Re: [ATM] flex rocker question

["matt" <electro_optic@bellsouth.net>]

Hi Dave,

Please email me those pics too if possible (no connection limitations) .

I also have a question related to your scope weight, I understood you said
45 lbs with the 25lbs lead counterweight , which would mean 20 lbs left for
the scope .

The 16" diameter 1" thin mirror you're using should weigh around 15 lbs,
which leaves 5 lbs for the rest of the scope , not quite possible .
Therefore, it appears I misunderstood which components are and which are not
included in the 45 lbs weight , please clarify .

Even if worst case scenario the 45 lbs is without mirror and without
counterweights, it would still be a lightweight scope and very interesting
to see .

thank you,
matt tudor


>-----Original Message-----
>From: Dave Smith <smithersscope@yahoo.com>
>To: Rod Brackenridge <rjbr@lycos.com>; atm@atmlist.net <atm@atmlist.net>
>Date: Friday, June 24, 2005 1:55 PM
>Subject: Re: [ATM] flex rocker question
>
>
>>Hi Rod,
>>I still haven't gotten my website back up, but I could
>>send you some pics if you're interested. (And let me
>>know what your connection speed is--I can adjust the
>>pics accordingly.) My setup is based almost entirely
>>on Mel's tri-dob design.
>>
>>To answer your questions:
>>Yes, the alt. bearings extend below the mirror box.
>>This gets the mirror as close to the ground as
>>possible and thus the focuser/eyepiece as low as
>>possible.
>>Mirror storage: Well, once I fold up the mirror box,
>>it will NOT sit in the bearings in the flex rocker
>>(but I can store it flat if I place it down inside the
>>ground ring and flex rocker base.) It actually slips
>>right on down to the floor. Like Mel's, the mirror box
>>(when collapsed) will actually stand up on the bottom
>>edge and is pretty stable in that position. But I'm
>>paranoid, so I usually store it nested in the ground
>>ring/flex rocker. This puts the altitude fin directly
>>on the ground (carpet), but I haven't noticed any
>>adverse effects on the bearing. Ebony Star is tough
>>stuff.
>>
>>A word of caution about the low position of the alt.
>>bearings in the tri-dob...the center of gravity is so
>>low that you'll likely have to add weight and/or Tom
>>Krajci's spring-based virtual counterbalance system to
>>counter a top heavy OTA and/or a thin mirror. I had to
>>add both (25 lb of lead....arrrggghhh!), but it is
>>working really well. My 16" f5.6, 1" thick plate
>>mirror scope weighs in at about 45 pounds (with the
>>lead butt) and I can easily set it up by myself.
>>
>>I'd be glad to try to answer any questions you have
>>though my experience is limited to this one scope.
>>Fire away!
>>
>>Dave
>>
>>--- Rod Brackenridge <rjbr@lycos.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Hi,
>>>
>>> I would like to build a flex rocker for a 12 inch F5
>>> newtonian.  I have been looking at some photos on
>>> the net to get some idea of what is involved.  My
>>> questions are:
>>>
>>> It looks like the altitude bearings in most designs
>>> extend below the mirror box.  Is this essential?
>>>
>>> Having them go below the rocker would seem to
>>> necessitate always storing the mirror box in the
>>> flex rocker and ring.  Is that how most of you do
>>> it?
>>>
>>> Thanks,
>>>
>>> Rod Brackenridge
>>> Mount Martha
>>> AUSTRALIA
>>>
>>> --
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>>
>>
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