Renovation of an EQ5-class Mount
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Renovation of an EQ5-class Mount
Fast forward to last June, an astronomy-equipment liquidator out west in Arizona had conducted two "Buy It Now" listings within eBay, one after the other had sold out. These items, new old-stock, but not really all that old, sold out quickly, each listing. I got my own from the second listing...
After those two listings ended, there were no more.
"Desserts tend to corrupt, and absolutely delicious desserts corrupt absolutely." - Chef Acton
Alan
Apochromat: Takahashi FS-102 4" f/8 - Achromats: Meade S102 102mm f/5.9, Antares 805 80mm f/6(flocked & blackened), Meade "Polaris" 70mm f/12.9, Sears(Towa) #4-6340 50mm f/12(flocked & blackened) - Newtonians: Orion 6" f/5(flocked & blackened) - Catadioptrics: Explore Scientific 127mm f/15 Maksutov-Cassegrain, Celestron "PowerSeeker" 127mm f/8 "Bird Jones" reflector(modified, flocked, blackened, and collimated!) - Mounts: Meade LX70(EQ-5), Astro-Tech Voyager I alt-azimuth
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Re: Renovation of an EQ5-class Mount
As you can see, within that eBay listing, no tripod was included. It's not easy, quite the contrary, to find a suitable tripod for that mount-head. I hesitated as a result, for a full day, until it finally dawned upon me.
My old Celestron
I had previously altered the tripod, and to my liking. For one, I replaced the twelve "naugahyde" washers where the legs join the hub, and with six, rather, of phosphor-bronze, at 0.008" in thickness...
After that, there was really no need for the spreader/eyepiece-tray to stabilise the legs. The legs are able to fold, somewhat stiffly, yet smoothly, and with no slop whatsoever.
The main portion of the legs were always much, much too long, so I cut them down to match those of my Astro-Tech Voyager I...
I had also gotten the 16" pier for the
My Voyager I...
After all, I'm only 5' 9" in height.
"Desserts tend to corrupt, and absolutely delicious desserts corrupt absolutely." - Chef Acton
Alan
Apochromat: Takahashi FS-102 4" f/8 - Achromats: Meade S102 102mm f/5.9, Antares 805 80mm f/6(flocked & blackened), Meade "Polaris" 70mm f/12.9, Sears(Towa) #4-6340 50mm f/12(flocked & blackened) - Newtonians: Orion 6" f/5(flocked & blackened) - Catadioptrics: Explore Scientific 127mm f/15 Maksutov-Cassegrain, Celestron "PowerSeeker" 127mm f/8 "Bird Jones" reflector(modified, flocked, blackened, and collimated!) - Mounts: Meade LX70(EQ-5), Astro-Tech Voyager I alt-azimuth
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Re: Renovation of an EQ5-class Mount
...including a painted, proprietary dovetail-bar, which will not fit the saddle of my Voyager I, the bar being too wide. It's useless as a result, as is that is. I might could cut or grind it down to a narrower width, then repaint it, black.
Also included was an 11 lb. counter-weight...
The only blemish, damage that I found was a broken thumb-screw for the polar-scope holder, and for a polar-scope that is no longer extant, therefore of no consequence.
The mount-head of the Celestron
What a wonderful difference.
Hmm...
The clamps for the axes are not installed, yet the
What might be done about that?
"Desserts tend to corrupt, and absolutely delicious desserts corrupt absolutely." - Chef Acton
Alan
Apochromat: Takahashi FS-102 4" f/8 - Achromats: Meade S102 102mm f/5.9, Antares 805 80mm f/6(flocked & blackened), Meade "Polaris" 70mm f/12.9, Sears(Towa) #4-6340 50mm f/12(flocked & blackened) - Newtonians: Orion 6" f/5(flocked & blackened) - Catadioptrics: Explore Scientific 127mm f/15 Maksutov-Cassegrain, Celestron "PowerSeeker" 127mm f/8 "Bird Jones" reflector(modified, flocked, blackened, and collimated!) - Mounts: Meade LX70(EQ-5), Astro-Tech Voyager I alt-azimuth
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Re: Renovation of an EQ5-class Mount
The Japanese-made mounts of decades past were of a finer machining and polish compared to the Chinese clones of same today. Although, it has been at least twenty years since China took over the manufacturing of these mounts, and it shows, in a good way, but they are still not up to the level of those that once were, of course.
http://www.astronomyboy.com/cg5/
Within that tutorial, a user had refurbished their CG5-GT, the go-to variant, and the predecessor to the current AVX. They experienced a bit of a problem afterwards, but resetting the mount's computer-system made it go away. Keep that in mind as you read of my own adventure.
