bilgebay Posted April 21, 2016 Share Posted April 21, 2016 (edited) I know, with SGP + PlateSolve or a similar setup, flipping is not a big deal these days. However, it can be very irritating to watch the operation remotely with a slow internet connection. This is one of the reasons I've started this project. The other reason is; I'm planning to start using my 12" Newt for imaging and it is a real pain to operate with a regular tripod or pier; plus, the spider spikes will not overlap when flipped unless I spend considerable time to fine tune several elements in the system to be square etc. After spending some time with the available options, I came up with a different design of my own and last week had a chance to test it. Edited April 21, 2016 by bilgebay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bilgebay Posted April 21, 2016 Author Share Posted April 21, 2016 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bilgebay Posted April 21, 2016 Author Share Posted April 21, 2016 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bilgebay Posted April 21, 2016 Author Share Posted April 21, 2016 (edited) Here is a timelapse video of the assembly - early Saturday morning last weekend --> Edited April 21, 2016 by bilgebay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bilgebay Posted April 21, 2016 Author Share Posted April 21, 2016 Here is Mesu Mantis In the second iteration, I will get rid of the original Mesu structure. This will allow me to lower the RA assy relative to the pier arm which in turn, create more clearance for the 12" Newtonian to go under the pier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bilgebay Posted April 21, 2016 Author Share Posted April 21, 2016 Here is a video, showing the no-flip operation with C8 Edge. Sorry about the quality of the video. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael.h.f.wilkinson Posted April 21, 2016 Share Posted April 21, 2016 Impressive set-up and neat solution 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bilgebay Posted April 21, 2016 Author Share Posted April 21, 2016 Thank you Michael. Mesu Extreme --- it can continue further but there is no need for that My 8" Newtonian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bilgebay Posted April 21, 2016 Author Share Posted April 21, 2016 Testing the 8" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bilgebay Posted April 21, 2016 Author Share Posted April 21, 2016 Here is a first light with this pier + C8 Edge. The stars are a bit bloated but the target was very low (Alt 37*) when I took this image: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uplooker Posted April 21, 2016 Share Posted April 21, 2016 Very impressive! Is the structure / pier stiff enough to prevent any flex, it looks to be the weak part of the equation - given the mount you are using. When watching the Testing the 8" video I was fully expecting the scope to bash into the wall :-0 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perfrej Posted April 22, 2016 Share Posted April 22, 2016 That is a really neat solution! How is the lateral stability turning out? That would be my foremost worry. Tip from the IT guy: the degree symbolis entered by holding down Alt and entering 0176 on the numeric keypad 37° /p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bilgebay Posted April 22, 2016 Author Share Posted April 22, 2016 Thank you Ian and Per! When hit from the sides, it is wobbling a bit, as I expected. My people at my workshop didn't follow my original recipe and went with thinner steel plates. Also the connectors are made of thin walled pipes. For some reason they decided I needed a light pier Under normal conditions, it is OK but better suited for a lighter mount/telescope setup. We are currently designing a second version and they promised to use the thicknesses I specify this time:) For me, the heavier the better. While designing this new version, we will get rid of the Mesu base to create more clearance for the long tube scopes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bilgebay Posted April 22, 2016 Author Share Posted April 22, 2016 Oh, I forgot to thank you for the tip Per. But it is not working on my keyboard. This is a Macbook Pro, running Windows 7 on Bootcamp. I knew the code you gave but for some reason it is not producing the degree symbol. Under Mac OS it is Alt+K but this is not good under Bootcamp either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perfrej Posted April 25, 2016 Share Posted April 25, 2016 about the °... Shift and the key to the left of the "1"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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