GSO Dobs

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KingNothing13 United States of America
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GSO Dobs

#1

Post by KingNothing13 »


A while back (1+ years ago?) I noted in a report that after I had cleaned my mirror in my AD10, I could no longer get my ES 18mm to come to focus without the 35mm extension tube that came with the scope.

This seemed odd, but I didn't really put much time into trying to figure it out.

Recently in the Zhumell Customization thread over on CN, it was mentioned that the bottom screw in the focuser isn't really needed, and it prevents the focuser from reaching full travel.

I pulled the screw completely out for my most recent session, and sure enough, the 18mm can come to focus without the extension tube

I am going to run on the assumption I played with the screw at some point, and since I didn't think it mattered, it didn't occur that it was an issue.

With the screw removed, I do not have to worry about it happening again :lol:

{I think this is the locking screw}
-- Brett

Scope: Apertura AD10 with Nexus II with 8192/716000 Step Encoders
EPs: ES 82* 18mm, 11mm, 6.7mm; GSO 30mm
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Re: GSO Dobs

#2

Post by helicon »


It took me a couple of years to figure out the focus travel on my z10 and which sequence of screws had to be tightened. (Dumb on my part, sure)

I finally I had an epiphany.
-Michael
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Re: GSO Dobs

#3

Post by KingNothing13 »


helicon wrote: Mon Sep 06, 2021 5:02 pm It took me a couple of years to figure out the focus travel on my z10 and which sequence of screws had to be tightened. (Dumb on my part, sure)

I finally I had an epiphany.
Took me even longer! What does that say about me? :lol:
-- Brett

Scope: Apertura AD10 with Nexus II with 8192/716000 Step Encoders
EPs: ES 82* 18mm, 11mm, 6.7mm; GSO 30mm
Celestron SkyMaster 15x70 Binoculars
List Counts: Messier: 75; Herschel 400: 30; Caldwell: 12; AL Carbon Star List: 16
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Re: GSO Dobs

#4

Post by Lady Fraktor »


It means you are both to laid back to worry about the small stuff and just get to the viewing :)
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Re: GSO Dobs

#5

Post by ARock »


I remember someone (PhilipLangley?) back in AF.net forums telling me to remove the bottom screw of the focuser. Luckily it was within the first week that I had my Z8 dob :)
AR
Scopes: Zhumell Z8, Meade Adventure 80mm, Bushnell 1300x100 Goto Mak.
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Re: GSO Dobs

#6

Post by JayTee »


Hi Brett,

Any chance you could supply a photo of the focuser and said screw?

Cheers
∞ Primary Scopes: #1: Celestron CPC1100 #2: 8" f/7.5 Dob #3: CR150HD f/8 6" frac
∞ AP Scopes: #1: TPO 6" f/9 RC #2: ES 102 f/7 APO #3: ES 80mm f/6 APO
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Re: GSO Dobs

#7

Post by KingNothing13 »


JayTee wrote: Tue Sep 07, 2021 9:30 pm Hi Brett,

Any chance you could supply a photo of the focuser and said screw?

Cheers
I can. but it has to wait until the weekend as I am out of town until then.
-- Brett

Scope: Apertura AD10 with Nexus II with 8192/716000 Step Encoders
EPs: ES 82* 18mm, 11mm, 6.7mm; GSO 30mm
Celestron SkyMaster 15x70 Binoculars
List Counts: Messier: 75; Herschel 400: 30; Caldwell: 12; AL Carbon Star List: 16
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Re: GSO Dobs

#8

Post by kt4hx »


Here you go guys, an image of the standard GSO (Zhumell, Apertura, etc.) focuser with the screws identified. And it is true, you can remove the locking screw (bottom one of the two), but leave the tension screw in place.

GSO dob focuser.jpg
Alan

Scopes: Astro Sky 17.5 f/4.5 Dob || Apertura AD12 f/5 Dob || Zhumell Z10 f/4.9 Dob ||
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Mounts: ES Twilight-II and Twilight-I
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"What we know is a drop, what we don't know is an ocean." (Sir Isaac Newton)
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Re: GSO Dobs

#9

Post by KingNothing13 »


kt4hx wrote: Fri Sep 10, 2021 3:31 pm Here you go guys, an image of the standard GSO (Zhumell, Apertura, etc.) focuser with the screws identified. And it is true, you can remove the locking screw (bottom one of the two), but leave the tension screw in place.


