tech support, & cost of 'shop' collimating?

[Aenima]

As a noob, I am having trouble with the finer points of collimating my 130p Explorer. It was fine out of the box and may have stayed that way for ages, except while trying to fix a 'blackout' type issue _ (someone has since said it could be 'kidney beaning' in the eypeice) - I briefly touched upon collimating. This was a mistake coz now I cant get it back in alignment properly, a lack of experience combined with niggling doubts has brought me to the point of either paying a pro to do it or try customer support at Sky-Watcher, does anyone know the options in this situation?

I have seen andy's shot glass articles and astro-baby's in depth web page plus many SGL's members posts that were suggested but as great as these articles are, I still feel the task beyond my limited skill level - can anyone help?

many thanks,

Jay

[wrinkly]

Jay,

I'm a mechanical idiot and felt exactly the same way as you, until I bought a collimator. Have both a Cheshire and a laser and just mucked around and with the aid of The Babe's and other webpages, it gradually became clear what they were writing about.

Bought a very second hand 8" Dob that was stripped, cleaned, flocked, reassembled and collimated successfully. Now installed Bern's Modern Astronomy's Microfocusser conversion.

Just remember, providing you don't use a hammer, large screwdriver, big pliers or big pipe grips, it is quite hard to damage a 'scope. Just insist on a decent set of metric allen keys and a decent set of cross driver heads.

If I can do it, anyone can.

[Grunthos]

Maybe you could ask for assistance from your local Torbay Astronomical Society?

I'm sure they would be more than happy to help and advise...

[Moonshane]

collimation is one of those things that once you get it you think 'what was all the fuss about ? this is easy!'

as suggested, seek local advice. you'll enjoy the company too I'll wager. one warning though, looking through bigger scopes and top quality eyepieces can seriously impact on your pocket!

[Aenima]

To all responders...

Thanks for the encouraging words folks.

It's good to know it is within my power to rectify this problem, I was just getting into it, as well! Having got the scope for xmas and with the moon aside, and weather interference, I hadnt really seen anything to impress me - looking at some of the astronomy pics available today expectations can get ahead of reality - But then, last monday i believe, the sky cleared for a while and before I knew what I was doing the bright star in my finderscope appeared in my FOV and slowly resolved into a disc... thin, slightly muddy parallel lines...it suddenly looked familiar, Jupiter! - an actual planet - just a small dot, hard to focus on but still definitely Jupiter.

Well, I was chuffed.

Next night I couldn't get the focus right andd the image kept blacking out. (Hopefully this issue is resolved thanks to my last thread's replies - noob with a newtonian..) So now in worry mode I was convinced I had broken something or at least knocked it out of alignment, and tried to collimate. Long story short I feel out of my depth and as though its only getting worse. Thank god for the many helpful people here at SGL, I at least have a hope that it can be fixed and will let me see jupiter again.

Additional thanks for the link to a local astro-club, I will check it out.

thnaks again, Jay. (Aenima)

[damnut]

Had similar problems when my 8" newt went out of collimation. The first time I took into Rother Valley Optics who set it back into perfect alignment for a tenner!. Marked all the screws at that point and from then on it was a doddle to DIY.

[ChrisThePuma]

Hi Aenima

I took my scope apart after 2 weeks of owning it to flock it. I am very unskilled at most things - and a complete novice when it comes to telescopes but i managed it ok.

I had a Cheshire and just took my time. I found the main mirror didn't need any tweaking and it was just the secondary that needed the work done, but with the Cheshire and the AB guide it all worked ok, and the view down the Cheshire now is completely symmetrical with all the crosses and circles neatly lined up

[Aenima]

Had similar problems when my 8" newt went out of collimation. The first time I took into Rother Valley Optics who set it back into perfect alignment for a tenner!. Marked all the screws at that point and from then on it was a doddle to DIY.

Really? That easy, eh, and cheap.

Its a small town where I live - no real specialist shops around, but its good to know that if I can find somewhere, it isn't going to cost a lot.

jay

[Aenima]

Nice one. I'm feeling better now knowing the problem isnt the end of my scope, at the same time i know how easy it is to get it wrong, so i want to get as much good advice and experienced views as possible. As of yet i havent even tried to tweak the diagonal/secondary mirror as its got something like six adjustment screws and probably more together with allen bolts which to me is scary. I get lost on which way is which by all the mirrors reflecting each other and whether loosen or tighten to go fwds or bckwds ETC .... Thanks for the reply - - -

jay

[Aenima]

p.s What is 'flocked;?

[todd8137]

hi there and sorry to hear you are have in this problem ,if i was close by o would pop round ,astro babys guide is so easy to follow but in practice things do not look right been there

i still to this day have those pics of ABs i check my 300p every time i go out now just this minute i just puty the scopes out ready for tonight clear here now did you measure the spider vanes ?is the secondary sat under the focuser thats were most of my mistakes were and to start with,

if you do use a cheshire gove the bit that lets light in to do the main mirror ,because you will have reflections and all the rest a dust cove cap with a hole in the center a small one

and your ready to go if you start to get stressed or confused leave it for a while and come back to it mine was out by miles for nearly a year before a would touch it glad a did it gives better views

if its of a touch not to worry my circle was miles from the dot at least 10 mm of god knows how a saw a thing but i did it made my eps like new ones

[sabana]

Perhaps its time for a good collimation instruction video for the `130p 150p and 200p. Any takers?

