NeilBuc

Well, after quite a few frustrating sessions trying to use the GoldFocus mask readout as an alternative assessor in an out-of-focus star test, I'm pleased to announce I was able to get the GoldFocus mask to work very well indeed.

Jeff worked on an updated instruction manual for dual mirror adjustments. It was not something you would have figured out by random intuition but looking at the procedure, it does make sense. In an hour I was able to collimate both mirrors on a 10"RC with high accuracy.  That was also helped with a night of good seeing and changing my locking grub-screws to pointy tipped ones. The original ones were cork-screwing the main mirror by a few microns (laterally) and causing the air to go blue.

The great thing is that it achieved this using numerical analysis and one iteration between secondary and primary movements. I could have gone for a second iteration but clouds stopped play. Out of focus stars were even symmetrical  donuts but I'm sure that a second iteration would have nailed the last few percent.

Any chance you can share the instructions with me? I would be interested to see if they have changed at all. I will PM you the ones I got.

Cheers

Neil

I have one of these for my GSO 8RC. I emailed the guys at gold astro direct and they sent me the instructions to collimated a RC with the mask. Was a bit complicated and I already had the Hotech Advanced CT collimator which had made a really good job anyway. For that reason I have left it alone and not tried since.

Not at my pc but if you don't get the instructions let me know.

Cheers

Neil