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Posts Made By: Charles Hakes

March 3, 2003 03:37 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Binoculars For Eyeglass Wearers

Posted By Charles Hakes
I have the 10x50 Ultraviews and they are great. I really like being able to use them in the daytime with my sunglasses on.

Charlie

March 4, 2003 04:57 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Follow the (little) GOTO

Posted By Charles Hakes
Is the idea that the laser puts a spot on the sky? Just how thick is your atmosphere?

Charlie

March 7, 2003 04:50 PM Forum: Telescope Making

1st Telescope-Making Project?

Posted By Charles Hakes
My first was a 6" using an Orion f5 mirror. It is now on it's 3rd itteration. (And there are half a dozen things I still want to change once I get the time.) The first OTA was made in about 30 minutes using a single 8' piece of 1x8 pine. I won't go into details, but no matter how much you read about what to do, it has much more of an impact when you can see for yourself the problems you must overcome. This scope is now a two truss scope and has a secondary assembly that fits inside the mirror box. The whole thing is definitely a one hand grab and go. One of these days I'll get a picture I can post.

Charlie

March 8, 2003 08:58 PM Forum: Telescope Making

First homemade scope - version ~3

Posted By Charles Hakes
Here is the secondary "cage" inside the mirror box.

March 11, 2003 05:22 PM Forum: Telescope Making

wheelchair astronomy

Posted By Charles Hakes
One of the piers at Fort Lewis College is extra low for this reason. Although as far as I know, the only time it has been used is for elementary aged groups. I think the wedge for a 10" LX200 mounts about 18" off the ground. (Unforunately, since there is usually no scope there, the pier usually just gets used to clean mud off shoes!)

Charlie

March 18, 2003 02:52 PM Forum: Telescope Making

Replacing focuser on a schmidt newtonian

Posted By Charles Hakes
Is this a Jason brand scope? If so, I have one like it, but mine is a smaller 3" 480mm fl. There are several problems I have come up with on my scope. The biggest problem is that there is no built in way to collimate the primary mirror, except by the screws that attach it to the back. Since it is such a short focal length primary, that makes a big difference on performance. The second "problem" is that I'll bet there is a barlow lens built into the focuser. And the one on my scope is not a good sample (poor coatings, if any). The focuser on mine is also a .965, but not a bad one. Changing the focuser will not increase the brightness or contrast, just the maximum field of view you can get. If yours has such a lens, you would need that in your light path with any new focuser. As for the mirror in the focus assembly, does that work like a diagonal to just re-direct the light path? If so, It won't matter.

Have you explored taking this apart yet?

Good luck,
Charlie

March 21, 2003 03:22 AM Forum: Telescope Making

Suggestions for a 1st time project

Posted By Charles Hakes
I think a 6" truss design would be great for a first project. I posted a picture of my 6" truss scope here a couple of weeks ago. (Search "first homemade scope") As I said in the earlier post, that is my version 3. My version 1 was really quick and dirty and didn't work that well, but was still lots of fun. I learned more from trial and error than I did by reading. (I'll read something, think "why would you need that?", try something else, and then say "Oh! That's why!") As for a truss, you really could save that for your "version 2", and still use the same mirror and other "expensive" components.

Charlie

April 14, 2003 03:31 PM Forum: Telescope Making

Re: TrussTube Mtg Brkt

Posted By Charles Hakes
I like this design.

Questions - When you tighten down on the 10-24 flat head, why doesn't the entire dowel turn inside the tube? Do you have to hold it secure somehow until it grips well? Or is the one section of the dowel glued to that end bracket?

Charlie

April 14, 2003 03:46 PM Forum: Telescope Making

Truss or tube?

Posted By Charles Hakes
I got a 10" f9.6 mirror that I made into a scope last year. I guess a tube would be nice, but I couldn't figure out how I would transport it anywhere. Anyway, I made a VERY simple truss design (1x2 trusses) that works for me.

My next project for this scope will be to angle the secondary by 22.5 degrees (instead of 45) so that the focuser is angled towards the ground. I have seen scopes like that on this forum and they look much more convenient. You might think about doing that so you wouldn't need a ladder with your scope.

Charlie

April 15, 2003 04:45 PM Forum: Telescope Making

Piano wire spider

Posted By Charles Hakes
I asked this question about a year ago, but didn't find anyone who had actually tried it. (I still haven't, either. smile ) The suggested problem was getting the support strong enough to hold the tension, which would have to be rather high. You would also need a way to tighten the wire - just like a guitar.

Let me know how yours turns out. Good luck!

Charlie

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