T A WOW Posted January 3, 2013 Author Share Posted January 3, 2013 Well thank you. Hopefully it will be functional tomorrow. Not finished but able to stand on its own. (hopefully) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catman161 Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 Man I am loving following this. Thanks for sharing Tobias I can't wait to see the finished article. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Eddy Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 Looking good, look forward to the pictures of it assembled so far Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T A WOW Posted January 4, 2013 Author Share Posted January 4, 2013 (edited) Some pictures of the leg tops which I machined today after work. Machining in progress. Leg tops finished. Attached to tripod top. Top view. Attached to tripod top. Bottom view. With SkyTee - 2 mount in place. I need to sand down the carbon fibre to make the legs fit into the tops, as the carbon is slightly oval so doesn't quite fit at the moment. I'll do that tomorrow as its quite messy and SWMBO would moan if I do it while she is in. LOL The legs sit at an angle of 23 degrees from vertical. I can easily alter this buy removing small amounts of metal from the corners of the tops to make the angle bigger, or once I get the leg clamps and spreader finished I can alter it by the position of them on the upper legs. Edited January 4, 2013 by T A WOW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BAZ Posted January 4, 2013 Share Posted January 4, 2013 Droolllllll. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Posted January 4, 2013 Share Posted January 4, 2013 Simply amazing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catman161 Posted January 4, 2013 Share Posted January 4, 2013 Awesome Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BAZ Posted January 4, 2013 Share Posted January 4, 2013 I don't want to teach you to suck eggs, but don't sand that stuff anywhere near dearly loved electrical items. We did some work on an oven at a exhaust manufacturer's in which they cured the cans, but they also sanded the ends before attaching some other bit. The dust got in the oven and it was like a fireworks display in there. Dead oven. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brantuk Posted January 4, 2013 Share Posted January 4, 2013 It's coming together very nicely - looks the business Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T A WOW Posted January 5, 2013 Author Share Posted January 5, 2013 Sanded down the carbon to make the legs fit together properly. Without the legs extended it stands 755mm or 30 inches tall. With the legs extended it stands 1150mm or 45.25 inches tall. managed to get a space based (sort of) advert on the TV too. LOL Might make an extention pier as it might be a bit low if I ever get that big refractor I want. 8 - 10 inches should do it. Just got the leg clamps and spreader connecters to make now, then the tripod will be done. Yay. Hmmmm. Might make an accessory tray too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Posted January 5, 2013 Share Posted January 5, 2013 You are one lucky man to have access to the type of machinery to make this. It looks really professional, well done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T A WOW Posted January 5, 2013 Author Share Posted January 5, 2013 Well thank you kindly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perkil8r Posted January 5, 2013 Share Posted January 5, 2013 Very nice indeed. I am however intrigued, why use Carbon for the legs? Surely the more weight down there the more stable it would be? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T A WOW Posted January 5, 2013 Author Share Posted January 5, 2013 The carbon I got is quite thick so it's not a great deal lighter than the usual thin stainless used typically. Also. It looks cool!! The aluminium is quite beefy so that adds a fair bit of weight to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perkil8r Posted January 5, 2013 Share Posted January 5, 2013 Fair play, and you are quite right, it does look the dogs danglies Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Eddy Posted January 5, 2013 Share Posted January 5, 2013 That does look seriously neat, what does it weigh in at? and what capacity do you estimate it at with the skytee? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T A WOW Posted January 5, 2013 Author Share Posted January 5, 2013 (edited) I haven't weighed (spelling) it yet. I will after my dinner. I will test what it can hold by standing on it. I reckon the tripod will easily hold 200 lb But I'll not try that until I've done the leg braces. The skytee is listed as being able to hold two scopes at 15kg each, and I see no issue with it being able to hold that comfortably. Edited January 5, 2013 by T A WOW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T A WOW Posted January 5, 2013 Author Share Posted January 5, 2013 (edited) Ok, just weighed it. The tripod on its own currently comes in at 10.2 lbs. The NEQ6 tripod apparently weighs 16.5 lbs So Not too bad I don't think. Edited January 5, 2013 by T A WOW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BAZ Posted January 5, 2013 Share Posted January 5, 2013 You have done an amazing job there. It looks stunning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweedledee Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 That is a really impressive looking job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T A WOW Posted January 26, 2013 Author Share Posted January 26, 2013 Pic of the leg clamps and sreader arm end connectors. clamps made from 15mm thick aluminium plate. end connectors from 20mm diameter aluminium bar. carbon arms in the background are 12.7mm diameter need to sand down the carbon again as it is slightly oval as with the legs. also made a slight design error on the end connectors that link to the central spreader. need to add some rads to one side as at the moment they wont rotate (ooopppsy lol) any way. Only need to make some bolts for tightening the legs when they are extended (current ones are nicked of my crapstro master) made of cheapo plastic. then the tripod will be complete. oh. need to buy some tiger seal to stick some of the parts together. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catman161 Posted January 26, 2013 Share Posted January 26, 2013 Coming together nicely. Well done. Looks awesome. Ami right in thinking that you're also going to make a goto mount to go more tripod or was it just the tripod you're making? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T A WOW Posted January 26, 2013 Author Share Posted January 26, 2013 I am planning on making the full mount as well. But that will probably take quite some time. A lot of design needs to go into that as I plan on making it upgradeable (spelling?) I'll probably need to make several mock ups. I need to learn a hell of a lot more about auto guiding, polar alignment, periodic error correction, etc etc. so needless to say it'll probably take quite a while to design. I could also do with learning how to use a cad package. But i am planning it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T A WOW Posted January 26, 2013 Author Share Posted January 26, 2013 put all of the spreader bars together now. pic. I'll put it all together in a bit and post more photos. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Antares_Paul Posted January 26, 2013 Share Posted January 26, 2013 How the hell did I miss this thread? Anyway Tobias just to add the chorus - it looks a beauty! I admire craftsmen, full stop. Regards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now