Well, it's been a while, but I have made steady progress on the 17.5" f.4.5. I uploaded some new shots to pages 5 and 6 of my Gallery: http://www.utahastronomy.com/Chuck?page=1 The clamp-ring mold worked well. Although 4 parts are visible in the photo, I molded 5 so I'd have a spare if one turned-out poorly, but they all seem to be perfect copies of the master pattern. Next week I will finish the machining and bodywork and mount up both pairs on the main tube for final fit checks and adjustments, if required. They will be felt-lined on the completed telescope, and will allow tube rotation as well as longitudinal balance. I can then make my final decision on the length of the bridge plates (the side plates that join the front and rear clamp ring assemblies). A PVC radius block spacer will provide the interface between the curved rings and the flat plates, in 4 locations. The fiberglass tube turned-out well. There was a bit of pre-release around the fan pocket and access door, necessitating some minor bodywork, also the rough interior of the Sonotube was of course transfered to the tube, but this was expected and dealing with it is straightforward. Only elbow grease and a long sanding block are needed to eliminate all the minor tube imperfections prior to painting. I like the looks of a traditional white tube, with black trim. Any structural metal parts (aluminum) will be given a high polish, hardware will be stainless steel for corrosion resistance. I still need to make master patterns for the end ring and back cover plate. These will give the tube a professional, finished appearance, streamlining the tube as well as adding stiffness near the spider. The entire tube will be closed when not in use, keeping dust away from the optics. The primary and secondary mirrors will also have their own close-fitting covers. The primary cover is removable through the lower access door. So-far, so-good. Stay tuned.
Looks like a real work of art Chuck -- nice job! ETA for completion...? --- Chuck Hards <chuck.hards@gmail.com> wrote:
Well, it's been a while, but I have made steady progress on the 17.5" f.4.5. I uploaded some new shots to pages 5 and 6 of my Gallery:
http://www.utahastronomy.com/Chuck?page=1
The clamp-ring mold worked well. Although 4 parts are visible in the photo, I molded 5 so I'd have a spare if one turned-out poorly, but they all seem to be perfect copies of the master pattern. Next week I will finish the machining and bodywork and mount up both pairs on the main tube for final fit checks and adjustments, if required. They will be felt-lined on the completed telescope, and will allow tube rotation as well as longitudinal balance.
I can then make my final decision on the length of the bridge plates (the side plates that join the front and rear clamp ring assemblies). A PVC radius block spacer will provide the interface between the curved rings and the flat plates, in 4 locations.
The fiberglass tube turned-out well. There was a bit of pre-release around the fan pocket and access door, necessitating some minor bodywork, also the rough interior of the Sonotube was of course transfered to the tube, but this was expected and dealing with it is straightforward. Only elbow grease and a long sanding block are needed to eliminate all the minor tube imperfections prior to painting. I like the looks of a traditional white tube, with black trim. Any structural metal parts (aluminum) will be given a high polish, hardware will be stainless steel for corrosion resistance.
I still need to make master patterns for the end ring and back cover plate. These will give the tube a professional, finished appearance, streamlining the tube as well as adding stiffness near the spider. The entire tube will be closed when not in use, keeping dust away from the optics. The primary and secondary mirrors will also have their own close-fitting covers. The primary cover is removable through the lower access door.
So-far, so-good. Stay tuned. _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com
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Thanks, Rich. I had wanted to get it operational in Dobsonian mode sometime this summer, equatorial mode next summer. But that remains to be seen. I lost about 6 weeks on it, thanks to a heavy work schedule. Still hoping for a "first light" ceremony before the weather gets cold again, next fall. Keeping my fingers crossed! On 5/18/07, Richard Tenney <retenney@yahoo.com> wrote:
Looks like a real work of art Chuck -- nice job! ETA for completion...?
I hope you get it done when you plan. I would love to peer thru it when its complete! Bob Bob Moore Commerce CRG - Salt Lake City office 175 East 400 South, Suite 700 Salt Lake City, Utah 84111 Direct: 801-303-5418 Main: 801-322-2000 Fax: 801-322-2040 BMoore@commercecrg.com www.commercecrg.com -----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces+bmoore=commercecrg.com@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces+bmoore=commercecrg.com@mailman.xmission.c om] On Behalf Of Chuck Hards Sent: Friday, May 18, 2007 7:27 PM To: Utah Astronomy Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] 17.5" Scope update Thanks, Rich. I had wanted to get it operational in Dobsonian mode sometime this summer, equatorial mode next summer. But that remains to be seen. I lost about 6 weeks on it, thanks to a heavy work schedule. Still hoping for a "first light" ceremony before the weather gets cold again, next fall. Keeping my fingers crossed! On 5/18/07, Richard Tenney <retenney@yahoo.com> wrote:
Looks like a real work of art Chuck -- nice job! ETA for completion...?
