saac

25 minutes ago, MalcolmSt said:

I've gotten so much from sgl as a relative newbie (well, re-started as a hobby seriously in the last year), so I thought I'd do the decent thing and join to contribute instead of merely consuming the excellent wisdom herein. 

A big shout out from the bit of a challenge of weather that is the Scottish Highlands. All donations of "clear skies" gratefully accepted, of course. And finally a chance to say a big thanks to those who contribute so much!

Malcolm.

Hi Malcolm and welcome formally.  How about we trade some clear nights for your dark sky  

Jim 

35 minutes ago, badhex said:

 

Well, if it pleases the court may I present mitigating circumstances in that half of this lot spent 8 years in storage so I ended up with another collection of the same size - and now they are all together? 😂

Joe you are an inspiration and we are willing to learn  

Jim 

3 minutes ago, Priesters said:

I’ll be using this thread as ‘evidence’ with my CFO next time I get the urge to expand my humble 2 scope collection 😂

My CFO can't understand why I have 2 telescopes; she thinks that is 2 too many  

Jim 

21 minutes ago, SamAndrew said:

Meh it's an inconvenience, but the tools for removing the trails are better than ever; we just need someone to improve the stacking programs to identify the trails and ignore them more intelligently. 

Considering how many other industries have much greater damaging impact on the Earth, I don't think this issue will get much traction.

Cloud cover and light pollution are much bigger barriers for my imaging.

How long will it take before we have an AI astro app that has the database of all overflights which will mean they can automatically be avoided at point of capture. Come on ZWO you heard it here first

Jim 

I've noticed quite frequent episodes of haar rolling in over NE Fife during the past week or two. I generally catch it on my way home from work  looking out towards St Andrews; moves quite quickly and the temperature drops suddenly too.  Anyway it's sunny now, enjoying the first real opportunity of the year sit out in the garden   You caught some nice groupings there @fifeskies

Jim

What a cool photograph. Proves you can do astrophotography even with cloud cover.  

Jim 

1 hour ago, powerlord said:

yeh axial fan, ducting and outside insect cover ordered. yeh i wasn't sure about smoke alarm, as even with extraction I thought it might just go off all the time.

I got a 100mm fan too - but 35 squid from amazon. did you stick it in middle of hose? or is it better towards exit or entry ?

ill be using affinity designer I reckon. i had a look at LRT bust most paid. I use solidworks for 3d. i'll have to see if it does laser stuff. I suppose once I work out the kerfing requirements its easy enough to make my own boxes and stuff. Prefer that to downloading things if I'm honest.

In the early days of 3d printing I used to share my designs of thingiverse - had some really popular stuff on there, but I got sick of idiot comments I couldn't delete so decided I'd had enough of sharing and deleted all my models and account.

 

These axial fans are pretty strong so I have my inlet about 1m from the machine's exhaust (outlet).  It then discharges through about a 3m run of rigid ducting to the port in the wall.  It will more than do the job for you but you definitely need it, the fumes from ply are pretty nasty.  Even if you want to get up and running quickly you could use some flexible ducting which can be stored away when not in use.  Re the smoke alarm, I'm using a standard domestic alarm and so far have had no problems with it setting off due to fumes.  You could go for a heat alarm if it were a problem I guess.  My 3D printer is about to get relocated alongside the laser cutter. At the moment I have it in my study but the fumes from it can be a little worrying so It will benefit too from the extraction. I'm actually looking at a replacement for it (currently have an Ender 5).  I think I will be going for your remote viewing capability to monitor the prints when I replace it.  

Jim 

56 minutes ago, Ratlet said:

Which model have you got saac?

Got a plan for a dob base and yours looks minted. and I'm about 90% certain I can talk the wife into a laser cutter lol.

Hi @Ratlet, I must admit I had fun making the big setting circle, the laser cutter worked really well on it.  It started off as one of these but has since been modified out of all recognition, as you do, the laser tube is still original   The solid state units are the better option now (simpler operation), more are becoming available.  The good thing about these early CO2 units was that they came installed in a cabinet so it made exhaust extraction and air assist easy to sort out.  Another advantage of the solid state units is that they are more compact, smaller footprint and easier to store I guess. They do sit well alongside a 3D printer just giving that flexibility but your safety procedures do need to be nailed down. Show the boss all the lovely things you could make and you will have approval in no time  

CO2 Laser Cutter

Jim 

Re ventilation and eye safety, you've got it , these are the two priorities to sort out. For ventilation I installed an in-line axial fan ducted to outside.  I got the fan from Screwfix (similar to the link below), it was easy enough to install if a little noisy but manageable. Your webcam to allow remote monitoring is a really good idea, I'm paranoid when leaving mine on a longer run - a good smoke alarm is also sensible I guess. Re eye safety - make up operating procedures for yourself right from day one - treat it as though it is a work situation and force yourself to stick to the rules you make.  With the solid state laser it should not be too much of a problem but with the CO2 unit I had to rewire the electrics, especially earthing, to make it compliant (safe).  Have fun they are really cool, just like ThingVerse there are a number of sites that host and trade pre made designs - before you know it you will be making Halloween lamps, Christmas decorations etc.  I use InkScape for design, not my favourite but it works. I tend to use Fusion 360 for 3d print designs and have always meant to try that for the laser projects as well but never seem to get round to it. 

