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Posts Made By: Dennis Sheridan

April 4, 2006 06:23 AM Forum: Telescope Making

Moding a Plastic Meade Focuser FWIW

Posted By Dennis Sheridan
I'll keep that in mind should my NT focuser go ca-ca pooey.

I'm working on a 1 1/4 AJ focuser casting I got from the Surplusshed. Somebody really cocked up the machining job, the rack trough was off line. So I opened a pocket around where the shaft goes through, took a piece of the end of a rubber stopper and ground it down and slipped it on a piece of 1/4" bar stock and pinned it so it wouldn't spin on the shaft. The shaft is locked in the casting with washers and cotter pins and has a couple of knobs for electronic equip. on it for now. When I get her all finitoed I'll snap a couple of pretties and post'um.

April 8, 2006 05:56 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

FIRST ON THE MOON ??

Posted By Dennis Sheridan
Jocularity, jocularity, jocularity. wink

April 9, 2006 06:55 AM Forum: Telescope Making

A dream trino-mount setup

Posted By Dennis Sheridan
OOOK, but what I'd like to know is did you pass the final exam before you ripped off the desk. wink grin

April 11, 2006 06:05 AM Forum: Telescope Making

Meade 114NT MONSTER project

Posted By Dennis Sheridan
Looks good now that I can see the whole magilla. I'm working at it from a slightly different angle. I'm building a small Dobs mount that will pivot around a central 2" pipe pier.

When I've got her done (hopefully soon) I'll take a few pics and post'um.

April 21, 2006 05:53 AM Forum: Birding Optics and Photos

04-20-06 Owl nest update! Close up!

Posted By Dennis Sheridan
Look at them toe nails. wink

May 24, 2006 04:44 AM Forum: Telescope Making

a few questions

Posted By Dennis Sheridan
I'm new at this astronomy thing too but I will try answer what I can.

The push/pull screws are seperate from each other, one set pushes and on set pulls. In other words in the mirror plate you should have some thread inserts (T-nuts) into which screws (pull) that go through the bottom of the cell with a spring in between.

The push screws have their threads in the cell bottom and go up and push up on the mirror plate. Thus one set (usually 3 in each set, depending on mirror size) pulls down and the other pushes up thus holding the mirror in place.

As for the tubing you might try this web site http://www.magnumrockets.com/airtube.html scroll down to Public Missles, they have some 7.51' tubing but the shipping could be a killer.

May 24, 2006 04:53 AM Forum: Telescope Making

Making an objective cell...

Posted By Dennis Sheridan
If you could find some PVC or ABS that just fit in the tube (might have to sand it down a little) and cut some thin rings. These could be glued in place with the lense between.

June 27, 2006 04:58 AM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

Darker Iris...

Posted By Dennis Sheridan
That is gorgeoso!

July 12, 2006 04:56 AM Forum: Birding Optics and Photos

Yellow Warbler

Posted By Dennis Sheridan
Nicely done.

July 13, 2006 05:50 AM Forum: Beginning Astronomy?

A few questions from a lost soul.

Posted By Dennis Sheridan
Kevin:

I wouldn't waste my time on the copyscope. I got a big ole 80mm lens from the Surplus Shed (4# of glass & alum.) and have gone through several permutations and all I have to show for are a lot of PVC & CPVC parts and pieces.

These lenes have a rather short FL and make for a very stubby and in my case a rather heavy piece to perch on even a good camera tripod.

If you are looking to build a scope then look in the Sheds objective lens section. They have a couple of nice 80mm air spaced doublets, fully coated and in plastic cells. One of the lenes has an FL of 400mm and the other is 900mm. These would make a much better scope for about the same cash outlay.

Just the ramblings of of an old retired GI.

Be carefull out there.

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