DIY Anti-vibration pads?

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MistrBadgr United States of America
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Re: DIY Anti-vibration pads?

#21

Post by MistrBadgr »


No, the plywood goes on the bottom. If you put a ring of silicon window caulk on each piece of mouse pad, near the outside edge, and stack them up, the caulk pushes up the padding a little. This forms a bit of a cup that the tip of the tripod leg can fit into. I round off the upper edges of the plywood to about a quarter inch radius or a little more. I found this keeps the sole of my shoes from catching on the block, when I bump them with my foot. Before rounding the plywood, I have kicked a pad completely out from under the tripod without the tripod actually moving from side to side. With the rounded edge, that does not seem to happen. If I put the plywood on top, I think it would be easier to kick. With a hole in the middle of the plywood to hold the tip of the tripod leg, there would be quite a shock on the system and the whole rig would move a lot.

So far, the light tripods of an Infinity 60 and an EclipseView 76 need three pad pieces. The Polaris reflectors and an LX 85 6R OTA on a CG 4 mount need four. I do not know about my LX 70 8R on the mount and tripod that came with it, which weighs at least 20 lb more than the CG4 rig. I have not tested it yet. With the CG4 mount, using their 6 volt drive system, the pads help get rid of bits of vibration that shows at high magnification.
Bill Steen
Many small scopes, plus a Lightbridge 12, LX 70-8R,6R,6M
Many eyepieces, just not really expensive ones.
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MistrBadgr United States of America
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Re: DIY Anti-vibration pads?

#22

Post by MistrBadgr »


I am trying to attach a picture of my Polaris 114 that I was testing for three, four, and five layer anti-vibration pads. The five layer was too wobbly, and the three layer did not diminish vibrations as fast as four. I also have weight added to my eyepiece tray. I will probably add that weight inside the lower legs in the form of cold roll steel or BB's.
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Bill Steen
Many small scopes, plus a Lightbridge 12, LX 70-8R,6R,6M
Many eyepieces, just not really expensive ones.
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GCoyote United States of America
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Re: DIY Anti-vibration pads?

#23

Post by GCoyote »


Good to know. Four more days of rain forecast so still not getting the gear out.
Any metaphor will tear if stretched over too much reality.
Gary C

Celestron Astro Master 130mm f5 Newtonian GEM
Meade 114-EQ-DH f7.9 Newtonian w/ manual GEM
Bushnell 90mm f13.9 Catadioptric
Gskyer 80mm f5 Alt/Az refractor
Jason 10x50 Binoculars
Celestron 7x50 Binoculars
Svbony 2.1x42 Binoculars
(And a bunch of stuff I'm still trying to fix or find parts for.)
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