Also, within that tutorial, and all of the others I've read and watched online, inevitably, all of the washers, of plastic or fibre, are returned to the mount-head, in the end...
Plastic does play well with aluminium and steel surfaces, granted. But plastic is just that, plastic, and that being a relatively modern development. You can only get a certain level of accuracy with plastic. Plastic can also creep perhaps, crack, deform, and all of that good stuff, over time.
Now begins the renovation. What you are about to see, you may never see again. I would go so far as to bet on that, even.
The first thing to do is to separate the latitude-axis from the
You don't have to remove it, if you don't want to, if you want to keep those plastic washers. Hee hee.
"Desserts tend to corrupt, and absolutely delicious desserts corrupt absolutely." - Chef Acton
Alan
Apochromat: Takahashi FS-102 4" f/8 - Achromats: Meade S102 102mm f/5.9, Antares 805 80mm f/6(flocked & blackened), Meade "Polaris" 70mm f/12.9, Sears(Towa) #4-6340 50mm f/12(flocked & blackened) - Newtonians: Orion 6" f/5(flocked & blackened) - Catadioptrics: Explore Scientific 127mm f/15 Maksutov-Cassegrain, Celestron "PowerSeeker" 127mm f/8 "Bird Jones" reflector(modified, flocked, blackened, and collimated!) - Mounts: Meade LX70(EQ-5), Astro-Tech Voyager I alt-azimuth
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Re: Renovation of an EQ5-class Mount
Each axis, the parts thereof, therein, are all secured together with an aluminium, disk-type lock-nut, with two divots and set-screws. The
The three set-screws must be loosened, backed off and away from the
One at a time, the axis is rotated to expose the socket for each set-screw, then to insert a hex-key and have at it.
For un-screwing the lock-nut afterwards, I made a special tool of oak and galvanised nails with their tips blunted. I had to make two actually, one for each axis...
That way, I didn't have to order anything online, and wait for it, interminably.
"Desserts tend to corrupt, and absolutely delicious desserts corrupt absolutely." - Chef Acton
Alan
Apochromat: Takahashi FS-102 4" f/8 - Achromats: Meade S102 102mm f/5.9, Antares 805 80mm f/6(flocked & blackened), Meade "Polaris" 70mm f/12.9, Sears(Towa) #4-6340 50mm f/12(flocked & blackened) - Newtonians: Orion 6" f/5(flocked & blackened) - Catadioptrics: Explore Scientific 127mm f/15 Maksutov-Cassegrain, Celestron "PowerSeeker" 127mm f/8 "Bird Jones" reflector(modified, flocked, blackened, and collimated!) - Mounts: Meade LX70(EQ-5), Astro-Tech Voyager I alt-azimuth
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Re: Renovation of an EQ5-class Mount
Synta began to include ball-bearing assemblies for the Celestron CG5 and the CG5-GT to better support the 8" and perhaps the 9.25" Schmidt-Cassegrains in kit-form. I have read that some do not like ball-bearings within their mounts, and this perhaps being due to imaging concerns, certainly not for visual-use I would think. In any event, I was thrilled to see that they were included within this mount-head. Just before pulling these axes apart, I also removed their worm-assemblies, and to be enhanced later.
The
I was very pleased with what I found inside. There was no swarf, metal filings or shavings, and all of the bearing surfaces were not only un-painted, but mirror-polished. Also, the grease applied within was of a much lighter viscosity than the typical glue-like grease encountered in the past, although this mount-head was not entirely free of the latter.
The body of the
The components of the
"Desserts tend to corrupt, and absolutely delicious desserts corrupt absolutely." - Chef Acton
Alan
Apochromat: Takahashi FS-102 4" f/8 - Achromats: Meade S102 102mm f/5.9, Antares 805 80mm f/6(flocked & blackened), Meade "Polaris" 70mm f/12.9, Sears(Towa) #4-6340 50mm f/12(flocked & blackened) - Newtonians: Orion 6" f/5(flocked & blackened) - Catadioptrics: Explore Scientific 127mm f/15 Maksutov-Cassegrain, Celestron "PowerSeeker" 127mm f/8 "Bird Jones" reflector(modified, flocked, blackened, and collimated!) - Mounts: Meade LX70(EQ-5), Astro-Tech Voyager I alt-azimuth
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Re: Renovation of an EQ5-class Mount
It is there, and only there, within the setting-circle assemblies of both axes, that I encountered Synta's signature "glue grease".
