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Artemis 285 help needed

Ben Ritchie

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Ben Ritchie

Ben Ritchie

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I've recently acquired a used Artemis 285 (no other sort, I suppose!) which has proved to be a real headache. The CCD itself works ok, but I can't get decent images from it. The fundamental problem I think is that the CCD optical window is completely loose - it has a couple of millimeters to fall forward before touching the nosepiece block, and nothing is holding it in place. I don't know if there was supposed to be an O-ring or something similiar in there, but there isn't. Anyway, this causes a few serious problems

- moist air can get into the CCD chamber, so icing renders the CCD unusable within about 15 minutes

- equally, dust can get in too, and both the underside of the chamber window and the CCD itself are pretty dirty

- with the window in place, i'm getting odd bloated oval-shaped haloes around bright stars (they look very similar to sag in the optical path, but the CCD body is square and they vanish if the chamber window is removed). I think this is because the window can 'fall' so that it's not perpendicular to the light path, and some kind of reflection/other effect is causing the oval stars.

I think these are all related to the same problem (the optical window isn't held in place). So my questions:

- how is the window supposed to be secured in place? what's missing? it doesn't appear that anything has simply come adrift.

- how do I clean the optical window and the CCD itself?

- once I get the CCD window sealed correctly, is there dessicant that needs baking to remove the moisture? how to I get at it to bake it?

any other thoughts would be welcome too...

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NickH

NickH

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Ben

Speak to Steve Chambers, he's redone the dessicant for me before on this one, and the optical window seal too. First time I had it (first week ) it fogged up, but the dessicant change sorted that out.

The window was pretty secure when I had it, but Steve I am sure (mention it was mine) will be able to help

If not, let me know

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winfij

winfij

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Hi Ben,

I have one of the original run, so I assume it's the same as the one you have.

- how is the window supposed to be secured in place? what's missing? it doesn't appear that anything has simply come adrift.

They came with some o-rings cut out of a thin plastic foam sheet - one went on either side of the glass to hold it secure and create a seal. I'd suggest you contact the seller and ask them where they are.

Failing that, you can probably easily make some new ones if you can find some 2mm foam sheet.

- how do I clean the optical window and the CCD itself?

If you remove the optical window you can clean it carefully using the same process you would for any coated glass - I used a camera lens cleaning kit, solution and cloth.

The ccd is more delicate, although I've successfully used the same method.

There's lots of resources online about ccd cleaning.

- once I get the CCD window sealed correctly, is there dessicant that needs baking to remove the moisture? how to I get at it to bake it?

Yep - if you remove the back cover plate of the camera, you'll find a syringe on the end of a rubber tube, it contains the dessicant.

Empty it out into a bowl then put it in the microwave for 30secs. Depending on the type (I think they shipped with various types) they may change color when properly recharged - mine went from pale yellow to bright orange.

Let it cool for a few secs and put it back in the syringe.

any other thoughts would be welcome too...

You'll love it when you get it going :smiley:

Hope that helps,

John

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  • 2 weeks later...
Ben Ritchie

Ben Ritchie

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No problem Ben - just wondered is all.

Thanks for the offer of help, it was really appreciated (even if I didn't reply direct... :roll: ) - i've had a couple of small dramas with kit this year, and it's amazing how willing people from SGL/UKAI have been to try and help out

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