Posts Made By: Sean McGrath

Here are some comments from my initial experience with this setup - and its use with a Takahashi TOA-130.
These are mostly comments and ramblings, so please excuse the format:

This is my only mount, and was chosen for simplicity, which includes
the absence of counter weights.

Currently do not have the SkyCommander installed, though I did get the
encoder kit. The encoder kit fully enclosed inside of the mount is an
elegant solution (which I will say even though it sounds lame). It is
very nice and tidy. One thing that might be a problem for me, is that
given the length of the Tak OTA and the position of the shelf for the
SkyCommander, it might be a hassle to use the SkyCommander comfortably.

Chose to go with Astro Physics (AP) wood tripod for height
adjustability. The center section from Richard Lapides (discussion
and pictures on the ap-ug Yahoo! group) was also quite appealing,
making the AP wood tripod fold up like a regular camera tripod
(nothing to disassemble)

Turns out AP tripod was probably necessary anyway (despite the lure of
the Lapides center section), given the length of the TOA-130 when used
to view at zenith. View at zenith can be a bit of a hassle because
the legs of the tripod can be in the way at certain positions, but it
is still possible to use in this manner.

This setup works quite well, despite the weight of a fully outfitted
TOA-130 at around 30-35lbs (OTA, University Optics (UO) finder, AP 2"
diagonal, parallax rings, and Pentax XW EP).

One thing to be careful of (if you have a heavier setup especially) is
tipping. Naturally, the weight of a scope on one side can cause the
mount to want to tip much more easily than if the weight was centered
over the tripod. Not that I have even had my mount tip or close to
tipping, but if you had the mount on a surface that was not level (and
favored the heavier side) be careful about lifting the legs to insert
celestron vsp pads, for example

Use of celestron vibration pads VSP, results in about 1/2 sec damp
time if a sharp tap is given to the diagonal. I can focus (standard
tak focuser) without vibration being a problem at 200x-280x (5mmm and
3.5mm Pentax XW EP). I don't have a lot of experience with mounts,
but I must say I find this setup very enjoyable to use - compared to a
TV127 on a Televue mount and tripod I tried to use one time.

The mount is still breaking in, as I have only had it out for about a
half dozen times so far. The delrin discs are still wearing in. The
mount is not as smooth as I would like right now, but part of that has
to do with the azimuth adjustment. The altitude adjustment uses two
spring washers (against the ball bearing, under the adjustment nut),
while there are no washers on the azimuth. The spring washers give a
varying degree of adjustment (providing tension), and the absence of
washers on the azimuth leads to something that is too loose or too
tight. I am currently awating a new spring washer from Tom at
DiscMounts, which he says will fix the problem. I think with the new
spring washer and using the mount a bit more to break it in, I will be
quite happy.

One minor annoyance with my configuration, is that it can be
troublesome to hoist the TOA-130 OTA into the G11 saddle when the AP
tripod is at full height. I looked at the Robin Cassady plates (where
you can tip the dovetail into the saddle plate) but I think the
sliding configuration is safer - less likely to drop the scope in the
attachment process.

Last quirk/tidbit:

There seems to be a light clicking noise that comes from the ball
bearings in either axis of the mount, only at a certain point. I
think it has to do with a rough part in each of the bearings - maybe
not enough lubrication, damaged while being pressed in? I'm not
really sure. Not much of an issue, because they are still smooth
enough, and they are not really critical anyway, as it is the bronze
sleeve bushings that really do most of the work, along with the delrin
plates. If I reassemble the mount with the bearings in a different
position, I actually wouldn't hear this noise again. Tom said he
hasn't heard of this problem, but I plan to keep an eye on it - though
like I said, this is not critical to the operation.


Overall I must say that I am quite happy with this configuration,
given the ease to which it can be brought out and set up. The mount
creates a simple and stable platform for the TOA-130 - which is
exactly what I was looking for. Now, if Tom would only come out with
the tracking platform that he has been talking about.....


(these comments were copied from the Yahoo! group "discmounts" - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/discmounts/
If anybody is interested, I hope to post more pictures and further information there in the future. I hope other discmount users might do the same.)

I am having a small distraction in the EP when using my telescope. I was hoping somebody could help ID it for me.

Basically it behaves like a floater, but it is a light source. At first I thought I had a bug flying around, but I realize it seems to be some kind of reflected light. It kind of dances around the EP FOV.

Am I just seeing light reflected off of my eye? Or some kind of scatter? I notice this on Saturn and Jupiter (not sure of dimmer objects, haven't had the scope out in a couple weeks).

I am using a Pentax EP with the eyecup on a refractor.

any input is appreciated as I am most confused (and annoyed)

I have it, and I highly recommend it! I am using on my TOA-130. It does not have the spongy feel or the rough spots that I experienced with the takahashi micro edge focuser.

It gives a very solid feel.

Here's a crappy pic for you.

If you look around here or cloudy nights, there is some information floating around. It doesn't sound like too much of a huge upgrade. There are a few out right now, but I think they are primarily held up right now due to some cosmetic problems with the exterior molding.

well after I disassembled the mount and re-greased the bushings, the clicking sound is gone. so.. uh.. don't worry too much about that.

Thank you David, James, Floyd, Rob, and Jim.

I believe it is just a reflection off of my eye. I had my setup out again tonight and the reflection was not there. I will have to pay attention and see if I can tell what the light source might be.

I do remember the firefly dancing a whole bunch when moving my eye, that is correct, but at the time I didn't remember any particular light source that may have caused this problem.

Perhaps my eyes were more teary at the time, then they were tonight. Or the neighbors light was on....

At any rate, I appreicate all of the input I received - I think I can rest easy now!

or you can buy the upcoming micro from feathertouch. might be easier and cheaper than replacing the whole unit.

http://www.starlightinstruments.com/microsTelevue.htm

I am using a micro on my takahashi, and I love it!

I haven't heard anything about a unit for the 4" models, but I am sure one would be made if there is demand. Werner might even be working on one, who knows...

You can always email Werner at Starlight, he seems to be responsive to email.

I hear ya on the MEF.

Good info Dan. I recently purchased one of these to collimate my TOA (ehh long story) and it is a nice piece.

I was going to mention that you can also try Borg adapter 7316 to convert the 36.4 threads of the takahashi collimating scope to a 1 1/4" nosepiece.

It is just another option to the 2" adapter that Brad Dillingham makes.

The Borg piece costs $17 - I am going to try and order one this morning from Borg.

http://www.sciencecenter.net/hutech/borg/parts/html/7316.htm

sweet setup Ivan! Thanks for sharing.

Would you mind if I put that picture up over at the discmounts yahoo group? we could always use some pretty pictures over there.