carastro

Got myself a coma corrector, Spacing sorted, collimated - First test shot:

Fingers crossed this is going in the right direction, shame it's full Moon as it's a clear night tonight, eager to try a first image with it.

TEST SHOT, M45 Next to a full Moon, but just to check collimation and stars:

(Not sure what that hazy bit is top right of image), any thoughts?  Had to do a gradient exterminator on this as you can imagine, but the hazy bit was noticeable when doing the subs, which are a batch of 5mins luminance.

Carole 

Thanks Wim, no I have not resolved it yet.  I tried the freezer and Marigold gloves method, but that didn't work.  I've tried a couple of sets of pliers (ouch), but nothing will budge it.  It's annoying.

Carole 

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Well if you feel brave the details are here:

Hi Richy, was that link supposed to open, and is it a step by step of "how to" move the primary up?  If so, I'd perhaps feel braver if I could see how to do it.  

I can't open the link.

Yours in anticipation.

Carole 

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On 10/14/2016 at 16:25, carastro said:

I won't be moving the mirror up that's for sure, beyond my capabilities, but I know some-one who might take a bit of the focusser tube should it be necessary. 

Moving the mirror IMHO is easier and it's reversible!

I was pretty apprehensive before I did it but it really was simple to do.

On the few occasions I have attempted to modify/repair anything I have messed it up.  I tried to do what I thought was something simple in the car once and ended up breaking down with a more costly repair.  I need a "man wot does" to do anything like this.  Plus I don't have suitable tools.

Carole 

Some-one requested a photo, so here it is with my ED120 finderguider sitting on it. 

Just about managed to fit it into the FOV by standing with my back against the obsy and the camera up against my face.  Lol.

Focusser is in that position due to collimating.  

Something weird has happened to the reply box, thus my quote in the previous post, but would not let me add a comment.

I'll give that a try, even if it's just to prove it is the adapter I need.  

I'd love to be able to screw directly to the focusser like Rob does, I just bought a click lock adapter for my refractors as all that expensive equipment on the end of two small screws which were starting to not tighten properly, plus sometimes my EFW and Camera would rotate when taking the cover off at Star parties (even being careful). So then subsequent data wouldn't match up.

I've actually asked the buyer (who bought my previous SW150P and coma corrector if he'd like to swap CC as he uses a DSLr and might be better for him anyway.  Waiting to hear back but I think he's travelling today.

Carole   

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Put in freezer, then briefly warm the outer ring in your hand before quickly trying to separate them.

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Isn't this only a problem if you use the SW coma corrector/reducer? I don't recall having any such difficulties with mine using the Baader CC

Feeling a bit peed off now as I just sold a non reducing coma corrector with the 150P which fitted my Atik camera/EFW, and ordered a SW coma corrector that reduces, now I find it causes a problem as above and additionally I can't fit the coma corrector to the EFW as the threads are wrong.

To add to my frustration, I possibly have the adapter I need  M48 to T2 (I think), but it is very thin and stuck on another adapter and I can't even get a grip on it because it is thin to get it off.  

Carole 

Thanks Rob, I'll see if it affects the stars which it did on my 150P image.  I won't be moving the mirror up that's for sure, beyond my capabilities, but I know some-one who might take a bit of the focusser tube should it be necessary. 

Fitted the 2ndry replacement bolts today, the 2ndry needed a slight tweak afterwards, and oh my goodness they were so much easier than fiddling around with Hex keys, especially as my hex keys are all fitted to one gadget in a swiss army knife style.  So thanks for that tip Louise.

Just sorting out the coma corrector connections now, as usual none of the threads fit.  

Carole 

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getting the secondary round under the focuser is greatly aided by first blocking off the primary then using a sheet of coloured (I used red) paper opposite the focuser

Thanks Rob, yes I tried to mask off the 2ndry with card (as per Astrobaby's tutorial), but I had difficulty in getting it to stand up and the 130PDS is a bit small to get your hands in to try to lift the card.  I think I need a stiffer and larger bit of card, so I can bend it at the perimeter, this should help wedge it in the tube better. 

Not having tried the Atik cameras in the scope yet, I don't know where the point of focus will be, I see you have an Atik383 Rob, do you have any problems with the focusser protruding into the light path?  I only have Mono Atik cameras now my DSLR having died at Kelling a couple of weeks ago.  I had a 15-P until a few days ago, but wanted a bigger FOV, and my stars were flattened one side because of the focusser. 

Carole 

OK folks, well Louise's post kicked me up the backside and I made one more effort to try to find my own Hex keys, and bingo I found them in the cutlery drawer of my campervan (I looked there  before but it's a deep drawer and they were right at the back buried under other stuff and it was semi dark when I looked before).  I guess things get bumped around when I am driving it, including the cutlery - lol. 

So I had a go at collimating the 2ndry.  First time I have done the 2ndry and all I can say is I hope I won't need to do it again as it was a bit of a mare  - I am sure the replacement bolts would have been easier, but now I don't want to have to take the hex bolts out to put the replacement ones in unless the 2ndry needs re-collimating.  

