RE: ATM Telescoping truss tubes

["Bertapelle, Ken" <Bertapelle.Ken@tci.com>]

Kurt,

IMO this approach to anchoring the lower ends of the truss tubes 
would not be as rigid as the Obsession style clamping blocks.
This is based on nothing scientific, but just my view of the 
size and shape of the two kinds of connectors.

- KenB

> -----Original Message-----
> From: NGC704@aol.com [mailto:NGC704@aol.com]
> Sent: Thursday, July 15, 1999 11:40 AM
> To: atm@shore.net
> Subject: Re: ATM Telescoping truss tubes
> 
> 
> 
> In a message dated 7/15/99 10:32:21 AM Central Daylight Time, 
> donovan@bravoz.com writes:
> 
> > This seems like an almost "too easy" solution for attaching 
> truss tubes.
> >  Has anyone used these tube connectors @ 
> http://www.mcmaster.com  catalog
> >  page 2690, with success?
> >
> Greetings,
>       I am just launching the design phase for a 22" f/4.5 
> dob project 
> (mirror in progress), which will follow the design of my 16" 
> ie: Tectron 
> style, but with Obsession type alt trunnions/rocker box.
>       I've thought about using the "steel daisy" tube 
> connectors for the 
> lower ends of the strut tubes, to thread onto studs placed in leiu of 
> clamping blocks at the mirror box. The more I think about it, 
> the less I can 
> think of why it wouldn't be a viable approach. You'd have to 
> turn knobs or 
> nuts with every other approach except cam locks anyway, so 
> threading them 
> into place shouldn't be any more hassle. And they'd be dirt simple to 
> fabricate and install to perfect alignment (read: in good 
> position to accept 
> the secondary cage), unlike the cam lever designs. Finally, 
> they would be 
> compact.
>       It isn't time for a decision yet, but like Donovan, I'd be most 
> interested to hear if anyone has done this, and if so, what 
> comments might be 
> made.
> Cheers!
> Kurt Maurer
> League City, Texas
> http://members.aol.com/NGC704/NGs.html
>