Doc Posted September 19, 2017 Author Share Posted September 19, 2017 Just looked at how much a new DM6 costs. I looked as I was curious with how poor the pound is against the dollar and was pretty shocked. $1200 for the mount $50 handle $150 tripod adapter $525 Encoders and display Total $1925 or £1400. On top of this you need shipping and taxes. So maybe about £1750 Ouch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Posted September 19, 2017 Author Share Posted September 19, 2017 (edited) Another few hours in the workshop produced the back panal. Milling the recess in the back panal. Going around the edge with a 10mm cutter The finished article. The back panal will be secured with two M6 thumb screws. That's it for now. Btw I'll post some better photo's soon with my 6d. Edited September 19, 2017 by Doc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Bino-viewer Posted September 20, 2017 Share Posted September 20, 2017 Looking good Mick. You've done a great job there...... I can't wait to see it 'with discs'.... You've reminded me of the cost of my DM6... Also there was the cost of the saddle and pier extension.... A significant purchase for me, no doubt, and took some saving up for. I did purchase mine 3 years ago though and the $USD was weaker then, i was geting $1.70 / £1 But i did get the Alt-Az mount i'd longed for, and its a definite life keeper : with the new Nexus DSC its a formidable set-up. Sometimes you have to bite the bullet : If i'd wanted the equivalent EQ ie Paramount, AP Mach 1, etc it would be big bucks. Do you have a saddle plate in mind ? I wondered if you were going to machine something, but i'm guessing it might be easier to buy one. Make sure its beefy, with a pair of dovetail clamps ideally. Theres a lot of mass with a big refractor. Your choice of a Planet tripod is a good one i think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Posted September 20, 2017 Author Share Posted September 20, 2017 I'm just going to put up a few better photo's Rob, one of them a mock up with discs included. I have a couple of saddles already from other projects but I'm tempted to make one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Posted September 20, 2017 Author Share Posted September 20, 2017 Imagine two 6mm discs of UHMWPE in between both discs. The tin of beans is there for scale. +Bino-viewer 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Posted September 22, 2017 Author Share Posted September 22, 2017 Rob just wondering what size is the thread that connects the DM6 to the tripod. I asking this as I'm hoping to get the Barlebach Planet tripod with the DM6 head. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Bino-viewer Posted September 22, 2017 Share Posted September 22, 2017 (edited) All it is is a standard 3/8" (i think) standard photo tripod thread. Nothing more to it than that. Berlebach don't charge anything for that, as theres no specific fit / adapter as such Check out the webpage : look at the dropdown options for 'mount' and you'll see DM6 listed. https://www.berlebach.de/?bereich=details&id=350&sprache=english You don't have to have that fitting though ? One advantage is that i can mount other photo gear on the same tripod. If you are ordering direct the poor Pound / Euro exchange may penalise you. Theres other vendors that may be cheaper such as FLO. They may not have a DM6 fit though. Whatever fit you opt for, i can recommend the spread stopper ( with tray) So much better than those awful chains. Double leg clamps are good too, under a heavy load. HTH Edited September 22, 2017 by Bino-viewer typos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Posted September 22, 2017 Author Share Posted September 22, 2017 (edited) Thanks for the info Rob. A little bit more done today. First attatched one of the discs onto the side of the mount with M6 cap head screws. Then Cut out the plastic with a hacksaw and mounted them into the lathe to round them off. I then drilled M5 and with countersunk screws attached them to the disks. The M10 threaded bar is only there to align the discs. My next job is to increase the bore size to 1" and secure this into the end disc with a M12 thread. This shows the bearing which has a 1" inner diameter, a 1.500" outer diameter and is 1.750" long. I will make the shaft originally from aluminium but once it is all working will make a stainless steel shaft. Problem is i have trouble cutting stainless on the myford especially threading, the material is so damn hard. You can see both discs sandwiching two 6mm discs of UHMWPE. Edited September 22, 2017 by Doc Tweedledee 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweedledee Posted September 22, 2017 Share Posted September 22, 2017 Superb workmanship. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Bino-viewer Posted September 22, 2017 Share Posted September 22, 2017 Indeed it is. Its really taking shape now Mick. Great work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Posted September 23, 2017 Author Share Posted September 23, 2017 Thanks guys it means a lot too me that you are following my progress. Thinking ahead a bit. I'm going to struggle with the bottom disc it's 5" long and 5 1/2" wide and once in the lathe I cannot cut the entire length as the end hits the saddle. I wanted a slight taper on it and some decorative grooving to give it some character. I'm going to have to get my thinking cap on here and come with a solution. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweedledee Posted September 25, 2017 Share Posted September 25, 2017 Looking forward to your solution Mick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Graham Posted September 25, 2017 Share Posted September 25, 2017 (edited) On 23/09/2017 at 09:37, Doc said: Thanks guys it means a lot too me that you are following my progress. Thinking ahead a bit. I'm going to struggle with the bottom disc it's 5" long and 5 1/2" wide and once in the lathe I cannot cut the entire length as the end hits the saddle. I wanted a slight taper on it and some decorative grooving to give it some character. I'm going to have to get my thinking cap on here and come with a solution. You could ask someone you know with a large lathe to do that bit for you. Or you could use a left handed tool set up on the front of the tool post to give you the necessary extension distance to clear the saddle. Edited September 25, 2017 by Graham Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Posted September 26, 2017 Author Share Posted September 26, 2017 9 hours ago, Graham said: You could ask someone you know with a large lathe to do that bit for you. Or you could use a left handed tool set up on the front of the tool post to give you the necessary extension distance to clear the saddle. I was just looking at left hand tools last night. I think that will be the way I go. Thanks for the tip Graham. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BAZ Posted September 26, 2017 Share Posted September 26, 2017 "I cannot cut the entire length as the end hits the saddle." This sounds like aperture fever in a different form Mick! Yup, you need a bigger lathe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Graham Posted September 26, 2017 Share Posted September 26, 2017 Mick if you cannot find one you can turn your boring tool upside down and use that but run the lathe in reverse. BAZ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Posted September 26, 2017 Author Share Posted September 26, 2017 Interesting stuff Graham, will look into it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Doc Posted September 27, 2017 Author Popular Post Share Posted September 27, 2017 A little more work done today. Bored out the hole for the bush. I got the diameter to 10 thou undersize but the bush was still very hard to push in. It began OK but I struggled once it was half way in, lets just say it won't fall out The shaft at the moment is just aluminium but once it's OK I'll remake in Stainless steel. Only really needs one thick washer, also a nyloc nut instead of a normal nut is needed. The knurled thumb screws have undercuts on them so cannot be removed from the back panel, this way they cannot be lost in the dark. BAZ, Werisit, tuckstar and 3 others 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Graham Posted September 28, 2017 Share Posted September 28, 2017 Looking good Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brantuk Posted September 28, 2017 Share Posted September 28, 2017 It's coming together very nicely now Mick - great job so far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Posted October 3, 2017 Author Share Posted October 3, 2017 (edited) Done the outer bush today. Done this one on the lathe and it turned out a lot easier then on the mill. I used the face plate, clamped it down and clocked it, the job turned out OK. So both bushes have now been done and it's all been put together and tested. Looks OK so very happy so far. Next steps are an 8" riser, stainless steel shafts, and sort out some encoders. Also on the agenda is a heavy duty dovetail clamp. And lastly remove scratches and powdercoat. Edited October 3, 2017 by Doc philjay, +Bino-viewer, Tweedledee and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BAZ Posted October 3, 2017 Share Posted October 3, 2017 Would you be able to polish it and then clearcoat it, that would look stunning. A lot of work to polish it, but then you have already put in a lot to start with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Posted October 3, 2017 Author Share Posted October 3, 2017 Yes I see no reason why I can't Baz. It shouldn't take that much effort to polish all the marks out, just plenty of wet and dry. Even if I go powdercoating or anodizing it still needs polishing to remove scratches. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BAZ Posted October 3, 2017 Share Posted October 3, 2017 It's going to look good whatever you do Mick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Posted October 8, 2017 Author Share Posted October 8, 2017 Made the riser yesterday. Photo's speak more then words so have a look. So next step is a dovetail and see if it takes the weight of a 5" triplet scope. Tweedledee and Bottletopburly 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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