[Tinker1947]

p.s What is 'flocked;?

This stuff stuck to the inside of the tube to stop stray light from bouncing about....

First Light Optics - Black Velour Flocking Material (45cm x 1m)

[benjii]

I've just collimated, for the first time, my new 8" dob. I feel your pain! It does seem very overwhelming, but if you do just follow the guide step by step, you will eventually get there. I'm happy to answer any questions I can as the fear is still fresh in my mind!

Shame it's out of action , there's some cracking clear skys in the bay tonight. I'm over in Roselands.

[Aenima]

Actually I did take it out to test it so I knew how bad it was and got great views of jupiter, moons were pin point lights. It was reassuring to see my scope wasnt broken. I just see so much margin for error that i will always think it is out and could be done better. Also that other skywatchers are nearby. Thanks, take care...jay.

[Aenima]

thank you, any help is useful and welcome. J..

[Aenima]

Nice 1 mate, ive had alot of advice and found people here to be a great bunch. Much appreciated,

jay

[Grunthos]

I have seen andy's shot glass articles and astro-baby's in depth web page plus many SGL's members posts that were suggested but as great as these articles are, I still feel the task beyond my limited skill level - can anyone help?

There is a basic video available on YouTube entitled -

It does miss out a few subtleties but should give you confidence that collimation can be straightforward.

(NB: Always remember to make any adjustments with the telescope tube horizontal - saves you having a tragic accident with the primary mirror if you drop something;))

Have fun.

[Jiggy 67]

You gotta have a go at collimating, you might mess it up but it's always repairable and there is nothing better than doing it yourself

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[Aenima]

You gotta have a go at collimating, you might mess it up but it's always repairable and there is nothing better than doing it yourself

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I am here: Google Maps

Hi, thanks for the info. I needed all the help i could get, even now with reasonable views of jupiter tonight i still feel its not alligned properly. Aside from the collimation issue can I ask you how to set up a goto mount? I dont fully understand the long/lat numbers, especially when it changes N/W S/E and google maps seems to just give you two numbers (ie long - 50.blah blah - lat3.blah blah) i still have yet to set it up correctly. Sorry to hassle you but i noticed you have the same kind of goto software, even though our mounts differ (I just have the basic AZ-goto) KI know how to hand slew it but it would be nice to get the full capabilities working. Cheers, and thanks again.

jay

[Moonshane]

might be best to start a new thread for your latter query. bear in mind that the numbers are not long lat (they are terrestrial co-ordinates) but right ascension and declination (on an equatorial mount) and altitude and azimuth (an an alt az mount). these are all different.

see e.g. Equatorial coordinate system - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[martindf3]

Actually I did take it out to test it so I knew how bad it was and got great views of jupiter, moons were pin point lights. It was reassuring to see my scope wasnt broken. I just see so much margin for error that i will always think it is out and could be done better. Also that other skywatchers are nearby. Thanks, take care...jay.

I feel you pain (That sounds good doesn't it ? ) I got a 2nd hand Tal 150 scope for Christmas . It was a grest with 25mm lens in but as soon as 7.5mm went in I couldn't focus it very well . At that time I didn't have any collimator tools .... My journey started with reading all the instruction on collimating ,I got the idea but I didn't want to b****r anything up. I did remove the primary mirror and I centre spotted with great care with a simple text book hole strenghener 2 weeks ago I poped into Stocport telescope shop to see if there was anything to pimp my scope up .Rick the shop manager told me to fetch it in and he will checked it . I did, he told me it was out . I then watched while he adjusted it . He showed me what he was doing and how he did it . He used a laser collimator by the way He old me he had done a really top job . Me being sceptical took it home and had a look .What a difference everything clear . On the strength of it bought a collimator checked it out after a week and laser had strayed off centre spot .With trepedation got the screwdriver on to secondary mirror and centered it back .Thought the laser was off but it wasn't it went straight down the hole . Perfect again Rick had done a superb job . I now feel confident to do it myself . I have also very easily Collimated my collimator it was miles out at 15 feet. the hardest bit was getting silicon plugs out of collimator adjustment holes.

After 10 mins instruction its all very clear and not difficult to collimate a scope . when you have been shown what it is all about . I got mixed up with the difference between aligning the seconday mirror under the eyepeice and lining up secondary and primary mirror in the eyepeice ........

Rick did it for nothing . I wish I could afford a Meade LX 200, I would buy it off him with out hesitation

Regards Martin

[Jiggy 67]

Setting up a GoTo mount is a big subject for one post but there is plenty of help out there. I suggest you search YouTube for "Astronomy Shed" (can't give a link cos I'm on my phone) There are a lot of videos going through every stage step by step, he is a knowledgable guy who explains everything really well, there is even a video dealing solely with lat and long

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I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=53.361548,-2.740563