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Posts posted by Elliot_H
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Hello folks - my first post on SGL!
15 years ago I had a 12" reflector, and had started to have fun... when life got in the way and I moved - to a place that wasn't suitable for a back-yard scope/obs.
I'm now retiring and have moved to a more astro-friendly house.
Am setting-up a new instrument... in a small courtyard. It will be remotely-controlled.
It's a RASA 11" on a CGX mount, and I've splashed out on the not-so-cheap Pulsar steel pier.I have built a concrete pad on top of existing (uneven, sloping) concrete.
Having got Pulsar's pier fitting-kit, the 4 bolts are now locked into the pad/existing-base.However, the surface of my pad is not as flat as I'd hoped. I put too much faith in gravity!
In fact, when I put the pier into place on the bolts... it rocks back and forth.
On one side of the pier - there is a gap of about 3 mm.Question:
Do you think would it be OK to put washers between pad & pier... ie under the 2 "gappy" bolts?
Or should I use a levelling compound to achieve a properly flat (and horizontal) surface?
Not sure how strong the latter really is - under compression...
I believe Pulsar recommend torqueing the nuts very tightly.As you can imagine, I will be doing astro-photography.
I have had some success with the RASA just on tripod, but obviously I want the pier as stable as possible.Cheers, Elliot
Pulsar pier on a concrete pad - stability
in DIY Observatories
Posted
Thank you - to all 3 repliers.
I'm getting some M16 2mm-thick steel washers tomorrow and I will experiment with them.
I can see having the top of the pier perfectly horizontal is desirable.. but it's not essential with an equatorial mount, right?
I've enjoyed watching these 2 videos on Pulsar piers.
Anyone know what Robert Dalby is up to these days? He is very thorough in his responses to comments + criticisms!
Sadly the other chap Ralph Bell has passed away I believe...