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Planning My Observatory - Feedback Wanted!

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19 years 1 month ago #16167 by michaeloconnell
Replied by michaeloconnell on topic Re: Planning My Observatory - Feedback Wanted!

Do yoy think you can reach the bedrock??
its not essential but it is desirable, I had to go 6 feet down, it was great fun,
the guy next door joked that if one of us mysteriously dissapeared, he'd where to look :lol:


No bedrock here. However, from my engineering background, I know that the loading that this foundation will be able to take would literally be several tonne. Now, I know I've put on some weight in the last year or two, but remember, it'll only be taking the load of the scope! :wink:

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19 years 1 month ago #16168 by eansbro
Michael,

Is this concrete square to stabilise the legs of your mount?

Eamonn A

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19 years 1 month ago #16169 by dave_lillis
Replied by dave_lillis on topic Re: Planning My Observatory - Feedback Wanted!
Its a nice job Michael, I wish I'd been a bit more sensible when I put my pier foundation down, it might not have been so back breaking.
Are you going to attach the pillar using rawl bolts?
I used 4 and its worked well, but I drilled 8 holes just incase.

Dave L. on facebook , See my images in flickr
Chairman. Shannonside Astronomy Club (Limerick)

Carrying around my 20" obsession is going to kill me,
but what a way to go. :)
+ 12"LX200, MK67, Meade2045, 4"refractor

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19 years 1 month ago #16178 by michaeloconnell
Replied by michaeloconnell on topic Re: Planning My Observatory - Feedback Wanted!

Itgs a nice job Michael, I wish I'd been a bit more sensible when I put my pier foundation down, it might not have been so back breaking.
Are you going to attach the pillar using rawl bolts?
I used 4 and its worked well, but I drilled 8 holes just incase.

Michael,

Is this concrete square to stabilise the legs of your mount?

Eamonn A


I'm going to get a pier made from either 225mm or 300mm ductile iron pipe (whatever I can find at the right length on site). I'll then get 2 metal plates - 1 welded to each end. To the bottom one, I'll drill 4 holes and rawlbolt it to the concrete. To the top one, I'll attach my wedge via another plate of metal which will be connected to the pier by 4 adjustable bolts to allow for accurate levelling. That, at least, is the plan anyway.

Does this sound like a reasonable way about it??

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19 years 1 month ago #16180 by eansbro
Regarding the top plate of the pier, besides allowing for levelling, do you have the facility for azimuth movement when it comes to polar alighnment?

Eamonn A

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19 years 1 month ago #16185 by michaeloconnell
Replied by michaeloconnell on topic Re: Planning My Observatory - Feedback Wanted!

Regarding the top plate of the pier, besides allowing for levelling, do you have the facility for azimuth movement when it comes to polar alighnment?

Eamonn A


Good question! There is some tolerence in the design of the wedge to rotate it a few degrees. However, I would like a bit more, just in case I screw it up. I was planning to get elongated holes cut/drilled in the top plate of steel to allow for extra room. However, to do this, I'll need to polar align the scope roughly on the steel plate BEFORE cutting/drilling the holes for the wedge to ensure accuracy.
Alternatively, I could try a single central bolt to hold the wedge to the metal plate. The benefit of this is that it allows great room for adjusting the wedge after in az. However, I'm concerned that it could be accidentally hit while observing and cause the wedge to move/rotate slightly.
What I may do is use the single central bolt idea initially, and when I'm happy with my polar alignment, drill a second bolt later to securely hold the whole thing together. How does this sound to you?

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