New Observatory - MkII
- philiplardner
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- Red Giant
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15 years 8 months ago #77210
by philiplardner
Replied by philiplardner on topic Re:New Observatory - MkII
I was going to suggest joining the LesveDome group... but you beat me to it!
Farnell Electronics ie.farnell.com/ or Radionics radionics.rs-online.com/web/ both have a selection of motors (AC/DC/synchronous/stepper) off the shelf. Both have on-line catalogues, but you may find the paper catalogues easier to search. I have both... if you're in the area! Alternatively if you can get your hands on a second hand / salvage motor from somewhere (from inside a large photocopier or other office machine) you could easily use that. For a light weight dome, the motor shouldn't need to be too big if it is geared down to a sensible speed - torque will increase.
Phil.
Farnell Electronics ie.farnell.com/ or Radionics radionics.rs-online.com/web/ both have a selection of motors (AC/DC/synchronous/stepper) off the shelf. Both have on-line catalogues, but you may find the paper catalogues easier to search. I have both... if you're in the area! Alternatively if you can get your hands on a second hand / salvage motor from somewhere (from inside a large photocopier or other office machine) you could easily use that. For a light weight dome, the motor shouldn't need to be too big if it is geared down to a sensible speed - torque will increase.
Phil.
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- michaeloconnell
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15 years 7 months ago #77735
by michaeloconnell
Replied by michaeloconnell on topic Re:New Observatory - MkII
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- carlobeirnes
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15 years 7 months ago #77736
by carlobeirnes
Carl O’Beirnes,
Scopes and Space Ltd,
Unit A8 Airside Enterprise Centre,
Swords, Co Dublin,
Ireland.
www.scopesandspace.ie/
www.facebook.com/scopesandspace
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Replied by carlobeirnes on topic Re:New Observatory - MkII
Very nice Michael, One question how do you plan stopping rain water getting in under the bottom of the dome
Carl O’Beirnes,
Scopes and Space Ltd,
Unit A8 Airside Enterprise Centre,
Swords, Co Dublin,
Ireland.
www.scopesandspace.ie/
www.facebook.com/scopesandspace
twitter.com/ScopesandSpace
www.youtube.com/user/ScopesandSpace
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- michaeloconnell
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15 years 6 months ago - 15 years 6 months ago #77910
by michaeloconnell
Replied by michaeloconnell on topic Re:New Observatory - MkII
Carl,
I will use a sealent.
However, it won't be the end of the world if a small bit does get in.
I will have a timber floor inside there too.
Photo of timber flooring in progress:
Due to the fact that it is a difficult area to photograph properly because it is a small confinned space, this image is a merge of 4 images and some distortion has occured.
For example, the pier is actually in the centre of the dome!
I have used 75mm x 75mm x 2.4m (3inch x 3inch x 8ft) lengths of treated timber as the joists and then have 150mm x 20mm x 2.4m (6inch x 3/4 inch x 8ft) lengths of "gravel board" - again, treated timber. This will be the flooring and should last in this sort of environment as it is pressure treated. If I need to bring in a cable under the flooring, it's very easy to lift up a floorboard. The floor boards are held down on the joists with screws so that they are easy to take back up again.
Note the extra large gap on the LHS of the pier in the flooring - this is for the cables to come up by the pier.
Note the gap in the timber by the edge of the dome on the RHS - this is due to the use of 8ft lengths of timber in a 9ft dome. I will fix all this at the very end when the flooring is all in.
The pier is supported on a separate foundation from that of the floor. The timber spans across the pier foundation so that walking on the dome floor should, in theory, not cause any vibrations in the pier. The floor boards are cut so as to leave a gap around the pier.
2 cables are just visible on the far side of the flooring - these are the power and broadband cables. For now, I will have the PC and a flat-screen monitor in the dome to get everything set up. In time, I might build a warm room directly adjacet to the dome. Speaking of which, anyone know where I could get a really cheap second-hand flatscreen monitor?
Thanks,
Michael.
I will use a sealent.
However, it won't be the end of the world if a small bit does get in.
I will have a timber floor inside there too.
Photo of timber flooring in progress:
Due to the fact that it is a difficult area to photograph properly because it is a small confinned space, this image is a merge of 4 images and some distortion has occured.
For example, the pier is actually in the centre of the dome!
I have used 75mm x 75mm x 2.4m (3inch x 3inch x 8ft) lengths of treated timber as the joists and then have 150mm x 20mm x 2.4m (6inch x 3/4 inch x 8ft) lengths of "gravel board" - again, treated timber. This will be the flooring and should last in this sort of environment as it is pressure treated. If I need to bring in a cable under the flooring, it's very easy to lift up a floorboard. The floor boards are held down on the joists with screws so that they are easy to take back up again.
Note the extra large gap on the LHS of the pier in the flooring - this is for the cables to come up by the pier.
Note the gap in the timber by the edge of the dome on the RHS - this is due to the use of 8ft lengths of timber in a 9ft dome. I will fix all this at the very end when the flooring is all in.
The pier is supported on a separate foundation from that of the floor. The timber spans across the pier foundation so that walking on the dome floor should, in theory, not cause any vibrations in the pier. The floor boards are cut so as to leave a gap around the pier.
2 cables are just visible on the far side of the flooring - these are the power and broadband cables. For now, I will have the PC and a flat-screen monitor in the dome to get everything set up. In time, I might build a warm room directly adjacet to the dome. Speaking of which, anyone know where I could get a really cheap second-hand flatscreen monitor?
Thanks,
Michael.
Last edit: 15 years 6 months ago by michaeloconnell.
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- jeyjey
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15 years 6 months ago #77914
by jeyjey
Nikon 18x70s / UA Millennium                              Colorado:
Solarscope SF70 / TV Pronto / AP400QMDÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Coronado SolarMax40 DS / Bogen 055+3130
APM MC1610 / Tak FC-125 / AP1200GTOÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Tak Mewlon 250 / AP600EGTO
Replied by jeyjey on topic Re:New Observatory - MkII
Looks like it's coming along well, Michael!
-- Jeff.
-- Jeff.
Nikon 18x70s / UA Millennium                              Colorado:
Solarscope SF70 / TV Pronto / AP400QMDÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Coronado SolarMax40 DS / Bogen 055+3130
APM MC1610 / Tak FC-125 / AP1200GTOÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Tak Mewlon 250 / AP600EGTO
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- Frank Ryan
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15 years 6 months ago #77917
by Frank Ryan
My Astrophotography
Shannonside Astronomy Club __________________________________________
Meade ETX-125PE, Bresser 10 x 50 Binos & Me Peepers
Replied by Frank Ryan on topic Re:New Observatory - MkII
Lookin good Mike!!!
My Astrophotography
Shannonside Astronomy Club __________________________________________
Meade ETX-125PE, Bresser 10 x 50 Binos & Me Peepers
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