Moonliting a truss dob

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Kanadalainen
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Moonliting a truss dob

#1

Post by Kanadalainen »


I had a CR2 Moonlite focuser on my XT10, and that scope was traded (with its stock focuser) for a mount... so I had an extra focuser.

The helical focuser on my 14.5" is OK but not ideal for mounting a DSLR.

So, I swapped focusers yesterday.

Here is the dob in stock configuration with the helical focuser:
14.5%22 ZOC by Kendrick.jpg
I removed the focuser board from the scope and fitted the new Moonlite to the old board. I took my time and used a squaring tool to be sure everything is orthogonal.
Then I marked and carefully drilled pilot holes and test fitted.
IMG_7423.jpg
Then I used slightly longer hex head bolts and used the Moonlite backing plate to sandwich the focuser to the mount slab.
IMG_7426.jpg
AAt that point it looked right, so I painted the shiny lock nuts with chalkboard black (Home Depot - cheap and great), and then remounted everything to the top of the scope.
The fitment was pretty good! I didn't need to change the angle of the focuser for collimation, it was better than the original.

Collimation took about 5 min - I am happy to have the focuser installed straight. Sometimes my "skills" leave me in a quandary. :)
IMG_7431.jpg
IMG_7432.jpg


Thanks for reading to the bottom.

Kind regards,
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IMG_7431.jpg
Ian

Fracs: Stellarvue 70T f6; SW 120mm Esprit f7; "Mark Mk. II" - 60 mm Tasco f6; C80 frac f 11.4
SCT: C8 Edge f10 or f7 with reducer
Dob: 14.5" homebuilt strut dob (f4.5 ZOC mirror), Nexus II, Moonlite focuser
Mounts - Ioptron Skyguider pro, Astro Physics GTO900
Cameras and lenses - ZWO 2600 mc, 290 mm mini, Canon 60D modded with Rokinon 10mm 2.8; Rokinon 135mm f2

Skysafari 6 Pro, Astro Pixel Processor, Pixinsight - using Mac tablet and ASIair pro to run the AP rig.

"Mothers! It is there!" - Rafael Gonzales-Acuna, 2018.
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Bigzmey United States of America
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Re: Moonliting a truss dob

#2

Post by Bigzmey »


Nice mod Ian!
Scopes: Stellarvue: SV102ED; Celestron: 9.25" EdgeHD, 8" SCT, 150ST, Onyx 80ED; iOptron: Hankmeister 6" Mak; SW: 7" Mak; Meade: 80ST.
Mounts: SW: SkyTee2, AzGTi; iOptron: AZMP; ES: Twilight I; Bresser: EXOS2; UA: MicroStar.
Binos: APM: 100-90 APO; Canon: IS 15x50; Orion: Binoviewer, LG II 15x70, WV 10x50, Nikon: AE 16x50, 10x50, 8x40.
EPs: Pentax: XWs & XFs; TeleVue: Delites, Panoptic & Plossls; ES: 68, 62; Vixen: SLVs; Baader: BCOs, Aspherics, Mark IV.
Diagonals: Baader: BBHS mirror, Zeiss Spec T2 prism, Clicklock dielectric; TeleVue: Evebrite dielectric; AltairAstro: 2" prism.
Filters: Lumicon: DeepSky, UHC, OIII, H-beta; Baader: Moon & SkyGlow, Contrast Booster, UHC-S, 6-color set; Astronomik: UHC.

Observing: DSOs: 3106 (Completed: Messier, Herschel 1, 2, 3. In progress: H2,500: 2180, S110: 77). Doubles: 2382, Comets: 34, Asteroids: 255
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Kanadalainen
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Re: Moonliting a truss dob

#3

Post by Kanadalainen »


Bigzmey wrote: Tue Jun 02, 2020 6:53 pmNice mod Ian!
Thanks Andrey, the scope is much improved IMHO.
Ian

Fracs: Stellarvue 70T f6; SW 120mm Esprit f7; "Mark Mk. II" - 60 mm Tasco f6; C80 frac f 11.4
SCT: C8 Edge f10 or f7 with reducer
Dob: 14.5" homebuilt strut dob (f4.5 ZOC mirror), Nexus II, Moonlite focuser
Mounts - Ioptron Skyguider pro, Astro Physics GTO900
Cameras and lenses - ZWO 2600 mc, 290 mm mini, Canon 60D modded with Rokinon 10mm 2.8; Rokinon 135mm f2

Skysafari 6 Pro, Astro Pixel Processor, Pixinsight - using Mac tablet and ASIair pro to run the AP rig.

"Mothers! It is there!" - Rafael Gonzales-Acuna, 2018.
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The Happy Parrot
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Re: Moonliting a truss dob

#4

Post by The Happy Parrot »


That is a clear and lucid explanation!
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helicon United States of America
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Re: Moonliting a truss dob

#5

Post by helicon »


Cool! I also have a moonlite focuser.
-Michael
Refractors: ES AR152 f/6.5 Achromat on Twilight II, Celestron 102mm XLT f/9.8 on Celestron Heavy Duty Alt Az mount, KOWA 90mm spotting scope
Binoculars: Celestron SkyMaster 15x70, Bushnell 10x50
Eyepieces: Various, GSO Superview, 9mm Plossl, Celestron 25mm Plossl
Camera: ZWO ASI 120
Naked Eye: Two Eyeballs
Latitude: 48.7229° N
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Kanadalainen
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Re: Moonliting a truss dob

#6

Post by Kanadalainen »


helicon wrote: Sat Jun 20, 2020 2:30 pm Cool! I also have a moonlite focuser.
They are great, simple Crayfords. Beautifully machined to close tolerances.

The Happy Parrot wrote: Sat Jun 20, 2020 2:18 pm That is a clear and lucid explanation!

Thanks!!
Ian

Fracs: Stellarvue 70T f6; SW 120mm Esprit f7; "Mark Mk. II" - 60 mm Tasco f6; C80 frac f 11.4
SCT: C8 Edge f10 or f7 with reducer
Dob: 14.5" homebuilt strut dob (f4.5 ZOC mirror), Nexus II, Moonlite focuser
Mounts - Ioptron Skyguider pro, Astro Physics GTO900
Cameras and lenses - ZWO 2600 mc, 290 mm mini, Canon 60D modded with Rokinon 10mm 2.8; Rokinon 135mm f2

Skysafari 6 Pro, Astro Pixel Processor, Pixinsight - using Mac tablet and ASIair pro to run the AP rig.

"Mothers! It is there!" - Rafael Gonzales-Acuna, 2018.
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