Re: [APML] Something different (than death of Tech Pan)

[Robert Reeves <reeves10@swbell.net>]

> > progress.  What I would like is some comments about how to improve these
> or
> > changes to incorporate if I make another mount of similar design.
>
> Looks good to me!  Do you find a need to improve the stiffness of the
right
> angle brackets that hold the latitude adjuster nuts?

Do you mean on the all-thread jack screws that raise or lower the plate that
the C-11 drive base is attached to?  If so, apparently not.  These turned
out to be more robust than I anticipated.  Like I said, all these pieces
were cut from the frame rail of an 18-wheeler tractor.  Its pretty stout
stuff.
>
> In your tripod leg jackscrews (that lift the mount off the casters)...is
> there any play in them...do they wobble about and let the mount shift side
> to side in azimuth?

No.  There are two nuts welded inside the legs that they pass through.  One
under the inside "top" of the leg and another on the inside "bottom" of the
leg.  Once the 5/8-inch jeckscrew passes through both nuts, there is no side
play.
>
> How do you make fine azimuth adjustments for polar alignment?

That was not shown in the pictures, but both the C-8 wedge on the shortl
mount and the fabricated wedge on the tall mount have circular slots cut in
them so the entire wedge can pivot a few degrees around a central pivot
bolt.  The slots were cut in the old aluminum (circa 1975) C-8 wedge with a
lathe at work while the slots in the steel truck frame with makes the base
of the big wedge were cut with a plasma cutter.  They were then dressed out
with a rotary file on an air-powered die grinder motor.  It all pretty basic
stone age torch and hammer fabrication, but by golly it works!  The neat
thing I like is the most expensive part of both mounts was the paint!
>
> Tom Krajci
>
> PS.  Keep this up and soon you'll be posting on the ATM list!  ;-)

Perhaps I should have asked that question of that list instead of APML.  But
with the volume of email I get daily, I can't handle another list!

Robert Reeves                      reeves10@swbell.net
520 Rittiman Rd.                   www.robertreeves.com
San Antonio, Texas 78209    210-828-9036
USA                                     29.484  98.440  200 meters


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