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[ATM] Telescope Mounts
I think I've got it!
German Equatorial Mounts have a huge disadvantage in
that they have meridian reversal and are unstable with
the weight on the top. They are notoriously unstable
with many points of weaknesses I'll not go into here.
Yokes, English, and similar two-pier mounts are just
plain huge, and the mounts can get in the way of
observation without trying too hard.
Springfield mounts are hard to fabricate, and
tolerances have to be very close. They are also
massive.
Fork mounts are something else altogether. I like the
concept. They can have the strength of a two-pier
system and have no meridian reversal, and they
generally don't get in the way of themselves. But
they're notoriously huge and heavy, until now.
I've developed what I think to be a very rigid and
lightweight method for constructing a fork mount for
my 8"f6. So far, it can be transported in three
sections, none of which are prohibitively heavy for
one arm to carry. The base is strong enough that I
can stand on it (doing a balancing act) and it doesn't
flex, yet it weighs 13 pounds. The forks themselves
weigh but 15 pounds, maybe less, and exhibit very good
rigidity. The telescope tube is an aluminum frame
covered in 2 layers of cloth and weighs less than 15
pounds with the glass installed. The inside layer is
black velvet and the outside layer is a star chart
pattern.
I will publish photos when I get the time and web
space, and the bugs worked out.
Bugs: The ball and roller bearings used are very
slick and I need a brake system on both axes. I need
a drive system on the RA. I need a shelf to put my
computer. I need a power supply shelf. I need an
inverter - my Dell uses a 20v supply. Primary
material is still wood; I feel that welded aluminum
will improve it greatly.
Warm regards,
Kevin of Eastern Iowa
Seeker of the Darkness
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