The
At last, the
More plastic washers; when will it ever end? Oh, it already has, as this is the last section of the head to be explored.
Much to my disappointment, there were no ball-bearing assemblies within the axis. Looks like I'll have to do something about that.
"Desserts tend to corrupt, and absolutely delicious desserts corrupt absolutely." - Chef Acton
Alan
Apochromat: Takahashi FS-102 4" f/8 - Achromats: Meade S102 102mm f/5.9, Antares 805 80mm f/6(flocked & blackened), Meade "Polaris" 70mm f/12.9, Sears(Towa) #4-6340 50mm f/12(flocked & blackened) - Newtonians: Orion 6" f/5(flocked & blackened) - Catadioptrics: Explore Scientific 127mm f/15 Maksutov-Cassegrain, Celestron "PowerSeeker" 127mm f/8 "Bird Jones" reflector(modified, flocked, blackened, and collimated!) - Mounts: Meade LX70(EQ-5), Astro-Tech Voyager I alt-azimuth
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Re: Renovation of an EQ5-class Mount
I wanted to place it inside...
...so to let the weight of a telescope bear down upon it. But placing it there would've thrown everything off. So I placed it on the opposite side, the outside...
There, it snapped into place, so I removed paint, then ground and polished the wall of the well round a bit until the bearing spun freely with a toothpick...
Better there than nowhere at all; every little bit helps, or hurts?
"Desserts tend to corrupt, and absolutely delicious desserts corrupt absolutely." - Chef Acton
Alan
Apochromat: Takahashi FS-102 4" f/8 - Achromats: Meade S102 102mm f/5.9, Antares 805 80mm f/6(flocked & blackened), Meade "Polaris" 70mm f/12.9, Sears(Towa) #4-6340 50mm f/12(flocked & blackened) - Newtonians: Orion 6" f/5(flocked & blackened) - Catadioptrics: Explore Scientific 127mm f/15 Maksutov-Cassegrain, Celestron "PowerSeeker" 127mm f/8 "Bird Jones" reflector(modified, flocked, blackened, and collimated!) - Mounts: Meade LX70(EQ-5), Astro-Tech Voyager I alt-azimuth
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Re: Renovation of an EQ5-class Mount
The image is titled "refuse", for that is precisely what they are.
Whatever, whichever, did I use in their collective stead?
"Desserts tend to corrupt, and absolutely delicious desserts corrupt absolutely." - Chef Acton
Alan
Apochromat: Takahashi FS-102 4" f/8 - Achromats: Meade S102 102mm f/5.9, Antares 805 80mm f/6(flocked & blackened), Meade "Polaris" 70mm f/12.9, Sears(Towa) #4-6340 50mm f/12(flocked & blackened) - Newtonians: Orion 6" f/5(flocked & blackened) - Catadioptrics: Explore Scientific 127mm f/15 Maksutov-Cassegrain, Celestron "PowerSeeker" 127mm f/8 "Bird Jones" reflector(modified, flocked, blackened, and collimated!) - Mounts: Meade LX70(EQ-5), Astro-Tech Voyager I alt-azimuth
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Re: Renovation of an EQ5-class Mount
...are 0.020" in thickness. I tried to get away with 0.008" in thickness, of the replacement material, as I didn't think the plastic washers to be that precise. Indeed, otherwise, they were rather ill-fitting. In addition, you can see a short straight cut on the outside circumference of the plastic washer at far right. After trial and error, it turned out that 0.020" in thickness is correct, and for whichever material is used as a replacement.
McMaster-Carr to the rescue...
...a 6" wide by 50" long by 0.020" thick roll of phosphor-bronze. Bronze is known to outlast iron-based machinery into which it is placed. However, the mount-head is overwhelmingly of aluminium, even the axes' worm-gears.
I didn't dare unfurl the roll indoors, so I took it out to the shed. Once the thick cardboard band was severed, the roll unfurled instantly, violently...
Mohs...
Aluminium: 2.75
Bronze: 3.0
Although, phosphor-bronze, with tin as the alloying element, instead of zinc, and with a "pinch" of phosphorus, may be a bit harder, to 3.5 perhaps, I do not know for certain. Steel is at 4.0. The chemical-analysis...
