Re: ATM Aluminum instead of ebony star for side bearings

[astrojoe@erols.com]

Hi Bob,

Don't use aluminum for the baring surface. You will get stick/slip. Use
the Ebony star with teflon pads and you will be happy.

Joe Castoro








Bob Prabowo wrote:
> 
> Hi guys,
> 
> I'm going to use aluminum bar on my side bearings, instead of laminate
> the bearings with ebony star. This one is for my briefcase scope. The
> bar is about 1" wide and 1/8" thick, the bearings will be made of
> plywood.
> 
> I need some advice from you guys on how to attach the bar to the
> bearing. Should I use glue or will screws work better? How do I maintain
> the arc form? Will it deform later?
> Does the bar have to be bent first before attaching it to the bearings?
> How do you bend it? heat it slowly and then bend it? Will it work if I
> heat it with flame from, say, a stove?
> 
> Thank in advance,
> Bob P. Sumitro
> Jakarta, Indonesia
> 
> visit my still-under-construction astronomy and telescope making page:
> http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Hall/2670/