East of the Moon

2015 is now six years past, but astronomy buffs still need telescopes. So... Dan's pier plates. Why such a high price? Well, the equipment needed to duplicate the plate itself is quite expensive—a bridgeport type vertical milling machine, CNC to reduce labor costs costs $10,000 to $40,000 US. Dan's plates are manufactured in batches to realize the benefits of computer duplication—that's why the price is only $500 US. Start with an alluminum billet 12" X 12" X 1.5". Mill to a round, chamfered biscuit with flat, parallel faces. (In small lots, the aluminum biscuit costs over $300.) Locate and mill six arcs to allow 15 degree freedom in North pointing. Locate, center, drill, and mill ten holes; tap three. Mill one slot for North pointing adjustment for telescope mount. Anodize aluminum biscuit for corrosion resistance. Purchase stainless steel hardware off the shelf (three 3/4" x18" j-bolts plus 6 half height ss nuts plus six rubber washers plus six ss washers; plus three bronze bushings to allow for possibility that the j-bolts may not be set perfectly vertical and perfectly positioned. My brother has a personal machine shop with a Bridgeport, but no CNC. He could duplicate the biscuit, but made square rather than round. The total cost would not be much less than purchasing from Dan's. And that's not taking into account ruining a billet. Or you can consider searching for available surplus parts and scrap billets. Designing the adapter to fit the available scrap material. Or leveling and polishing the concrete pier top, drilling and tapping the necessary holes and hoping everything fits together perfectly. I'd think long and hard about the total sunk cost in a backyard observatory. How does a $500 US pier adapter compare. Especially since the Dan's product is certain to be successful (having been used by many amateur astronomers). Which is more important to enjoying your hobby—a concrete solid, perfectly alined telescope mount or one more Tele Vue eyepiece? I am very impressed with the professional quality of Dan's pier adapter plate. It matches or exceeds that of my Tele Vue, Meade, and Sony equipment. The materials for my pier and footing plus a 8' by 8' isolated, wooden deck cost much more than the adapter plate. Now if the Winter rains in Georgia would let up.