Plastic is softer no doubt, but with a high-quality grease used in conjunction, the phosphor-bronze should co-exist in harmony with the aluminium.
I also have an ample supply of 0.008" thick phosphor-bronze, for the smaller washers and what-not for the head...
"Desserts tend to corrupt, and absolutely delicious desserts corrupt absolutely." - Chef Acton
Alan
Apochromat: Takahashi FS-102 4" f/8 - Achromats: Meade S102 102mm f/5.9, Antares 805 80mm f/6(flocked & blackened), Meade "Polaris" 70mm f/12.9, Sears(Towa) #4-6340 50mm f/12(flocked & blackened) - Newtonians: Orion 6" f/5(flocked & blackened) - Catadioptrics: Explore Scientific 127mm f/15 Maksutov-Cassegrain, Celestron "PowerSeeker" 127mm f/8 "Bird Jones" reflector(modified, flocked, blackened, and collimated!) - Mounts: Meade LX70(EQ-5), Astro-Tech Voyager I alt-azimuth
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Re: Renovation of an EQ5-class Mount
Another tool I had gotten from Grizzly Industrial, way back then, was this G1257 scroll-saw...
At the time, I didn't know anything about it, but in hindsight it happens to be one of the discontinued treasures of the past. It's of cast-iron throughout. For several years, it sat outdoors in the Sun and rain, until I had a use for it again, whereupon I cleaned it up. No harm was done, as you can see. Incidentally, bronze is non-ferrous, as is aluminium.
My local Harbor Freight had 6" and 12" all tool-steel compasses. The 6" was ideal, at right...
It's all about circles, you know, and the tips of those arms serve as scribers in their own right; no need whatsoever to insert a scriber into the compass's holder.
"Desserts tend to corrupt, and absolutely delicious desserts corrupt absolutely." - Chef Acton
Alan
Apochromat: Takahashi FS-102 4" f/8 - Achromats: Meade S102 102mm f/5.9, Antares 805 80mm f/6(flocked & blackened), Meade "Polaris" 70mm f/12.9, Sears(Towa) #4-6340 50mm f/12(flocked & blackened) - Newtonians: Orion 6" f/5(flocked & blackened) - Catadioptrics: Explore Scientific 127mm f/15 Maksutov-Cassegrain, Celestron "PowerSeeker" 127mm f/8 "Bird Jones" reflector(modified, flocked, blackened, and collimated!) - Mounts: Meade LX70(EQ-5), Astro-Tech Voyager I alt-azimuth
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Re: Renovation of an EQ5-class Mount
The specs for the four, main washers, and the parts by which the measurements were determined...
The
That washer rests on no part of the primary, sealed bearing, only upon its frame round.
The
Note the narrow ledge all round upon which the
Therefore, it's critical to finish the inner-diameter as precisely, as snugly, as possible.
The
It, too, rests upon a narrow ledge all round, as indicated at right. Note the mirror-finish of the ledge.
The
The washers from these measurements required some adjustment after removing them from the bronze sheets. This was done with a Dremel tool using grinding-stones and sanding-drums. Sand-papers of varying grits and #0000 steel-wool were also used to finish and polish the new washers, along with lemon-scented furniture oil, which I use as a machine-oil, never for fine furniture, oh no...
There's also a brand called "Old English". Either will serve.
"Desserts tend to corrupt, and absolutely delicious desserts corrupt absolutely." - Chef Acton
Alan
Apochromat: Takahashi FS-102 4" f/8 - Achromats: Meade S102 102mm f/5.9, Antares 805 80mm f/6(flocked & blackened), Meade "Polaris" 70mm f/12.9, Sears(Towa) #4-6340 50mm f/12(flocked & blackened) - Newtonians: Orion 6" f/5(flocked & blackened) - Catadioptrics: Explore Scientific 127mm f/15 Maksutov-Cassegrain, Celestron "PowerSeeker" 127mm f/8 "Bird Jones" reflector(modified, flocked, blackened, and collimated!) - Mounts: Meade LX70(EQ-5), Astro-Tech Voyager I alt-azimuth
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Re: Renovation of an EQ5-class Mount
For the secondary, open ball-bearing ring of the
Therefore, I have to assume that they contain at least a little iron. I don't want steel wearing against steel, nor against aluminium, so, they were replaced.
It just so happens that each enclosure is 0.020" in thickness. How about that. However, the inner-diameters of the new enclosures actually differ slightly, by almost 1mm...
