Roof roller system

[Mukv]

I've been asked about my obs build so I thought I'd share the roof roller system I'm working on, The  whole roof will be rolling on 16mm bar welded to the top frame of the walls and outrigger rails, my whole obsy is built around a steel sub frame made from 50mm x 50mm x 3mm box section steel welded into sections and hot dipped galvanized no pictures yet because only just back from galvanizing, This is about the roro system.

The rollers I'm using are from a local company http://www.fhbrundle.co.uk/ the pictures show a mock up of the embedded roller in a short section on box section steel that will form the  rolling rail on each side of the roof the finished rails will be 2.26m long in the picture is a view inside the box section showing the spacing each side of the bearing, washers will be replaced by a solid spacer made on the lathe  when final assembly commences .

Andy

[Bizibilder]

Very neat and low profile - looks like a useful idea.

[teleskopjo]

How will you secure in place the pipe onto which these wheels will roll?

[ollypenrice]

Very good. Though I've never used this kind of female rim on male rail I do think it's likely to be the best option, self guiding, free rolling and not prone to filling up with water or grit.

Not many use steel for observatories but I've made several with steel frames and one with just a steel roof.

Cheap, light, strong, quick and durable. Best of all my local steelyard just let you cut your own with a radial arm grinder (fat chance in the UK!!!) so you can go down with a cutting list and come back with a kit-form observatory ready to weld up.

I see you're in Mansfield. I taught at Sutton Centre for 23 years. Takes me back!

Olly

[Tinker1947]

Going to be a interesting build steel box section, i used to like welding frames ect out of that, get a really neat weld with a mig, good luck with it...

[Mukv]

the top plate that the rollers run on has a 16mm solid round bar welded full length of the side walls and the outriggers have the same bar extended along their length, all in all a very solid setup.

I tested the rollers on the track this morning and even with the galvanizing they run very free with no snagging the whole length, just need to use a bit of heat to level a slight dip on one of the walls, it should be ok and not damage the galv.

I'll post some pictures soon but work keeps getting in the way lol.

The workshop where I'm building is in Sutton in ashfield near the rail crossing on station rd.

Andy

[Mukv]

got a little work done on casting the base for the pier this afternoon.

next will be the floor whenever the weather  decides to play ball!

Andy

[laser_jock99]

Solid looking pier base.

[Mukv]

Greetings again

The base has been setting for 2 weeks now so it's time for a test fit of the pier.

[Mukv]

next stage is the laying of slabs ready for the floor joists

[Mukv]

Greetings

I 've forgotten to add the dimensions of the casting, the below ground section is (Length x width x depth) 900mm x 800mm x 850mm deep with a surface 200mm high.

Andy

[r3i]

Pier looks excellent Andy - keep up the good work and best of luck with the rest of the build.

[Mukv]

^Greetings

^{The weather has let me lay the some of the slabs ready for the floor joists}

^{this coming weekend should see the floor ready for the metal sub frame of the shed / obsy}

^Andy

[Mukv]

Greetings

Done a little work on the joists today ready for the floor timber tomorrow, all things being good with the weather I should have a floor ready for the sub frame next week. 

Looking good so far!

Andy

[Mukv]

Greetings

Finished the joists this afternoon so fitted the pier and head just to see how it looks so far.

getting closer to first light

Andy

[Tinker1947]

Looking good........

[ollypenrice]

Greetings again

The base has been setting for 2 weeks now so it's time for a test fit of the pier.

I like this. A decent pier not ending in flimsy threaded bars for un-needed mount levelling. Very convincing.

Olly

[Mukv]

Greetings

Thanks they were my thoughts when designing this pier this thread

http://stargazerslounge.com/topic/205684-home-made-pier-for-sw-300pds-neq6pro/

contains some pictures of how I made it, the main body is 145mm od round hollow section wall thickness is 10mm ( makes the whole thing damn heavy ) the tapering fins help reduce vibration and are made from 6mm thick chequer plate the top plate is HT 10mm plate the base plate is 15mm chequer plate, the whole thing is made from offcuts from our workshop and was quite cheap, I did all the welding at break times it was hot dip galvanized then polyester powder coated to match the NEQ6 Pro head.

Solid and heavy 62Kg

Andy

[Gina]

Great pier - well done

[Mukv]

Greetings

The steel frame is here on site ready for a good dry day to assemble the weather is as it always should be here in the midlands WET and WINDY ( DAMN English weather ! ).

roll on the weekend!

Andy

[Mukv]

Greetings

A little more work done on obsy shed today dodging showers of rain and sleet then hail and snow with a small amount of sun! here are a few pictures..

More to follow wallet and weather dependent.

Andy

[Tinker1947]

When the initial cost is worked out, double it and your be about right....

[Mukv]

Greetings

So far right on budget, all the galvanizing has been free and that has put a nice smile on the wallet monster. The roof is in mid fabrication ready for the next galvanizing run and should be ready to fit next week ish.

Andy

[todd8137]

Just notice your rollers for the roof are the same as mine ,I used brass sash window ones and I used right angle iron as the runners

Pat

[todd8137]

You put need girlfriend not sure which one will ruin ya wallet first astro or a lady ,it's come in on nice now not long for the big party night me and the crew will pop over with some fizz

Pat