Gina

Printing finished and satisfactory. Took a bit longer that predicted mainly due to having to reduce speed where there were overhangs. 3h altogether.

Found why my 3D printer was playing up - hotend cooler fan was running slowly and not producing enough cooling. Replaced it with a new one and now merrily printing the parts for my all sky camera.

Absolutely!

Having printed a few of the other parts I thought I'd try printing this in PETG. PLA is not so good with the overhangs. I've run out of white so printing it in red. I expect to print the final version in white - I very much doubt that this design will be entirely right. Without laser 3D measuring equipment, fitting this to the shed observatory roof will be trial and error. Not too bad to print - estimated 50m of 1.75mm filament and about 2h printing time.

It will be printed the other way up. That way will not require support.

Have redesigned parts to allow for the relocation of the fan. Main change was to the base to take the fan out and increase area of airflow into the heatsink plus increased airflow area in rotating joint. Also there's a new version of the air intake & support bracket.

I'm thinking of moving the fan from directly below the heatsink to inside the observatory. This means there is positive pressure within the air intake and if there are any leaks there won't be damp air drawn in. Also the air can cover the whole of the heatsink rather than in a ring where the fan blades run. The base part of the ASC will be reduced in height too.

That bracket & air intake seemed far to big once printed so I've designed a narrower, better looking part. This will also include a rotating joint so that I can align the ASC to put north at the top of the picture rather than guessing the angle. I have yet to put the holes in.

I sometimes get the design wrong and need to alter the design. Also, there are times when I find my design doesn't quite do what I wanted. Then again to get a printed part to fit snugly onto something else I need to change dimensions very slightly by trial and error. Second attempt is usually alright.

I'm afraid I couldn't wait a couple of weeks for a print! Also, I rarely get the design right first time so that would make getting a perfect part take even longer. It's not just bad printer settings that give me failed prints - my CAD sometimes leaves much to be desired!!

Guess that's about right!! Chatterbox - aren't I! Maybe because I'm alone.

In the past I got some good results with a gain of 600, such as the Barnard's Loop et al I posted earlier in this thread but I think I'll do some experiments with lower gain next time we get clear night sky. As I recall, I did experiment a bit with the gain and found the higher the gain the better but it probably also depends on image processing.

Air intake and ASC mounting. The rotation is to allow for the observatory not being aligned east-west.

Made channels in the base for wires and cables. Fan, Peltier TEC and USB cable for the camera.

Posted in wrong thread - again

My 3D printer is playing up ATM. Mostly it works fine but sometimes I get blobbing which catches the nozzle and spoils the print. Mostly I use standard PLA or PETG.

Been trying to print some of these parts but my printer is playing silly beggars!!

Two possibilities for the air intake - flexible tubing (I have 2" which matches the fan size) or 3D printed and rigid. Still have to decide but I think a 3D printed part would probably look better. The wires/cables can go through the air intake. I may combine the roof mounting with the air intake if I go for 3D printing.

I don't know if there's room for the remote focus stuff - it's pretty cramped. I could make the outer housing bigger but I might just try it with preset focus.

Camera , lens and camera housing shown as material with outer housing and dome shown in clear blue. Oops the dome has moved in the assembly - that won't happen in the real thing - it will be screwed in place. Still need to design the air intake, attachment to ROR and the air vents plus holes/spaces for the wires. But gradually getting there, I reckon.

Base extended out to the outer housing and screw holes added. Screw holes also added to outer housing. That attaches the housing and base.

This is individual item. It isn't finished - there are various holes to be added including the air vents and their hoods.

Part of outer housing added.

😁 I've lost count of version numbers! Have to check but probably 8 or 9.

Lastest... Beveling and holes for attaching camera casing parts to base with screws up through base.