I'm seeking some advise/criticism (oh, Boy!).
I'm building a tube for my 8" with a focal length of 76". The tube was going to be 7' long. Because of time (TSP right around the corner) I didn't want to go with a truss structure, so elected to build a simple square tube of 2mm plywood. However, a 7' long tube is too long to fit in anything I drive so I've decided to split it into two 3.5' sections.
I plan to connect these two halves with "chest latches" (similar to the latches found on the metal eyepiece cases from Orion). I am concerned about the strength of the 2mm wood when the stress of the latches is placed on it!
My thought is to compensate by making a 1/8" aluminum collar to fit around the ends of both halves. I'll position the collar on the upper tube section so that 1" overhangs the end leaving 2" of material to attach to the plywood with glue and bolts with a thin sheet of aluminum on the inside of the tube to act as a backing.
The collar on the lower section will also be 3" wide but will be position 1" from the end of the tube. When the lower section is slipped into the colar of the upper section, the two sections should be mated fairly "true". There will be one latch on each side to secure the connection.
I know that I'll have to recollimate each time I assemble the tube, but hope that once collimated, that it will hold true until broken down again.
Comments? Suggestions? Warnings?
Mike * RM 1.3 * What was the best thing BEFORE sliced bread?