictures of how I'm setting up the 510 and I'll post those when I get a chance.

Lots happening, I just need to find the time to write the posts.

One crisis at a time...

Edited by jgraham, 13 July 2023 - 08:45 AM.

[starman876]

I bet a lot of us would love to look through that wonderful scope.

[Scott99]

I bet a lot of us would love to look through that wonderful scope.

Now I'm really wishing I'd gone to NEAF this year!  I'd be happy just to see a Unitron 5-inch in person

[jgraham]

The Plan is to have it there next year. Gotta continue The Tradition! 😀

[starman876]

The Plan is to have it there next year. Gotta continue The Tradition!

I remember when that tradition started    What a nice bunch of gents that started the tradition.

[jgraham]

My Plan was to post a series of notes in rough chronological order and that is still The Plan, but sometimes things happen that are just too much fun to wait. So...

 

Our Plan for this scope was to use it both for personal observing and for outreach. To accomplish either one of these it is necessary to figure out how to make it easy and convenient to set up. The best scope is the one that you use, and if the fiddle factor is just too high, then it tends to get relegated to specialty tasks that are worth the fiddling. The 510 has been on a nice trajectory to becoming a scope that was easy to set up, offering a high-performance factor and a low fiddle factor. Tonight, I had a chance to give that theory a stress test.

 

Once again, the evening was unexpectedly clear. On the way home from dinner my wife suggested that I get the scope out. Gotta love her! It wasn't forecast to stay clear very long so I wasn't sure about committing too much time to the effort, but it might be a good chance to test my ability to assemble the scope quickly without making any mistakes. Kind of a practice run for setting up for an outreach event.

 

To make a long story short... less than 30 minutes after we pulled into the driveway...

 

 

...I'm in the backyard tracking Venus in daylight.

 

I think we're ready.

 

I'll post a summary of the setup sequence with pictures this weekend.

 

Fun stuff!

 

[starman876]

My Plan was to post a series of notes in rough chronological order and that is still The Plan, but sometimes things happen that are just too much fun to wait. So...

 

Our Plan for this scope was to use it both for personal observing and for outreach. To accomplish either one of these it is necessary to figure out how to make it easy and convenient to set up. The best scope is the one that you use, and if the fiddle factor is just too high, then it tends to get relegated to specialty tasks that are worth the fiddling. The 510 has been on a nice trajectory to becoming a scope that was easy to set up, offering a high-performance factor and a low fiddle factor. Tonight, I had a chance to give that theory a stress test.

 

Once again, the evening was unexpectedly clear. On the way home from dinner my wife suggested that I get the scope out. Gotta love her! It wasn't forecast to stay clear very long so I wasn't sure about committing too much time to the effort, but it might be a good chance to test my ability to assemble the scope quickly without making any mistakes. Kind of a practice run for setting up for an outreach event.

 

To make a long story short... less than 30 minutes after we pulled into the driveway...

 

Unitron 510 (7-13-2023)-2.jpg

 

...I'm in the backyard tracking Venus in daylight.

 

I think we're ready.

 

I'll post a summary of the setup sequence with pictures this weekend.

 

Fun stuff!

That is awesome.   Congrats on taming the beast

[Jim Curry]

So majestic.

[jgraham]

We had an unexpected clear-ish evening a few evenings ago and I took advantage of this opportunity to take some pictures while setting the 510 up in my backyard.

 

So...

 

The first step is to set the tripod up with the spreader installed and one leg pointing north. I store the tripod upright with the legs attached to the hub, so it’s a simple matter of carrying it outside and setting it down on a relatively level spot. The Plan is to eventually install 3 small pavers into the ground so that the tripod is level, but for, this spot has proven to be close enough.

 

 

Next, I roll the equatorial head out on a padded cart and position it on a line south of the tripod.

 

The equatorial head is then slid forward on the cart until it overhangs the end and the R.A. circle rests on the cart’s padded crossbar. This lowers the mounting hub and positions it roughly horizontal.

 

The tripod is then leaned back on the south pair of legs until it aligns with the mount and the two are joined by slipping the tripod’s hub over the mount’s, and the azimuth locking knob is snugged.

 

While straddling the cart I can now begin lifting the mount assembly by gripping the telescope cradle and slowly lifting the mount paying a lot of attention how I am managing the weight. What I have found is that there are several positions during the lift where it s easy to stop, shift my grip, and then continue.

 

 

 

[jgraham]

As the lift progresses the weight is increasingly shifted to the tripod legs and it gets pretty easy fairly quickly. The key is to take my time, not be in a hurry, and think about what I’m doing. 

 

 

The hard part is now over. Next, add the counterweights…

 

...and the telescope tube…

 

...the right-angle finder, Unibalance, slow motion locks, controls, and supports, and the clock drive...