_______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.utahastronomy.com
Bob, I've reserved a place in line just for you! As is my usual M.O., I complete the tube assembly before beginning the mount. This gives me the opportunity to tweek the mount dimensions if needed, if I miscalculated the balance point significantly. But once the optical tube is functional, I can always bang-out a quick-and-dirty traditional plywood Dob base just so we can look through it- and work on the "pretty" one as time permits. On 5/18/07, Bob Moore <BMoore@commercecrg.com> wrote:
I hope you get it done when you plan. I would love to peer thru it when its complete!
Awsome! I know the feeling . once that baby is ready you want to look through it. The gingerbread can wait Bob Bob Moore Commerce CRG - Salt Lake City office 175 East 400 South, Suite 700 Salt Lake City, Utah 84111 Direct: 801-303-5418 Main: 801-322-2000 Fax: 801-322-2040 BMoore@commercecrg.com www.commercecrg.com -----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces+bmoore=commercecrg.com@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces+bmoore=commercecrg.com@mailman.xmission.c om] On Behalf Of Chuck Hards Sent: Friday, May 18, 2007 11:05 PM To: Utah Astronomy Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] 17.5" Scope update Bob, I've reserved a place in line just for you! As is my usual M.O., I complete the tube assembly before beginning the mount. This gives me the opportunity to tweek the mount dimensions if needed, if I miscalculated the balance point significantly. But once the optical tube is functional, I can always bang-out a quick-and-dirty traditional plywood Dob base just so we can look through it- and work on the "pretty" one as time permits. On 5/18/07, Bob Moore <BMoore@commercecrg.com> wrote:
I hope you get it done when you plan. I would love to peer thru it when its complete!
_______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.utahastronomy.com
Chuck, no doubt about it, you're simply a master. Great work. Thanks for sharing. What are the weight and dimensions of the tube alone? -----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces+kimharch=cut.net@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces+kimharch=cut.net@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Chuck Hards Sent: Friday, May 18, 2007 12:14 AM To: Utah Astronomy Subject: [Utah-astronomy] 17.5" Scope update Well, it's been a while, but I have made steady progress on the 17.5" f.4.5. I uploaded some new shots to pages 5 and 6 of my Gallery: http://www.utahastronomy.com/Chuck?page=1 The clamp-ring mold worked well. Although 4 parts are visible in the photo, I molded 5 so I'd have a spare if one turned-out poorly, but they all seem to be perfect copies of the master pattern. Next week I will finish the machining and bodywork and mount up both pairs on the main tube for final fit checks and adjustments, if required. They will be felt-lined on the completed telescope, and will allow tube rotation as well as longitudinal balance. I can then make my final decision on the length of the bridge plates (the side plates that join the front and rear clamp ring assemblies). A PVC radius block spacer will provide the interface between the curved rings and the flat plates, in 4 locations. The fiberglass tube turned-out well. There was a bit of pre-release around the fan pocket and access door, necessitating some minor bodywork, also the rough interior of the Sonotube was of course transfered to the tube, but this was expected and dealing with it is straightforward. Only elbow grease and a long sanding block are needed to eliminate all the minor tube imperfections prior to painting. I like the looks of a traditional white tube, with black trim. Any structural metal parts (aluminum) will be given a high polish, hardware will be stainless steel for corrosion resistance. I still need to make master patterns for the end ring and back cover plate. These will give the tube a professional, finished appearance, streamlining the tube as well as adding stiffness near the spider. The entire tube will be closed when not in use, keeping dust away from the optics. The primary and secondary mirrors will also have their own close-fitting covers. The primary cover is removable through the lower access door. So-far, so-good. Stay tuned. _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.utahastronomy.com ______________________________________________________________________ This e-mail has been scanned by Cut.Net Managed Email Content Service, using Skeptic(tm) technology powered by MessageLabs. For more information on Cut.Nets Content Service, visit http://www.cut.net ______________________________________________________________________
Kim, you would ask me that when I'm away from the shop! From memory, the main tube is something like 79 or 80 inches long, less end trim rings. 20" O.D. I haven't weighed any components yet, although I will have to soon, so I can calculate the approximate altitude/declination pivot point. Thanks to the clamp rings, there will be plenty of room for adjustment, if needed for accessories (cameras, heavy eyepieces, etc.) at the focus end. Thanks for your kind words! I hope to take you up on your kind offer of an observing site once it's finished. On 5/18/07, Kim <kimharch@cut.net> wrote:
Chuck, no doubt about it, you're simply a master. Great work. Thanks for sharing. What are the weight and dimensions of the tube alone?
participants (4)
-
Bob Moore -
Chuck Hards -
Kim -
Richard Tenney