Limerick Astronomy Club

The truss looks pretty neat. It would certainly help the storage problem. It would be a good bit of work to do though ,but if you're up for it......

I checked the TS site for Dobs. A basic 12" can be got for €600 and a 10" for €450.

Actually having looked at it again that design wouldn't work on the club scope.

It would be a massive amount of work to get a truss like that right, who'd wanna do it ???

Don,
sorry for the delay with this,
the dimensions for the Formica sheet are
605 mm X 605 mm.

Dave,
whenever you have a free hour you are more than welcome to call out
and have a good look at the scope here.

I'm at home all day today (Saturday) and should be around Sunday morning.
Just give me a ring whenever you want to call.

Scratch that about this morning Dave, I'm off to the beach.
Sometime during next week?

Yea, better for me aswell.
I'll see as the week goes on.

Well the update with the club scope is as follows:
Conan our new PRO is now curator of the scope.
Dave & I called round last night and did some more work.

We dismounted the secondary mirror from its housing which was rusted and broken.
Dave took measurements of the secondary and all the measurements
of the bottom of the scope for the new main mirror cell.

The base of the scope needs new Formica which is
605 mm X 605 mm.
Also we need to get some Teflon strips for inside the rocker box to make
it more sturdy and reduce flexure when moving around in azimuth.

Grand the work goes on, what's the timde table on that Frank ?

Timetable?
A.S.A.P.


We need it for the public observing session!

Just to let the club members know we are nearing full restoration of the club 12 inch at long last.
The new base is now fitted and is lighter and smoother than ever before.
The new mirror cell should be arriving soon and with that we will be 90 percent there.
Coupled with our newly acquired Celestron monster binoculars
http://www.cloudynights.com/item.php?item_id=193
and the 70mm retractor we will have a grand arsenal of instruments available for use.

We are 99% there with the restoration process now.
Commendations to Dave & Conan for putting in long hours
and great effort to get it to where it is today.

The new mirror cell & focuser were fitted and are working beautifully.
New handles were added for ease lifting along with weights to
balance it all.
The telrad is attached and makes all the difference
(it was hell before trying to find anything with the old finder scope)
The new base was attached but is not as smooth as expected
so a new sheet of formica will be attached soon.
The pads were filed down and make it run smoother.

There are still a few things left to do including fitting a
spring mechinisam (Daves idea) so that the scope holds balance better,
an accessory box to be attached to the eyepiece side of the
rocker box to hold the bits and bobs at easy reach.
Finally, the mirrors will be sent to the UK for recoating.

Again,
excellent work to all involved, it's a credit to the club once more
and I personally can't wait to see members using it again.

Conan / Dave.
How are ye finding the movement of the scope overall.
It seems the base is still not as good as it could be.

We really need to get a sheet of the formica as we said.
I think that will solve it.

Don, I think you said you knew a guy that might have some?

Frank,
I was talking to Conan last week and he was saying that the azimuth axis is a small bit jerky, we basically need the Formica, that black wood is not suitable.

Ive an idea.
I dont know why i didnt think of it before!?
I could cut a square of 6.4mm
Laminated safety glass which is 10 times stronger than normal
Glass and would be well able to take the load / use.
Think of the glass thats used for staircases etc.
I can drill out a hole in the center for the bolt and
Then polish the edges.
Yes. This will work im sure.

Cool, so long as it wont break and doesnt weigt a ton.
Its worth a try.