Jim 

ScrewFix - Axial Fan

Laser Ready Templates

I've been using a CO2 laser cutter for the past 5 years or so; they are certainly a worthwhile addition to any workshop.  Much quicker than 3d printing and really versatile. I typically cut birch ply or acrylic and have also engraved slate and glass with good effect. Astro related projects: I've used the laser cutter to make the large diameter setting circle and encoder components for the 16 inch Dob, Bahtinov mask, and a solar finder.  For general woodworking/machine shop use they come into their own in running off very neat router templates which would otherwise be difficult or time consuming to achieve manually. One of my most useful pieces of workshop kit. 

Jim 

Hello and welcome to SGL it really is a great place for help and information. You will be challenged by a fair bit of light pollution in Rome but we also have some great imagers on the forum who image from London. You may be able to pick up and share some tips. 

Jim 

17 minutes ago, Louis D said:

I have no idea how that would work with folks who charge at home using solar panel generated electricity.  The chargers themselves would have to have internet connectivity to report home charging for purposes of taxation.  This then has the issue of folks living off-grid who don't have internet connectivity.

Off grid generation wouldn't be taxed I guess unless they decide in future to label it a tax regulated activity - bootleg electricity comes to mind.  With a smart grid I understand they can in theory detect the charger activity. No idea how, maybe there is a characteristic electrical signature or perhaps requires some handshake with the charger itself.  There was also thought given to use of electric cars to balance the network with energy being exported from the car when required attracting an export tariff.  We are a long way from any of that happening though. 

Jim 

8 hours ago, Stephenstargazer said:

True, but well off topic! They can levy VAT at charging stations but not at home. We are likely to move to road charging instead (electronic tolls).

The intention is that the smart grid will be able to facilitate differential pricing which in turn would make VAT on electric charging possible.  But the smart grid is somewhere off in the distant future so I think you are right and we will gradually move toward road charging. 

Jim 

looking good Ash. How easy was it to use, do you get a nominated time slot and then decide what to observe?

Jim

Your Serpentine image is absolutely stunning Paul, it deserves to feature on the cover of a book. Just beautiful. 

Jim 

4 minutes ago, Mr Spock said:

I wish that were the case. I don't want to bore people with accounts, but the difference between the Purchase Order value and the Purchase Invoice value goes as a credit to stock otherwise the stock value of the paint is incorrect. Same if a difference appears in the price variance account - but now we are getting too complicated for an astronomy forum. Hopefully people can see accounts is just a bit more complicated than counting beans 

I've been doing it for over 40 years. It's about time I retired... 

I  think you have to have a head for it for sure Mike, I think the intricacies of accounting could give quantum mechanics a good showing in the difficulty stakes. I salute you for your dedication to the art. 

Jim 

38 minutes ago, Mr Spock said:

At work we order paint from a particular company. We order in litres and they measure in Kg... I do the accounts and we have something called Goods Received Not Invoiced. We order 10lt and they deliver 9.77ltr - that leaves a cash balance in GRNI which I have to journal out! Does my head in.

Ah is where you round up all those 1/4, and 1/8th of a penny and put them all together at the end of the year for the staff party  

Jim 

2 hours ago, Louis D said:

Having grown up in the 70s/80s in the US, we were constantly told to be ready for the inevitable switch to the metric (SI more properly?) system.  It never happened.  The US kind of stalled out part way there.  Engineering uses SI units for the most part.  Day to day living uses customary units.  I've got to admit, talking about how tall someone is in feet and inches seems much more intuitive than in meters, decimeters, and/or centimeters.  Pounds/kilograms, inches/centimeters, miles/kilometers are each close enough by themselves that I could make the switch eventually.  The mix of units for everyday nuts and bolts is a bit of a pain.  Of course, wire and nails have their own systems of units that are neither customary nor SI.

I'm still waiting for the SI version of time keeping with 10 hours per day, 10 decihours per hour, 100 centihours per hour, etc.  I'd love to see how they shoehorn 100 or 1000 days per year against the solar calendar.

