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New Focusing Aid

George

By George
in Imaging - Discussion

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Starflyer

Starflyer

Posted
Posted

Hi Gary, are you looking forward to the kashmiri lamb in a few weeks :)

The trouble with plastic is getting it rigid enough so it doesn't sag but still being able to cut it with a craft knife without it breaking. I think suitable card will be easier to find and then a couple of coats of matt black spray paint should weatherproof it.

See you soon,

Ian

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Psychobilly

Psychobilly

Posted
Posted

Nice one Jeff :undecided:

Transparency film fixed to a "hoop" would possibly work well although I don't know how "waterproof" inkjet printed masks would be :)

The templates could be "filled" in an image editor for printing.

Have you managed to get the measurements for the 12" yet?

Billy...

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Jeff RV

Jeff RV

Posted
Posted

Nice one Jeff :undecided:

Transparency film fixed to a "hoop" would possibly work well although I don't know how "waterproof" inkjet printed masks would be :)

The templates could be "filled" in an image editor for printing.

Have you managed to get the measurements for the 12" yet?

Billy...

Hi Billy! PM sent.

Jeff.

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Jeff RV

Jeff RV

Posted
Posted

I read on a forum that rather than cutting a mask out, it was printed it onto some sort of stiff clear celluloid film and this was found to be very successful? but i can't find it now :undecided:

Just thought I'd add this in case it's a good idea.

Jeff.

Found it!!

Here's a link to "Telescope Reviews" for the transparency film version.

http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/showthreaded.php/Cat/0/Number/2682299/page/0/view/collapsed/sb/5/o/all/vc/1

Jeff.

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Psychobilly

Psychobilly

Posted
Posted

Meade LX90 12" @ F10

The 12" is too large to Fit but all the important bits are in there all you need to do is extend the OD onto the material you use - I have left the center mark there to make this easier...

http://www.btinternet.com/~psmithuk/Focus_Masks/MeadeLX90_12Inch/PS_LX90_12Inch_RHS.pdf

http://www.btinternet.com/~psmithuk/Focus_Masks/MeadeLX90_12Inch/PS_LX90_12Inch_LHS.pdf

Billy...

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Jeff RV

Jeff RV

Posted
Posted

Meade LX90 12" @ F10

The 12" is too large to Fit but all the important bits are in there all you need to do is extend the OD onto the material you use - I have left the center mark there to make this easier...

http://www.btinternet.com/~psmithuk/Focus_Masks/MeadeLX90_12Inch/PS_LX90_12Inch_RHS.pdf

http://www.btinternet.com/~psmithuk/Focus_Masks/MeadeLX90_12Inch/PS_LX90_12Inch_LHS.pdf

Billy...

Nice one Billy, I may even get the scope in focus now. :undecided:

Cheers.

Jeff.

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Guest

Guest

Posted
Posted

Is there a mask for the Orion ED-80 (may be the same as the Sky Watcher) and the Celestron C8-N f/5 Newtonian?

Thanks for your work on this Billy - I just had a disappointing session with my NexImage and the ED-80 imaging the Moon - could not get it focused via the image on the laptop - looks like this is going to do the trick

David

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Guest

Guest

Posted
Posted

I was just looking at the solar filter for my ED-80 and thought that perhaps the mask could be glued to the inside of it (having taken out the film first). It would make mounting it easy with the nylon threaded screws etc. There's a picture of what I'm referring to at http://www.sanddune.info/Pages/News.htm near the bottom of the page. I can't remember how much the filter was but it was around £25 I think. Could be a possible work around for those of us who are going to cut this out of card. I think the solar filters for 8" scopes up though are over £50.

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Psychobilly

Psychobilly

Posted
Posted

HI David,

I would have thought this one would do the ED-80 just cut tot the Outer rings that work with your planned fixing method...

http://www.btinternet.com/~psmithuk/Focus_Masks/Skywatcher_ED80/PS_ED80_FirstOrder.pdf

And these two would do an 8" f5 scope... you might have to adjust the OD to suit though.

http://www.btinternet.com/~psmithuk/Focus_Masks/OO8Inch/PS_OO_8Inch_LHS.pdf

http://www.btinternet.com/~psmithuk/Focus_Masks/OO8Inch/PS_OO_8Inch_RHS.pdf

Billy....

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Psychobilly

Psychobilly

Posted
Posted

Thanks Billy,

Does the ED80 Mask need to be re-sized (stretched)? It looks too small to fit in the dew shield.

David

Dont stretch it or you'll loose the dimesions of the slots which is important.. add extra to the OD.

All the mask templates are based on "user" supplied data and the way that they were thinking of fitting them...

I am thinkign of rationalising all the mask designs including a load more outer guide circles and changing the filenames which means the existing links wont work in a few days tiem ...

I'll repost a new list with full descriptions and new links when I have done them all....probably over the weekend lookign at the forecast...

One for the Admins/mods...

To save people looking through the full thread is there anyway we can make the list a sticky once its done?

Billy...

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Guest

Guest

Posted
Posted

I see, thanks for that - sounds like a great idea posting all the files in one place.

I found this template that looks the right size when printed "psychobilly_-_SWED80_3rd" will that work with an 600mm/f5?

Thanks again for your guidance on this.

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mothershipuk

mothershipuk

Posted
Posted

Hi Billy

Me again. lol. I got the pdf files you did for my LX90 10 " (thanks for that) and took them to the engineering company based in Crawley, West Sussex. They have asked if the design could be in a dwg or dxf file format. Doesnt mean much to me but is this possible please?

They have said that the cost would be around £30 ish to cut. It would cost another £30ish to design but I guess that what you have already done.

Speak soon

Justin

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Psychobilly

Psychobilly

Posted
Posted

You have a PM Justin :undecided:

Thats roughly where i expected the one off price to be... the price would fall farily rapidly with quantity...

Billy..

Thanks Helen - I'm thinking of making generic versions of the masks and giving them meaningful file names as the key properties are Diameter, and focal length that the mask works with..

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