Thalestris24

Hi Knobby

Remember that with a belt mod you want very good balancing, no East heavy!

Louise

1 minute ago, Paul Gerlach said:

Yes, it's very annoying. Every time Fusion 360 is updated, it gets a new 'profile folder' in this location

C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Autodesk\webdeploy\production

Within the profile folder the threads are located at:

..\Fusion\Server\Fusion\Configuration\ThreadData

The standard threads are copied to the new location except for any custom thread files. You'll have to copy them yourself.

 

Even more annoying, perhaps, is that you have to remember to copy any custom threads. As it happens I've not needed to print any T2 threads in a long time so haven't bothered to add any custom threads. But who knows what the future holds? 😄 

Louise

Just now, saac said:

Hi Jagho, here's the instructions Paul posted - it was either on this thread or the 3D printer , I tried finding the original post but I couldn't locate it. Anyway  I copied the original instructions onto a word document.  It worked a treat when I installed it but some reason Fusion is no longer accessing it for me so I'll have to go through it again. 

Read Me - Fusion Autocad Threads.docx 1.37 MB · 0 downloads

I think you have to reinstall it every time Autocad does an update...

Louise

1 hour ago, Alien 13 said:

I have to admit that even my EQ3-2 with ally tripod is far to heavy for me these days even though I only have to move it 12 feet to get outside, do most of my stuff with a static set up that weighs a few Kg all in.

Alan

I'm not sure if I'll be able to manage mine. I'll have to dig the original tripod out of the attic. If it's still too heavy for me then my astro days will be numbered and I'll just have to find a new hobby. Maybe just terrestrial photography - I'd like to do some macro photography. Also more photomicrography - I've not done any in ages. I could do with a better microscope, or at least, better objectives. Good ones are very expensive but at least I wouldn't be limited by my location or the weather! 🙂

Louise

Just now, Alien 13 said:

You could have 1 out of 3... 

Alan

But then it wouldn't be ideal... 😄 

3 minutes ago, michael.h.f.wilkinson said:

The HEQ5 tripod is 5.6 kg, so over twice the weight of the EQ3, and 2 kg heavier than the Vixen GP. I would indeed try the EQ3-2 tripod first.

My ideal tripod has a 50kg payload, weighs 500g, and costs £20...

11 minutes ago, dobbie said:

i have mine on a Vixen Advanced Polaris APP-TL130 Tripod very light compact but also strong. 

Those tripods look quite good but nobody seems to have them and they're rather expensive. I'll try the supplied Al one - maybe it will do...

Thanks

2 minutes ago, michael.h.f.wilkinson said:

The taller of my two wooden tripods weighs in at 3.580 kg (7.9 lb), the EQ3-2 aluminium mount weighs 2.550 kg (5.6 lb)

Still quite heavy then...

9 minutes ago, michael.h.f.wilkinson said:

It is rather a lot, but you could sell the SP mount on with the flimsy aluminium tripod (a bit risky, I'll admit). The Super Polaris has the same mounting flange on the tripod as the Great Polaris(-DX). The EQ5 is a clone of  the Great Polaris, and the EQ3 can be seen as a clone of the Super Polaris. Any tripod capable of mounting a Super or Great Polaris can also mount the EQ3 or EQ5. BTW, the HAL-130 tripod is also pretty expensive, and the current model is intended for the newer Sphinx mount, which might have a different mounting flange.

 

Tripod weight?

9 minutes ago, Dr_Ju_ju said:

One quick thing to make the standard EQ3 mount a little sturdier, is to drill a hole in the centre of the accessory tray, and add another bolt in the centre, through to the 3 way plastic 'keeper'.

The other thing I've done, but makes it a lot heavier, is to fill each of the square section tubes with fine concrete....    

Thanks, though I can't really mess about with building materials in the flat...

Louise

1 minute ago, michael.h.f.wilkinson said:

There is a Super Polaris with wooden tripod for sale on ABS-UK

https://www.astrobuysell.com/uk/propview.php?view=161480

Not sure about the state of the tripod, no photo included

I don't see how a eq3 pro would fit to one? How much does the tripod weigh (on their own)? £200 is an awful lot to pay just for a tripod...

Thanks

Louise

5 minutes ago, robhatherton said:

I think the Celestron CG4 tripod is a bit more substantial than the EQ3 even though I believe the mount beads are the same - if you can source one.

They look the same as the heq5 tripod, which I already have.

Thanks

Louise

5 minutes ago, michael.h.f.wilkinson said:

I always use my EQ3-2 on the aluminium tripod, and it works well enough for 384 or 480 mm focal length. My garden is very sheltered, however. If you can get your hands on a Vixen wooden tripod for the Great Polaris, that should work well too. They are quite light but very sturdy

Wooden tripods seem very expensive and I can't find the one you mention?

Thanks

Louise

1 minute ago, Alien 13 said:

I have never had a problem with the eq3 aluminium tripod provided it is used at its lowest level, easy in my case with a flippy DSLR and RA polarscope viewer but I never go above 400mm f/l.

Alan

Hmm… Maybe I'll unpack it and actually try it out. It always just seemed like it's too flimsy. 

Thanks Alan

Louise

I currently have my EQ3 Synscan mounted on a HEQ5 tripod and it's very happy on there. The only trouble is it's a bit heavy for me. OTOH the supplied aluminium tripod, though light, seems too flimsy. Anyone know if there's something in between? I had been looking at the iOptron SmartEQ but decided it's probably not good enough for reliable imaging. However, the 1.25" steel tripod is lighter than the 1.75" one but might still be ok. iOptron also do 1.5" tripods but don't know if they can be adapted for SW mounts or how much they weigh. Now if only I could get a similar tripod for the EQ3 - any ideas anyone?