The specs for the new washers that will enclose the needle-thrust bearing for the
I don't want that steel bearing wearing against the aluminium, either.
Incidentally, the needle-thrust bearing replaces this plastic washer...
The bearing with its 0.020" thick bronze enclosures will be somewhat thicker than that measurement, but no matter, as the
Fun fact: did you know that this mount-head has not forgotten its origins? Underneath its rather elegant form, it is still a pipe-mount...
"Desserts tend to corrupt, and absolutely delicious desserts corrupt absolutely." - Chef Acton
Alan
Apochromat: Takahashi FS-102 4" f/8 - Achromats: Meade S102 102mm f/5.9, Antares 805 80mm f/6(flocked & blackened), Meade "Polaris" 70mm f/12.9, Sears(Towa) #4-6340 50mm f/12(flocked & blackened) - Newtonians: Orion 6" f/5(flocked & blackened) - Catadioptrics: Explore Scientific 127mm f/15 Maksutov-Cassegrain, Celestron "PowerSeeker" 127mm f/8 "Bird Jones" reflector(modified, flocked, blackened, and collimated!) - Mounts: Meade LX70(EQ-5), Astro-Tech Voyager I alt-azimuth
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Re: Renovation of an EQ5-class Mount
Looks like you are getting close!
Scopes: Explore Scientific ED102 APO, Sharpstar 61 EDPH II APO, Samyang 135 F2 (still on the Nikon).
Mount: Skywatcher HEQ5 Pro with Rowan Belt Mod
Stuff: ASI EAF Focus Motor (x2), ZWO OAG, ZWO 30 mm Guide Scope, ASI 220mm min, ASI 120mm mini, Stellarview 0.8 FR/FF, Sharpstar 0.8 FR/FF, Mele Overloock 3C.
Camera/Filters/Software: ASI 533 mc pro, ASI 120mm mini, ASI 220mm mini , IDAS LPS D-1, Optolong L-Enhance, ZWO UV/IR Cut, N.I.N.A., Green Swamp Server, PHD2, Adobe Photoshop CC, Pixinsight.
Dog and best bud: Jack
Sky: Bortle 6-7
My Astrobin: https://www.astrobin.com/users/Juno16/
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Re: Renovation of an EQ5-class Mount
Thank you! At last, I have an EQ5-class mount once again.
"Desserts tend to corrupt, and absolutely delicious desserts corrupt absolutely." - Chef Acton
Alan
Apochromat: Takahashi FS-102 4" f/8 - Achromats: Meade S102 102mm f/5.9, Antares 805 80mm f/6(flocked & blackened), Meade "Polaris" 70mm f/12.9, Sears(Towa) #4-6340 50mm f/12(flocked & blackened) - Newtonians: Orion 6" f/5(flocked & blackened) - Catadioptrics: Explore Scientific 127mm f/15 Maksutov-Cassegrain, Celestron "PowerSeeker" 127mm f/8 "Bird Jones" reflector(modified, flocked, blackened, and collimated!) - Mounts: Meade LX70(EQ-5), Astro-Tech Voyager I alt-azimuth
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Re: Renovation of an EQ5-class Mount
Your thread is a great read.
Regards
Graeme
Celestron 9.25 f10 SCT, f6.3FR, CGX mount.
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Re: Renovation of an EQ5-class Mount
All the best and thanks for the tips included (BBQ lighter fluid, never would have thought of that...),
"The Hankmeister" Celestron 8SE, orange tube Vixen made C80, CG4, AZ-EQ5 and SolarQuest mounts.
Too much Towa glass/mirrors.
Solar:
H/A - PST stage 2 mod with a Baader 90mm ERF on a Celestron XLT 102 (thanks Mike!)
Ca-K - W/O 61mm, Antares 1.6 barlow, Baader 3.8 OD and Ca-K filters with a ZWO ASI174mm.
W/L - C80-HD with Baader 5.0 & 3.8 Solar film, Solar Continuum 7.5nm and UV/IR filters with a Canon EOS 550D.
Member of the RASC
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Re: Renovation of an EQ5-class Mount
A portion of the 0.020" thick bronze roll; glamour shot, "Look this way my darling! No! Not that way! This way!"...
The first thing to do was to describe the sheet in half, find the centers of each half, drill or punch a very small hole, with a carbide-bit or brad, for each, and for the compass...
The four
Note where the compass-point had skipped, at right, although within no-man's land.
The four
My work-area, aside the shed I built; the scaffolding in the background, for my acrophobia, albeit mild, was used to shingle the roof...