 

 

 

[jgraham]

Fine tune the balance…

 

...and I’m all set for an evening of observing...

 

 

From start to finish the process take about 20-30 minutes, including several trips into my house. Disassembly is the reverse process. To help make the process a little easier all of the most commonly used parts are being organized and packed along with the OTA in the main cabinet (which is beautiful by the way). I'm also assembling a set of nice set of padded cases to help organize and transport and its parts outreach events, and we may get our first opportunity in a few weeks at a local park.

 

Overall, I find assembling the 510 to be quick and easy. Everything is well thought out and self-explanatory. Personally, I have always found having a nice routine for setting up and putting away to be an enjoyable part of the evening.

 

Next up; my adventure shifts from familiarizing myself with the telescope to using the telescope.

 

Enjoy!

 

[starman876]

Fine tune the balance…

 

10_Finshed-1.jpg

...and I’m all set for an evening of observing...

 

10_Finshed-2.jpg

 

From start to finish the process take about 20-30 minutes, including several trips into my house. Disassembly is the reverse process. To help make the process a little easier all of the most commonly used parts are being organized and packed along with the OTA in the main cabinet (which is beautiful by the way). I'm also assembling a set of nice set of padded cases to help organize and transport and its parts outreach events, and we may get our first opportunity in a few weeks at a local park.

 

Overall, I find assembling the 510 to be quick and easy. Everything is well thought out and self-explanatory. Personally, I have always found having a nice routine for setting up and putting away to be an enjoyable part of the evening.

 

Next up; my adventure shifts from familiarizing myself with the telescope to using the telescope.

 

Enjoy!

that is awesome.  Glad you figured out the easy way.  That is how I set up the 160 or any 4" unitron.  

[deSitter]

Fine tune the balance…

 

10_Finshed-1.jpg

...and I’m all set for an evening of observing...

 

10_Finshed-2.jpg

 

From start to finish the process take about 20-30 minutes, including several trips into my house. Disassembly is the reverse process. To help make the process a little easier all of the most commonly used parts are being organized and packed along with the OTA in the main cabinet (which is beautiful by the way). I'm also assembling a set of nice set of padded cases to help organize and transport and its parts outreach events, and we may get our first opportunity in a few weeks at a local park.

 

Overall, I find assembling the 510 to be quick and easy. Everything is well thought out and self-explanatory. Personally, I have always found having a nice routine for setting up and putting away to be an enjoyable part of the evening.

 

Next up; my adventure shifts from familiarizing myself with the telescope to using the telescope.

 

Enjoy!

Is this the same head as on the 6"?

 

-drl

[Kasmos]

It looks like you have it licked. The only thing I can add is; to speed things up I sometimes take a small piece of blue painters paint and use it as a mark on the OTA and or counter weight shaft that tells me where the point of balance is. Or I measure it from a component and write it down.

[CHASLX200]

Is this the same head as on the 6"?

 

-drl

No. It is 100's of lbs bigger in size.  I could lift the whole 510 mount on the tripod when i had mine 35 years ago.  The 6" U is 880lbs.  The 510 is around 278lbs or mine was with the 3". guide scope.

Edited by CHASLX200, 16 July 2023 - 02:18 PM.

[jgraham]

Heh, heh, I made a small set of marks on the tube so that when they line up with the cradle the tube is balanced and rotated properly for the locks and slow-motion controls.

That cart is one of the handiest accessories that I have brought. I originally bought it to help move my Orion Atlas. I used to call it my Atlas Back-saver. 😀

Edited by jgraham, 16 July 2023 - 02:29 PM.

[jgraham]

By the way, the clock drive has really settled in. I check the oil before I install it and I may add just a drop. It just hums along all night long using the 120vac output from my battery.

[starman876]

By the way, the clock drive has really settled in. I check the oil before I install it and I may add just a drop. It just hums along all night long using the 120vac output from my battery.

good to hear the clock drive is humming along

[combatdad]

Is this the same head as on the 6"?

 

-drl

This photo taken at Ball State University shows the difference between the 4 inch and 6 inch Unitrons.  Quite a difference in size and weight.

 

Dave

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[jcruse64]

Holy Moley!!! That's like seeing Godzilla and Son of Godzilla side-by-side!!!

[deSitter]

Holy Moley!!! That's like seeing Godzilla and Son of Godzilla side-by-side!!!

Looks like an 8"! The head on the 5" seems more than enough for a 6".

 

-drl

[jgraham]

Unitron produced an amazing series of telescopes. Just gorgeous!

[combatdad]

Looks like an 8"! The head on the 5" seems more than enough for a 6".

 

-drl

Speaking of 8 inch...here is a pic of the Mega-Godzilla...a mighty 9 inch!

 

More history and pics of the scope on the Unitron History site: https://www.unitronh...tron-model-900/.

 

Enjoy!

 

Dave

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