Why was 10 chosen as the base?  Base 12 makes a lot more sense.  It's divisible by 1,2,3,4,6, and 12.  10 is only divisible by 1,5, and 10.  Being a computer engineer, I've grown quite adept at base 16 or hexadecimal arithmetic, so it should be doable to work in base 12.

I do often prefer the use of customary units' fractions to decimals for day to day functions as opposed to engineering usage for taking a swag at a measurement.

Apparently the French messed about with decimal time for a while, didn't catch on though.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decimal_time

Jim

Just now, Mike Q said:

That stone thing.... Yeah i am giving that a hard pass LOL.  

14 lbs.  I know my weight in stones and lbs without much thought but never think of the kg equivalent. Don't know why just habit, the conversion is easy enough.  

2 hours ago, Mike Q said:

Here is the brutal honesty about metric in the US.  We see it..... A LOT.  I see it everyday at work.  Its in anything manufactured.... Cars, appliances, you name it.  Its on our speedometers right along with mph.  We just prefer not to use it.  Our tool sets, you guessed it will have SAE and metric in them.  So we are ready for what happens to come along.  The one place you dont see it much... Road signs.  Its been years since i have seen a roadsign that says how many km to wherever you are going 

Mike, that's basically how it works here (UK) too. Ask most folk their height or weight and they will respond in feet and inches or in stones and pounds. As for road distances and measurements of alcoholic beverages well we too stick to imperial here so miles, miles per hour for speed limits and I could see a revolution happen if pubs were forced to sell beer in anything other than pints.  Petrol is priced in litres now but I think most folk still think about fuel in gallons and miles per gallon  - km per litres just sounds so wrong.  I still go into a sweet shop and ask for a quarter (8 oz) of loose sweets and not 4 oz. Industry however by and large uses SI except for one or two niche areas. 

Jim

5 minutes ago, Ratlet said:

2.204lb per kg.  It's a number etched in my soul.  Although for most of the calcs I need to use it for I find 2ish works.  

Yea 2.205 lb per kg , my fat fingers missed the 0.2 !!  That is why I always let the crew chief do the fuel calcs, long way to fly over the pond!  

Jim 

51 minutes ago, johnturley said:

I always say that the ideal punishment for those opposed to adopting the Metric system, would be to lock them in a room, and then make then do Physics and Engineering calculations using old Imperial units.

John

Introduced to Angstroms when I started engineering course at University and still use them today in preference. Quite happy using thou for measurements but depends on the task . I very rarely think in km preferring miles.  Pounds and ounces in lieu of the kg and gram - my dad was a greengrocer    But. yes when it comes to an academic setting the metric system is beautifully simple. 

Jim 

11 minutes ago, Ratlet said:

Not just the oldies and yanks.  The Oilfield loves it's archaic units.  bbls and feet and inches and gallons.  Decimal feet and inches though.  pounds per barrel and pounds per gallon.  Europe has moved on to metric, but the rest of the worls persists.  You get some crazy units when the two clash.  Like length measured in meters width in inches and volume in m3.  Let's not forget that an American gallon is different from a British gallon.  Seen that cause problems more than once.

My personal favourite is when you are measuring fluid consumption whilst drilling.  volume is measured in m3, length in meters so your consumption works out m3/m or m2.  Fun fact, major oil companies don't like you writing fluid consumption as an area, even if it is technically correct.

Add to that aviation too. When you fly to your holiday destination the fuel load is calculated and recorded in lbs. Err,  lbs that's Pounds for the youngsters  (2.05 lbs for every Kg). Air Speed of course is recorded in Kts  and not m/s (kts  = knots or nautical miles per hour).

Jim 

48 minutes ago, 900SL said:

When I worked in the Caribbean all the house designs were in feet and inches. It was a nightmare to start with, but I eventually got my head round working in Autocad to base 12  

"base 12"  , love it  

Jim 

On 18/03/2023 at 10:55, Lumos said:

I have the pro and the plus. I always use a hard wired ethernet connection straight into the units. Thus I can be monitoring the imaging session from an iPad 100m away, in the morning I can copy all the files across the network into Pixinsight, the subs download at around 27MB/s and everything is rock solid. Of course this means you need to get an ethernet cable up onto your rig so that is a downside but personally I would only go wireless if really there was no way to go wired.

By the way, congratulations on getting the ASIAir Plus, it makes getting into this obsession hobby so much more enjoyable.

@Lumos , I do similar using an ethernet connection over a Powerline adapter and it works very well, no dropouts.  However I'm manually transferring the image files at the end of the session by pulling out the SD card. Did I read you correctly that you are downloading the files remotely over the ethernet?  I didn't know you could do that, is it straightforward to do?

Jim