That particular scroll-saw tends to walk, when placed on a floor or table, but not in the least little bit when sat upon two weathered 2x4s supported by saw-horses.
I prefer to work at night, rather, 'neath the Moon and stars above, albeit with artificial-lighting...
I do not saw these washers out precisely, as the sawing operation will not allow for that. It would be too easy to saw into the washers themselves whilst guiding, but I do get close enough for government-work...
The outer-diameters of the washers are then defined with metal-cutting shears, or "tin snips"...
Note that the outer-diameters are still a bit rough, although the inner-diameters have been ground out. There, they were neither finished nor polished, nay, sculpted, quite yet.
"Desserts tend to corrupt, and absolutely delicious desserts corrupt absolutely." - Chef Acton
Alan
Apochromat: Takahashi FS-102 4" f/8 - Achromats: Meade S102 102mm f/5.9, Antares 805 80mm f/6(flocked & blackened), Meade "Polaris" 70mm f/12.9, Sears(Towa) #4-6340 50mm f/12(flocked & blackened) - Newtonians: Orion 6" f/5(flocked & blackened) - Catadioptrics: Explore Scientific 127mm f/15 Maksutov-Cassegrain, Celestron "PowerSeeker" 127mm f/8 "Bird Jones" reflector(modified, flocked, blackened, and collimated!) - Mounts: Meade LX70(EQ-5), Astro-Tech Voyager I alt-azimuth
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Re: Renovation of an EQ5-class Mount
However, I broke several of those whilst sawing through the 0.020" thick bronze, until I learned how to be a bit gentler with them. I also used blades for wood, fine-toothed, as bronze, again, is non-ferrous...
Those did not break whilst sawing, although they saw a bit roughly, and with extra care required.
This is where I had to carefully and slowly "sculpt" the inner-diameter of the
The same was done for the
Actually, every last washer for this mount-head was precisely sized as possible; "fine tuned", if you will.
"Desserts tend to corrupt, and absolutely delicious desserts corrupt absolutely." - Chef Acton
Alan
Apochromat: Takahashi FS-102 4" f/8 - Achromats: Meade S102 102mm f/5.9, Antares 805 80mm f/6(flocked & blackened), Meade "Polaris" 70mm f/12.9, Sears(Towa) #4-6340 50mm f/12(flocked & blackened) - Newtonians: Orion 6" f/5(flocked & blackened) - Catadioptrics: Explore Scientific 127mm f/15 Maksutov-Cassegrain, Celestron "PowerSeeker" 127mm f/8 "Bird Jones" reflector(modified, flocked, blackened, and collimated!) - Mounts: Meade LX70(EQ-5), Astro-Tech Voyager I alt-azimuth
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Re: Renovation of an EQ5-class Mount
The finished, and polished, washers, at last...
The
Incidentally, this bronze is most smooth after polishing; yea, skin-like, flesh-like. Only brass and copper share this characteristic, of course. However, aluminium and steel do not.
The
What makes a primary-washer a primary-washer? Why, it's the washer positioned at the teeth of a worm-gear, in relation to the worm-assembly, naturally. The secondary-washers simply support the worm-gears from their backsides.
The
The
That's not a gouge into the washer, but only a blemish on the surface, and caused by a wayward grinding-stone. It was polished in the end, just not polished completely out.
The outer-diameters of both primary-washers for the
This ensures that the outer-diameters do not interfere with the union of the worm and gear.
It is here, yea, here I say, and where the Earth is made to stand still...
...and with this Celestron 9V battery-powered motor-drive...
It has been done before, not by me, yet, and successfully, with EQ3- and EQ5-class mounts. However, the
"Desserts tend to corrupt, and absolutely delicious desserts corrupt absolutely." - Chef Acton
Alan
Apochromat: Takahashi FS-102 4" f/8 - Achromats: Meade S102 102mm f/5.9, Antares 805 80mm f/6(flocked & blackened), Meade "Polaris" 70mm f/12.9, Sears(Towa) #4-6340 50mm f/12(flocked & blackened) - Newtonians: Orion 6" f/5(flocked & blackened) - Catadioptrics: Explore Scientific 127mm f/15 Maksutov-Cassegrain, Celestron "PowerSeeker" 127mm f/8 "Bird Jones" reflector(modified, flocked, blackened, and collimated!) - Mounts: Meade LX70(EQ-5), Astro-Tech Voyager I alt-azimuth
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