New eyepieces and my new mirror .

Here's the Meade Ep's I received today.

I read up on the sizes and weights but was still amazed at how big the 34mm is . Thats a full size tin of beans there ,

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Heres the mirror I received about 2 months ago for my new scope build . It's a 14.7" (373mm) . Thats an A4 envelope above it in the pic,

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It's coming together slowly but surely


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Can't wait to see it when it's finished joner! Take your time and do it right. I have built 2 modest 8" reflectors in the past. The first was alright because I was inexperienced and rushed it a bit. It worked, but it wasn't even close to being called a work of art! The second was much more portable and better to use. The funny thing is, I don't have a single photo of the finished product - forgot about that completely. So make sure you take pictures along the construction way AND when it's finished!



Seanie.

Here's a quick pick for you Seanie.

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The mirror box is 320mm high and 470mm wide ,made with 12mm thick baltic birch . The secondary cage will store inside the mirror box as in the pic. It is made from 12mm thick by 25mm wide baltic birch rings with a mixture of aluminium 19mm tubes where the 3 vane spider connects and 2 hardwood 16mm dowels with a baltic birch focuser board that is curved on the inside to only 4mm thick in the centre so the focuser can be even closer. The spider and mirror holder is made from .5mm stainless steel vanes and 3.5mm aluminium sheet .Also in the bottom of the box you can see the mirror support parts. The mirror will be supported on an 18 point plop designed cell.

My cousin is welding me up a stainless steel primary support frame and cage .I am not going to use a traditional design as the collimation bolts will be mounted at the sides to keep the height of the mirror and cell low. The completed mirror and cell will be less than 70mm in height when complete. With the complete mirror and cell + the height of the secondary mirror cage (210mm) I will still have enough storage space inside the mirror box for the side bearings wich will be removable for storage.

The whole design concept I have for this scope is a 1 trip assembly design with my observing chair and eyepieces.


Here's the prototype chair I made with baltic birch ,it's nice and lite,

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I'm gonna start building them for sale as I have a surpless of about 6 sheets of birch left and have to use it up.
There will be some design changes from the chair pictured here.
:silly: .



joner.

Here's the chair folded flat for transport,

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I'm gonna fit a shoulder strap for easy transport.

Hi Joner,
Weldone on getting it all together, its a fair bit of work and I hope you get many hours under the stars with it.

Thanks Dave.

I may get a gander through your one some day .