Gina

I think it should be "We are Borg" ?

I plan to include some all sky camera images and probably time-lapse video.

@carastro Do you give your talks to astronomers or the general public, Carole. I ask because my audience will be non-astronomers so doesn't want to be too technical.

Every bit of progress is a step towards completion

Thanks Carole, that's very interesting and gives me more food for thought

Mistake above and editing no longer available - Barnard's Loop is in Orion, of course!

For the Z carriage (print bed), instead of having a wheel running on each of the 4 uprights, I'm going to have 2 wheels each running on the front 2 uprights and instead of having the bed supported on each of the 4 corners I plan to use 3 supports, 2 at the front and one at the back in the middle. Current arrangement.

Change of plan - no complete rebuild, I'm going to try stiffening the frame and improving the Z carriage/bed arrangement plus a few minor tweaks and see how that works.

Short USB leads for my ASC and other imaging rigs plus more Precision Piezo parts for my 3D printers.

Apart from my own DSO images I may also use some from the web such as Hubble ones though of course, I shall make it clear that these aren't mine. I'm also thinking of describing various types of amateur telescopes and using camera lenses for widefield. Tripods and piers should also get a mention I guess. Then there's mounts, observatories, cameras, filters, etc. I guess a none too detailled explanation of image processing should also be included. I have to bear in mind that this is a general audience probably with little knowledge of physics or maths so all explanations have to be very basic.

I've offered to give a talk with pictures to our local social group and thought a Blog on here would be a good place to prepare and assemble it. Also, I would welcome any comments and suggestions. I have a few ideas and will see how it progresses. I will probably take me several days to get my initial ideas sorted out.

Wonderful - looks like new again

Latest plans with some changes (may call the upgraded Mk.2) :- I very rarely use ABS these days as I feel it has been superseded by better, more user and environmentally friendly filaments. Probably change bed heater to 240v AC. Parts cooling system almost done, though this might change with changes to X carriage. Change from inductive Z probe to Precision Piezo and nozzle contact probing. I shall be using thick (18mm) plywood for the framework/box for rigidity. May change from cord for XY drives to timing belts and pulleys though this would result in a larger overall size.

I'm changing my 3D printer Z probes for piezoelectric sensors and will have spare inductive proximity sensors and just thought - these will make ideal limit sensors (endstops) for my ROR open and closed positions. Nice to recycle stuff!

I am now thinking of replacing the inductive Z probe with the Precision Piezo sensor that works by probing with the nozzle. This will give more accurate and repeatable results, avoid all the setting up required for inductive probes and avoid Z probe setting up when changing hotends (Concorde has interchangeable hotends).

Hope you've got plenty of patience because you'll need it and then some!! Good luck and enjoy ?

Linear actuator for locking my observatory roll-off-roof closed when I automate it.

The linear actuator for locking the roof has arrived - it's quite a beasty. Yep - over-engineering here we come ?

Piezoelectric sensor and PCB for 3D printer Z probing.

Yes, good idea.

The cheaper tiles have been down in my observatory for 7 years and no sign of wear. Only small problem is the expansion in warm weather - needs half an inch or more gap round the edge in winter to stop them humping up in the summer.

The ASI 120MC-S isn't all that noisy if in a cool environment but is a lot worse with indoor temperatures. I'm cooling mine with a Peltier TEC and passive cooler. It will be kept dry by being in a sealed chamber with desiccant (silica gel beads).

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee............ ?

Correct - and it was a bit too much for PLA - fine with PETG though. I think PETG is my favourite filament.

Designed and now printing focus gears.