Re: [ATM] flex rocker azimuth stickiness

["Don Clement" <don_clement@charter.net>]

I think you are moving in the right direction using roller bearings and a
separate independent dampening/friction function of the Teflon pad. When
using roller bearings, I would replace the Formica strip with a hardened
stainless steel strip. Also the use of wipers made from felt (similar to
what is used on machine tool ways to keep chips and swarf out) to keep grit
and dirt out of the roller bearing path. It is much easier to set the
friction/dampening with a separate function than trying to set both low
friction and proper friction/dampening as with  the combined Teflon/Formica
route.



Don Clement

Running Springs, California

>
> I think the best solution is to have three roller bearings and one Teflon
> pad riding on smooth laminate. I did this on a 17.5" and John Dobson
himself
> told me "This is how a telescope is supposed to move!" On my 22" I tried
> four skateboard wheels, and a carpet pad for braking. The pad has a bolt
for
> adjustment. It doesn't work as well as one Teflon pad and the rest hard
ball
> bearings. One problem with the hard roller bearings is that they can dent
> the formica if it has a soft spot in the wood under it. That's why I went
> with the hard skateboard wheels, but they are a tad squishy, which is
> noticeable at the eyepiece.

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