garryblueboy

7 hours ago, russ.will said:

It's often said that if you don't know what to print with a 3D printer, buy one, get another hobby and you'll have lots to print. So true.

To be fair, as a seasoned loudspeaker DIYer that was never going to be problem, but returning to astronomy after an unplanned layoff (divorce, blah, blah, blah...) and the woefully underdeveloped nature of what we are forced to buy means there are opportunities aplenty to have at it. With necessity being the mother of invention, the things you 'need' to print will not only advance your printing skill set, but also your CAD learning curve. Sure, there's a squillion items to download and print, but that bloke didn't quite nail what I want. To whit:

A really poor listing on FB Marketplace meant I bagged an Evostar 120 & Explorer 200p OTAs, an original HEQ5 mount, a couple of Baader Hyperions, a couple of cameras and lord knows how many filters for £300. I told Kay that I was going to flip it all for profit, but I was lying and she knew damn well I was. I just wanted to cover my costs for buying the actual astro stuff I wanted.

I wanted a 5" frac. I stupidly let go an AR127L years ago and I missed it. I found a nice Minitower II (which I let go years ago, etc...) inc other goodies just as it got reduced to £350 on UKABS. Dang! Now I've spent £650 and I've got a mount I'm well aware of the shortcomings of. But also remember that for visual, it's a really competent mount with a load carrying ability well beyond it's price IF you know the work-arounds. (Un)tightening the alt axis clutch when cold is a biggy and there's a stupidly expensive variant of the knurled wheel that does it. Or you can print one of these for about £2:

Excuse the colour; I only had Prusa PETG in RAL2004 to hand and no, I'm not happy with the seam on the surface (I tried a particular printer setting for a laugh) but as an interference fit, I had to stand on the two to get them to fit.  I now have a 110mm diameter alt knob and with the extra leverage that gives, it's exactly as tight or as loose as and when you want it. Result.

The other iOptron fail in all generations of Minitower is where to put the handset that I guess that (having to have failed to provide a reliable and/or quality holder) they will charge you £200 to replace. Later mounts have a rubbish bent metal bracket but on mine, it's a screw you hang it from with the wrist strap. 30 mins of CAD 80p of printing and 20p of M4 cap head bolt later, I have this:

I also remembered that holding virtually any scope of length whilst mounting/adjusting it's position in the dovetail clamp was a real balancing act. An act almost entirely negated by an actual handle so I did one for about a £1.50.

These were all quicky prints at what is analogous to low res settings with filament I had to hand. I actually quite like the orange and I may yet double down on that when I restore/re-spray some of the scratched up white bits on the Evostar. Despite being ginger, Kay doesn't like the orange so it almost certainly will happen. I remember 2001: A Space Odyssey and Space 1999 which both affirm RAL2004 as an astro colour and thus, I am right. YMMV.

I modded the handset holder for the 2-screw mount of @garryblueboys Mintower Pro and printed in a silver PLA at a higher res. I think he liked it (could be lying!) but what I calculate to a 20p increase in print time, is a quid well spent for the better finish. If he likes it...

Next stop is the obviously absent EP tray and somewhere to to put EP caps that iOptron also forgot. In the meantime, the whole ensemble looks like:

Russ

And a dame fine job Russ 

1 hour ago, russ.will said:

And thank you Garry for your assistance in securing the Minitower. You'll be pleased to know I've already had it apart, cleaned it up and started printing things to make it 'better'...

Russ

The fever has got you 

Great to have you back Russ looks sweet on the ioptron mount nice set up 

I have also fallen in love with these a pair of scopes really 

I love the Tak FS range I sold my previous ones and regretted it but was lucky to find a really nice example of the later NSV version also I find the 140 is the perfect size and weight 

My FS NSV 

Arrived on Tuesday all set up not owned the NSV before had Two of the standard FS 102 regretted selling both so 🤞been bad weather all week here 

Thanks Mike yes I love the FS view’s really regretted selling my previous one the contrast was amazing 🤞this will be equally as good 

7 minutes ago, Marvin Jenkins said:

Takahashi Crocs to go with the rig. 

Lol 😂 

First time owning A NSV had a couple of regular FS102`s in the past 

Ok how about this then nice and portable 

9 hours ago, Mr Spock said:

Judging by the size of some of these scopes we have a different definition of 'lightweight'!

To me lightweight would be something where you could pick up scope and mount with one hand.

Both of mine I can pick up with one hand scope or binoculars in one mount in the other 

My couple grab and go 

AP 155 starfire 

Lol 😂 just the lights 

Not shown this MAK before I have had it quite a while and the views are simply stunning 

Not to many of TTS mount’s about but definitely one of my favourite to own along with the AZ Pro also 

Sunshine : it’s a Ioptron AZ Pro with there own Bino bracket 

Very Sad to hear 🙁

First light with new mount set up M42 looked amazing Jupiter also 

My 130 EDT-F  cracking scope FPL53 high Strehl 96.1 

5 minutes ago, Joef said:

Nice looking set up there Gary. 

Thanks 

2 hours ago, Mr Spock said:

A lovely scope which will no doubt find many new friends.

Now, if only there were a 130... 😜

There is Michale  Altair do a 130EDT-F I have one and it’s an excellent scope build wise and optically and is FPL53