Popular Post +Graham Posted September 13, 2017 Popular Post Share Posted September 13, 2017 (edited) After seeing Sheila's amazing box of tricks that goes between the mount and the scope to get rid of all those annoying cables last year at Kelling I thought to myself Hmmmm 'got to make me one of those.' Well its nearly been a year and I have finally got round to doing something about it. I know mine wont have all the computer controls of the proper thing but it will sort out the mess of my cables. When finished I will have only one power cable and one USB lead to worry about. Step 1. Purchase a 12 volt powered USB hub with 7 outlets. 10 power sockets and plugs which have the security screw on connection. 10 fuse holders. I purchased 10 of each to allow for cock ups I already have a duel channel dew heater and a USB controlled focuser. Step 2. Draw up what I needed on the cad to work out dimensions ect. Step 3. Purchase a rather large lump of Aluminium. Step 4. Spend a couple of hours on the milling machine to reduce the Aluminium lump into a segmented box. Which has all the necessary holes and slots to enable fitting all the ancillaries . Fit power sockets and fuse holders. Step 5. Make a lid from sheet Aluminium and drill and tap all the holes necessary to fit the top dovetail clamping mechanism. Fit lid to box. Step 6. Make the bottom Dove tail and fit it to the box. Step 7. Will be making the Dovetail clamp when the Aluminium flats get here and wiring the whole thing up. Step 8. Will be Machine up the outside to blend all the parts together and powder coat or paint it black. Step 9. Use it. Edited September 13, 2017 by Graham tuckstar, philjay, Tweedledee and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BAZ Posted September 13, 2017 Share Posted September 13, 2017 Blimey, that's an engineering epic, fantastic stuff there mate. Would it anodise? +Graham 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweedledee Posted September 13, 2017 Share Posted September 13, 2017 That looks like a solid piece of kit and very useful. +Graham 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bottletopburly Posted September 13, 2017 Share Posted September 13, 2017 superb graham +Graham 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Graham Posted September 13, 2017 Author Share Posted September 13, 2017 11 minutes ago, BAZ said: Blimey, that's an engineering epic, fantastic stuff there mate. Would it anodise? I could Anodise it but I can get it powder coated at work. 5 minutes ago, Tweedledee said: That looks like a solid piece of kit and very useful. Yup well over engineered as per my norm but it will last me a lifetime. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BAZ Posted September 13, 2017 Share Posted September 13, 2017 I see what you mean, powder coated would be fine! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Graham Posted September 13, 2017 Author Share Posted September 13, 2017 1 minute ago, Bottletopburly said: superb graham Thanks David. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+RonC Posted September 13, 2017 Share Posted September 13, 2017 Great looking job Graham, look forward to seeing it next week! +Graham 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brantuk Posted September 13, 2017 Share Posted September 13, 2017 Nice one Graham - excellent job Teslar and +Graham 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheila Posted September 14, 2017 Share Posted September 14, 2017 will be interested to see it at Kelling +Graham 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Graham Posted September 14, 2017 Author Share Posted September 14, 2017 7 minutes ago, Sheila said: will be interested to see it at Kelling No pressure to get it finished then Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheila Posted September 14, 2017 Share Posted September 14, 2017 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Posted September 14, 2017 Share Posted September 14, 2017 Nice one Graham, I like to over engineer things . Is it cheaper the powder coat or cheaper to anodise? +Graham 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philjay Posted September 14, 2017 Share Posted September 14, 2017 Classy +Graham 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Graham Posted September 14, 2017 Author Share Posted September 14, 2017 1 hour ago, Doc said: Nice one Graham, I like to over engineer things . Is it cheaper the powder coat or cheaper to anodise? Both cost the same as I can Anodise at home or get it powder coated at work Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daz Type-R Posted September 16, 2017 Share Posted September 16, 2017 Very nicely done sir, is there anything you can't make? +Graham 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teslar Posted September 16, 2017 Share Posted September 16, 2017 Excellent work Graham when are you setting up the production line [emoji106] +Graham 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Graham Posted September 18, 2017 Author Share Posted September 18, 2017 On 16/09/2017 at 09:19, Daz Type-R said: Very nicely done sir, is there anything you can't make? Have not found anything yet but there is still time. Tweedledee 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Graham Posted September 18, 2017 Author Share Posted September 18, 2017 (edited) Unfortunately time has beaten me and I will not be getting this powder coated before Kelling. So it has had a quick lick of paint that will suffice it for the time being. Quality of photos is poor lens on my phone misted up. Must have been from all my sweat. What is inside. Some of the USB ports. Power sockets, fuse holders and the dove tail clamp. Edited September 18, 2017 by Graham Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Graham Posted September 18, 2017 Author Share Posted September 18, 2017 Top View. Dovetail in place. philjay 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweedledee Posted September 18, 2017 Share Posted September 18, 2017 31 minutes ago, Graham said: Top View. Dovetail in place. Graham, I think you need to right click the image in dropbox and select "copy Dropbox link" then change the end bit to raw=1. Looks like you have simply copied the filename and tagged on ?raw=1. I normally have those problems after whisky. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Graham Posted September 18, 2017 Author Share Posted September 18, 2017 Cheers for that. I did but Dropbox decided to have a fit with those two pictures. Seems to have sorted itself out now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Graham Posted September 29, 2017 Author Share Posted September 29, 2017 Update and first light. Well I used this at Kelling and it worked flawlessly. It now has pride of place on the mount in the obs at home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Posted September 29, 2017 Share Posted September 29, 2017 Nice one Graham, another successful upgrade +Graham 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BAZ Posted September 29, 2017 Share Posted September 29, 2017 Nice one mate. +Graham 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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