Re: Novak Parts

Bob Bond (rgb@db1.ncube.com)
Fri, 31 Mar 95 15:18:52 PST

I've had a chance to try the Astrosystems design for a couple of weeks now. The diagonal holder has 4 screws, not 3, so that you get a positive push/pull on two axes toward and at right angles to a line from the focuser to the diagonal. The screws have knurled knobs and are big enough to grab easily. You can tighten all four a little more and the whole thing locks in place. The spider has 4 vanes and a heavy square tube welded into the middle. I haven't seen any problems with bent vanes. The interior clearance pretty closely matchs the diagonal holder bolt. Two heavy (nylon?) washers on the top and bottom help hold things stable too.

I like it so far; it's easy to set up and adjust. I've never used the Novak parts so I can't personally compare them.

Bob

>Date: Fri, 31 Mar 1995 12:06:08 -0800
>To: atm@best.com
From: drummond@taligent.com (Brian Drummond) >Subject: Re: Novak Parts
>Sender: owner-atm@best.com
>
>>Re: Novak Parts --
>>
>
>I'd be interested in modifications that people have made to the Novak
>diagonal holder in order to make collimation easier. I always groan out
>loud whenever the collimation slips. Tightening the nut to hold the
>diagonal onto the spider throws it out of alignment since the vanes bend
>and using a screwdriver to adjust the three screws holding the diagonal
>tilt (while you are supposed to be looking through the focuser at the same
>time) is an poor design. At least replacing those screws with knurled
>knobs would be a major help.
>
>Perhaps there are better diagonal holder/alignment systems?
>
>Brian Drummond
>
>
>