Thanks

Louise

Just now, Tommohawk said:

Maybe a hoist/winch type arrangement from your balcony?

I wish I had a balcony!

1 minute ago, Tommohawk said:

Hi Louise

I looked quickly at the date of this thread and saw Feb 15. So I'm thinking I'm going to struggle to remember the ins and outs of this if it's 2015. Then I realized it's Feb 15th of this year. But I'm still struggling to remember!

Well... I definitely didn't get the Ioptron mount, I think I just decided there were too many variables. And TBH I would have been disappointed if I had bought it because I had to scrub my trip to Spain because of the covid19 situation.

Re the weight of your set up, do you have ally tripod or steel? Ally obviously a bit lighter. Also you might be able to reduce size/number counterweight s by using an extension?

Would be good if someone nearby had one you could check out. 

Will be interested to see how you resolve it.

 

 

Hiya

Oh ok. It's anyway always difficult to part with cash for something that doesn't have lots of positive reviews. I actually discarded the flimsy aluminium eq3 mount and put the head on an heq5 mount - much sturdier but quite a bit heavier. The eq3 head on its own weighs 4.6kg, the heq5 tripod is 5.6kg. Plus, say 2kg for a scope plus 2kg cw. So it's around 15kg overall and it's just too heavy for little me! The Smart EQ is only 2.8kg + 2.7kg for tripod plus the other 4kg < 10kg which I can probably manage without breaking my neck going down the stairs... Laptop can go in a backpack. Obviously, one only gets what one pays for, though the smart EQ Pro is a similar price to the eq3 synscan. My flat is getting cluttered with too many mounts here and there! However, I've been stuck using them from indoors and I've had enough of that now. So one more might be the answer... I do wish there was an astro showroom nearby but there isn't. I sometimes wish I had a car but I don't. If only I had more muscles but I think it's a bit late in the day to contemplate bodybuilding, lol.

Thanks

Louise

Hi Tommo

I realise this is a slightly old thread... Was just wondering if you ever got a Smart EQ Pro? I'm currently looking at this too as I want something lightweight that I can easily carry up and down stairs (I've been trying to find some way of doing this for the last 5 years!). I've already got the SW EQ£ Synscan Pro and it's quite good value. However, it's still a bit too heavy for me - I need to get down two flights of stairs in one go...

If anyone else has anything to say about this mount, that would be useful!

Thanks

Louise

Just now, Supernova74 said:

You could always try Astrobuyandsell also however kind agree of last post very limited on weight capacity time you put small refractor on that’s your lot most probably alternative an preowned skywatcher EQ5 is a cracking mount will hold around 13kg. That should do the job thay go for around £300-350 on the preowned market and do come up for sale quite often 

Do you have one? How is it for you? No, I want something small and light - but slightly better than a Star Adventurer (which I have but it's never worked properly for me and, in some respects, is hard to use anyway). Flo sell these iOptron's and I'd get a new one.

Thanks

Louise

Just now, MarkAR said:

Hi Louise, I don't have one but the payload of 5Kg is something to be careful with.  As long as you don't overload it it sounds like it'll be fine.

Thanks for the comment but I really want to hear from someone who has/used one.

Louise

This ioptron : https://www.firstlightoptics.com/ioptron-mounts/ioptron-smarteq-pro-goto-equatorial-mount.html#specifications

Any pros/cons re imaging with it (small frac)?

Thanks 🙂 

Louise

2 hours ago, Mike JW said:

Always amazed by what you achieve from your site. Mike

Thanks, though my images aren't very good. I've built a Lowspec 2 spectrometer and, if I can get it working, I'll probably just do some spectroscopy instead. Failing that, I'll abandon this hobby altogether.

Regards

Louise

A few stars more from 16th April:

NGC6743 8x120s

NGC6823 4x180s crop

NGC6834 5x120s crop

NGC6885 3x120s

NGC6940 3 x 120s

Louise

1 minute ago, Paul Gerlach said:

Thanks for your comments and advice. A DC to DC converter will mean an additional board. I already have two (DC to AC and the Servo trigger) and want to keep things compact. But I'll have a look. The 12 volt power supply will come from a adapter plugged into the mains.
I've seen some schematics with the 7805 and some capacitors on Google.

Printing with ASA can be a bit challenging. An enclosure is a good start. Bed temperature 80 - 90 degrees Celcius, First two layer at 250 degrees then gradually drop it to 235 - 240 degrees and small amount of fan (15-20%) just to mix the warm air a bit. With large objects I sometimes use a raft. It lifts the object from the hot bed so there is less temperature difference between to and bottom. I print on a flex bed with a scuffed sheet of PEI.

Hi Paul, if you don't need much current (<=100mA) then the little 78L05 will do There may be other alternatives if you need higher current.
https://components101.com/78l05-pinout-equivalent-datasheet

Louise
 

3 minutes ago, tooth_dr said:

Four years on and you are still posting in the 'Getting Started with Imaging' section though! 😇

Thanks for the mentions. One reason I started with using platesolving was because I was unable to do a proper Polar or star alignment. I've always been severely limited by only being able to image via an open window in my flat, and under terrible skies with awful LP! I can never produce decent long exposure images from here, not even with narrowband 😞 Nowadays, I just do short exposure live stacking with SharpCap and a mono camera, but still use platesolving to locate targets.

Louise