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My next new DIY ALT/AZ Mount build thread


Doc

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Heres mine..

The second fitting above the brass bushing is actually a magnet to attach the hand controller to.

I'm not sure what the other 2 holes were for....?

 

The saddle plate on the Panther is quite intricate.

The brass pins that secure the OTA are somehow recessed into each dovetail ; it has both a Losmandy & Vixen option.

I thought at first they didn't look that secure : they are quite small, but they seem to work fine enough.

I'll be a little tentative with a long refractor pointing high though, especially if its a bit windy and freezing cold.

 

38781004540_9b64731c2d_c.jpg39880328834_cccc7d7fed_c.jpg

Edited by Bino-viewer
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Thanks Rob for the photo's.

 

I can't do circular cuts as I haven't got a rotary table hence they are all square but the principle for the adjustment of the ALT axis is the same.

 

The brass pins do look pretty small but they must be adequate are they wouldn't sell it. My top will be basically a rectangle 15mm thick piece of aluminium with some shaping to it. On top of it will be placed the dovetail clamp which will be homemade but the whole of one side will move on springs and shafts to clamp the telescope. There will be some safety bolts included so to to stop accidental slippage of the scope. 

 

 

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  • 3 weeks later...

Superb job Mick. :thumbsup:

 

Where do you buy those little compression springs in the clamp?

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Thanks Graham it means a lot :thumbsup:

 

Pete I'm not sure, there's a few shops on E-Bay that sell these. I found mine in an old box I had full of odds and ends, I think they came from an old printer I had lying around. I just made the holes the correct size for the springs.

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Excellent workmanship, beautiful results, well done Mick - its nearly done!

You must be very chuffed with that beauty! Loving the dovetail...

Of course, we will all want one now! :)

Edited by Smithysteve
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Cheers Stephen. 

 

Yes nearly done, looking for some cheap 304 Stainless Bar 5" in diameter and about 50mm long for the counterweights now. 

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Mick that’s awesome you’ve done a cracking job , you should be well chuffed ?

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Made the knobs for the dovetail plate today. There are three of them made from 33mm hexagonal bar. There is plenty of clamping force and the whole dovetail works brilliantly.

 

KNniCj.jpg

 

nr0TOM.jpg

 

i2IVyw.jpg

 

Idezqn.jpg

 

With scope attached

 

J4phRP.jpg

 

jhKymh.jpg

 

YkyBL0.jpg

Edited by Doc
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1 hour ago, tuckstar said:

So when do you start taking orders?:thumbsup:

You might be scared of by the price Andy :lol:

Just out of curiosity how much would you say it's worth?

 

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4 hours ago, Doc said:

 

5 hours ago, tuckstar said:

So when do you start taking orders?:thumbsup:

You might be scared of by the price Andy :lol:

Just out of curiosity how much would you say it's worth?

 

I honestly don't know Mick.

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Work out how many hours it took to make. 

Multiply that by a minimum of 25 to get a costing for your time and overheads. 

Add the cost of materials and you have the final cost.

 

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  • 3 weeks later...

I did follow Graham equation and it worked out as £400 materials as I cannot buy in bulk and have to swallow the postage everytime. It took me 30 hours to make so 30 x 25 = 750 + 400 = £1150. 

 

Made the counterweights over the weekend. They are made from Meehanite and are 5" in diameter and 1.5" thick. They weigh 4Kg each.

 

giRfyt.jpg

 

The mount pretty much finished. Just need to sort out encoders and to tap M3 holes for the top hat.

 

03MyM5.jpg

 

I will put up some more photo's and a video in the members equipment section.

  • Like 1
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  • 3 weeks later...

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