I think it is all OK now just need to do a star test to confirm.  

Fingers crossed.

thanks for all your help every-one.

Carole 

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you'll still need a hex key to remove the current bolts! a 1.5mm key seems to fit mine.

You mean I have to remove the ones that are inside those long holes?  Great, I just thought they fitted inside the ones that are there.  OMG

Carole 

The secondary is definitely out on my new 130PDS, I tried all my hubbies hex keys today (removed from their springs) and none of them fitted.  I also tried to bring the primary into collimation, but it just won't work with the 2ndry out.   Am stuck until I receive those little bolts Louise recommended.  

Carole

Thanks Rob, that's put my mind at rest about the central screw.  

Carole 

Thanks Louise, I have ordered the ones you suggested from 365 Astronomy, I thought it was slightly cheaper, and possibly quicker than ordering from Spain, plus the heads being smaller might be better for a smaller scope. 

Carole 

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I have a home-made laser collimator - the key to success is collimating the collimator, luckily I have a pair of large, matched v-blocks that i can rest the collimator in and rotate it and adjust until the spot rotates but doesn't move.

I already went down the route of a laser collimator with my Previous Newtonian, the laser collimator needed collimating, but I just could not find a suitable place to rotate it, and in switching the thing on and off so many times when i tried I succeeded in breaking the end off the laser collimator, so I bought a Cheshire and feel much more comfortable with one of those.

Louise and Susaron, those replacement bolts look a good idea, but can;t quite get my head around a thread replacing a hex key.  I am presuming they are hex keys as I could not see down the holes today when I tried.  I presume these stay on permanently.  

Rob: 

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1) Dont tamper with the central screw unless absolutely essential!

Bit unclear on this never having had to collimate the secondary before.  I thought somewhere I read that the central screw needs to be loosened in order to adjust the 3 secondary collimating screws, is that not right then? 

Current state of play is I have checked the vanes and adjusted them so they are the same length, one was about 2mm longer than the others. The secondary is round and under the site tube, but I can't see the 3rd Primary clip (well just a bit of it), so I just need to get the secondary adjusted for this, then hopefully all I have to do is collimate the primary.

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get a combined cheshire/sight tube 

I already have one.

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If youre still stuck, bring it along to SGL12 and I will take a look at it using my threaded collimatior (as play in thumbscrew/comrpression rings plays a large part in miscollimation)

Very nice of you to offer Rob, I am not currently booked for SGL12, but if my local group bottle out of the next local astro camp, I might see if I can get there at the last minute if there is a space, and if I haven't had any joy before then I will take you up on your offer, but I really need to try to do this on my own, just hope I don't mess it up altogether.

N.B. I am using Astrobabys collimation guide. 

Carole 

Really?  The little spring that the hex keys are held in look far to tight to ever get any back in, but I guess I could give it a go.

Carole 

Thanks, I didn't really want to pull hubbies hex keys off his ring and then find they were the wrong size.  Surely one should be supplied with the scope.  My own hex keys (when i can find them) are not bent at the end.  I was sure I found them just before I went to kelling, but where I put them is any-ones guess.

I'll see what Flo say first.

Carole 

Well I have been trying to collimate it, it seems a fair bit off.  Not had a lot of experience with collimating despite having two Newtonian's before as all I ever had to adjust was the primary, but this time the 2ndry looks like it needs adjusting.  

a) The central screw on the spider is locked tight, I am not quite sure if I need to adjust this but it's not budging and I am nervous of using force.

b ) There was no hex key included with the scope so I don't have a hex key to adjust the tilt as currently I can't see all 3 primary clips in the secondary, I don't think just adjusting the primary mirror only is going to cut it.  

I have mislaid my own hex keys (assuming I have one the right size, and husband's all are attached to a ring with a 90 degree bend at the usable end.

I have been through all the packing several times to see if I have missed a hex key, yet I have a spanner and a screwdriver supplied.

Stuck now 

Carole 

Da dah!  It's here.  Not opened it yet as I was just getting in the shower (no clothes on) when they knocked.  Hubby didn't hear the quiet knock, but luckily the dog did, and by the time I put my clothes back on and answered the door, the DHL man was knocking next door.

Just going to open it.

Carole 

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Youre going to be quite surprised at just how dinky it is. The whole rig (with finderguider and CCD attached) can be easily carried in one hand.

Wow

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Will there be any unboxing pic,s from memory I cant recall seeing any 

Probably not, that's not really my "thing".  I'll take a photo when it's on the mount with camera and guider. 

Carole 

Yup great service, just got confused by first E mail sent to me which seemed to imply FLO were out of stock with the 130PDS, but seems that was not the case and I have had excellent communication since.

Apparently all 3 items are coming tomorrow.  Great service.  Plus good advice beforehand.

Carole 

Lol, thanks.

Carole 

Phew, coming tomorrow.