Re: [ATM] Rotating secondary

[Ross Sackett <rsackett00@yahoo.com>]

--- artbianconi@blast.net wrote:
> 
> With a little effort, I might be able to make a
> device that allows me 
> to rotate the entire secondary and focuser 360
> degrees about the 
> sight axis of the OTA, without having to rotate the
> entire tube!

Art,

Sounds do-able.  Being able to rotate the eyepiece to
an ergonomically comfortable position is a sound idea,
especially if you are mounting it all on an equatorial
mount.  But wouldn't it be easier to just mount the
UTA on an extra ring and rotate the whole top end of
the scope?  I'm thinking here of a modification of
Kriege and Berry's 3-ring UTA idea that they suggest
for Real Big Dobs.  That way you don't need to keep
realigning the focuser and secondary, and the baffles
and finder move around the scope with you. 

But sounds like you are jonesing to do some machining.
 You might put click-stops on that spinning secondary
to make realignment a bit easier.  Or a motor-servo
combo for precise repositioning?  Lots of
opportunities for fun here, I think.

Probably either way you'll still have to tweak the
collimation a bit with each new position.
Moto-collimation, anyone? <g>

Ross

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