Image
Thanks Alan - that's it - I removed the bottom, "focus lock" screw.
-- Brett

Scope: Apertura AD10 with Nexus II with 8192/716000 Step Encoders
EPs: ES 82* 18mm, 11mm, 6.7mm; GSO 30mm
Celestron SkyMaster 15x70 Binoculars
List Counts: Messier: 75; Herschel 400: 30; Caldwell: 12; AL Carbon Star List: 16
Brett's Carbon Star Hunt

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Re: GSO Dobs

#10

Post by Lowjiber »


I threw my locking screw away years ago.:)

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Re: GSO Dobs

#11

Post by kt4hx »


Well hopefully not really thrown away! :) Anything like that I remove, I keep cause you never know when it might come in handy for something else with the same thread size/pitch.
Alan

Scopes: Astro Sky 17.5 f/4.5 Dob || Apertura AD12 f/5 Dob || Zhumell Z10 f/4.9 Dob ||
ES AR127 f/6.5 || ES ED80 f/6 || Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian
Mounts: ES Twilight-II and Twilight-I
EPs: AT 82° 28mm UWA || TV Ethos 100° 21mm and 13mm || Vixen LVW 65° 22mm ||
ES 82° 18mm || Pentax XW 70° 10mm, 7mm and 5mm || barlows
Filters (2 inch): DGM NPB || Orion Ultra Block, O-III and Sky Glow || Baader HaB
Primary Field Atlases: Uranometria All-Sky Edition and Interstellarum Deep Sky Atlas
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Astronomers, we look into the past to see our future." (me)
"Seeing is in some respect an art, which must be learnt." (William Herschel)
"What we know is a drop, what we don't know is an ocean." (Sir Isaac Newton)
"No good deed goes unpunished." (various)
Some people without brains do an awful lot of talking, don't you think?” (Scarecrow, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz)
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Re: GSO Dobs

#12

Post by JayTee »


kt4hx wrote: Sat Sep 11, 2021 9:11 pm Well hopefully not really thrown away! :) Anything like that I remove, I keep cause you never know when it might come in handy for something else with the same thread size/pitch.
Yes, and after a while the area in your toolbox where do you keep the orphan screws will get very full. Fortunately, they all have each other to keep themselves company while they wait for their chance to be useful again.

Cheers
∞ Primary Scopes: #1: Celestron CPC1100 #2: 8" f/7.5 Dob #3: CR150HD f/8 6" frac
∞ AP Scopes: #1: TPO 6" f/9 RC #2: ES 102 f/7 APO #3: ES 80mm f/6 APO
∞ G&G Scopes: #1: Meade 102mm f/7.8 #2: Bresser 102mm f/4.5
∞ Guide Scopes: 70 & 80mm fracs -- The El Cheapo Bros.
∞ Mounts: iOptron CEM70AG, SW EQ6, Celestron AVX, SLT & GT (Alt-Az), Meade DS2000
∞ Cameras: #1: ZWO ASI294MC Pro #2: 662MC #3: 120MC, Canon T3i, Orion SSAG, WYZE Cam3
∞ Binos: 10X50,11X70,15X70, 25X100
∞ EPs: ES 2": 21mm 100° & 30mm 82° Pentax XW: 7, 10, 14, & 20mm 70°

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Re: GSO Dobs

#13

Post by SkyHiker »


I have that same focuser on my Z12 and never had that problem. And I will definitely not throw the locking screw away!
... Henk. :D Telescopes: GSO 12" Astrograph, "Comet Hunter" MN152, ES ED127CF, ES ED80, WO Redcat51, Z12, AT6RC, Celestron Skymaster 20x80, Mounts and tripod: Losmandy G11S with OnStep, AVX, Tiltall, Cameras: ASI2600MC, ASI2600MM, ASI120 mini, Fuji X-a1, Canon XSi, T6, ELPH 100HS, DIY: OnStep controller, Pi4b/power rig, Afocal adapter, Foldable Dob base, Az/Alt Dob setting circles, Accessories: ZWO 36 mm filter wheel, TV Paracorr 2, Baader MPCC Mk III, ES FF, SSAG, QHY OAG-M, EAF electronic focuser, Plossls, Barlows, Telrad, Laser collimators (Seben LK1, Z12, Howie Glatter), Cheshire, 2 Orion RACIs 8x50, Software: KStars-Ekos, DSS, PHD2, Nebulosity, Photo Gallery, Gimp, CHDK, Computers:Pi4b, 2x running KStars/Ekos, Toshiba Satellite 17", Website:Henk's astro images
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Re: GSO Dobs

#14

Post by Graeme1858 »


JayTee wrote: Sat Sep 11, 2021 9:51 pm Yes, and after a while the area in your toolbox where do you keep the orphan screws will get very full. Fortunately, they all have each other to keep themselves company while they wait for their chance to be useful again.

Or where they wait untouched for 30 years till your kids throw them out! :D

Regards

Graeme
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ASI1600MM Pro, ASI294MC Pro, ASI224MC
ZWO EFW, ZWO OAG, ASI220MM Mini.
APM 11x70 ED APO Binoculars.

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