Mirror's arrived and now the fun starts

[geppetto]

Wooooo Hooooo!

Just took delivery of the 12" mirror which was very kindly donated to me

by Gaz to see if I could make something of it.

Importantly, it arrived in one piece 8)

So now the fun starts.....

As Gaz pointed out, the mirror will need re coating but I will get that done

after I've had a play so that I don't risk the new coating. Theres enough

coating on it to run it up and test it as a scope.

OK so the scribbles and plans begin...

Idea is to make a quick and dirty DOB (probably a truss) to get all the measurements

and such equated, then it can be pointed skyward to see what it can do.

If all goes well, the mirror can then come out and be sent off for its new shiny coat.

Will post stuff as the project unfolds....

Many thanks Gaz matey, I'll make sure the mirror has a new life.. :thumbup:

Reaches for the MDF

[lunator]

Phil

Good luck

I'm looking forward to seeing the progess on this scope.

Cheers

Ian

[Astroman]

Sounds great, but why not try a split-ring or nice English Yoke mount? Just curious.

[tom.yates]

Good luck with the project hope all goes well.

[geppetto]

why not try a split-ring or nice English Yoke mount

Been looking at various ideas AM but the quick dob is just

for starters to get the mirror up and running so I can have some

time looking through a much bigger scope for a change.

Also I will get to know the exact focal length and stuff to then perhaps move

on to another design.

Looking forward to tinkering with it 8)

[GazOC]

Many thanks Gaz matey, I'll make sure the mirror has a new life.. :thumbup:

Good luck mate, it certainly looks like the mirror has had an eventful life eh? Luckily it seems to have taken it's knocks on the unworked side.

[richard42]

good luck with the new scope!

lets have some pictures of it size wise against your other mirrors

[Kaptain Klevtsov]

This is going to be fun. Have you any idea as to the focal length yet?

Captain Chaos

[justin138]

Idea is to make a quick and dirty DOB

Now how about a 12" Smellyscope, that's a dirty dob.....

Looking forward to following the progress of this one, I'm so

All the best,

Justin

[GazOC]

This is going to be fun. Have you any idea as to the focal length yet?

Captain Chaos

Its f.5.3 I think, f=1570 ish.

[Kaptain Klevtsov]

This is going to be fun. Have you any idea as to the focal length yet?

Captain Chaos

Its f.5.3 I think, f=1570 ish.

So it's going to be quite big, same as the Skelescope Spec. wise.

Captain Chaos

[geppetto]

So it's going to be quite big

Sure is CC

Just run the figures through Newt..

Big scope...Mmmmmmmmmmm

[geppetto]

OK

The MK1 QDD scope (quick dirty dob) plan 8)

[Caz]

Looking forward to following your progress on this Phil 8)

Pray tell, why use the term 'Dirty Dob' :scratch: I would give anything to be able to build a scope, but I know I would wasting my time...

Caz

[FLO]

Way to go Phil

[geppetto]

Caz

Its just a saying, to do a quick and dirty build is to do a sort

of "rough" build to check that the planned project works.

Thats what this will be but not too "rough"

[OXO]

Looks great Phil as others have said it will be nice to follow your project 8)

[geppetto]

The planned method of mounting the mirror

[Ambermile]

Looks OK but I'd be suspicious of the double-sided tape there. Why not simple silicone? much better solution I think - and potentially safer too. I used it for a 12" several years ago... at a friends house actually. Went to collect it the next evening and it was standing in the corner of the garage. Mirror at the top

Arthur

[geppetto]

Looks OK but I'd be suspicious of the double-sided tape there

Yes it might end up being silicone Arthur.

Depends on the state of my tape, rescued some from work some years back

don't know what make it was but it was a hundred times stronger than what

you get in the DIY sheds.

Could be no good by now but rest assured I won't risk the mirror :shock:

[geppetto]

Compression springs arrived this morning for the collimation bolts.

Only ordered them yesterday :shock:

Great service from this company 8)

http://www.strutsdirect.co.uk/

[GordonCopestake]

Looks good Phil, my only comment would be that you appear to be raising the OTA up on your first drawing. If the focal length is 1.5 meters you will not want to be doing that! Make the base as close to the floor as you can or you will need a ladder (which is a pain!)

[geppetto]

Yep good point Gordon

Not sized the thing up yet just did the plan to no scale for a working idea.

Once I've built the OTA and fitted all the bits, I can then find the balance point of the OTA

which will then lead on to the final size and shape of the dob base.

Appreciate all the feedback guys (and gal) 8)

[justin138]

Excellent link for springs Phil, I used a similar mirror mount for the Smellyscope and bought three cheapy caulking guns from Wilkinsons just for the springs!

The Smellyscope mirror is actually held onto the cell by insulating tape wrapped round the edges, not best practise but works!

Justin

[daz]

This looks an interesting project Phil - again, dead jelous of you guys who can do these things!!!

BTW - would that company do something suitable to replace the springs on the revelation dob base?