Archive for March 2018
First Focuser Prints
So! The first parts arrived. As someone who’s been doing graphic design for over 20 years, receiving my first 3d-printed parts completely recaptured the excitement of seeing my first 2d work coming off the press. Real things are real, which is why you get excited when you experience the original photons from Jupiter hitting your…
Read MoreFilter Cartridge Progress
While waiting for focuser pieces in the mail, I’m working on the filter cartridges: A few new features. First, chamfers around the edges. Second, finger holes at the top to help with screwing/unscrewing filters. Third, pattern on the triangular corner to help with grip and distinguish cartridges (and therefore filters) in the dark. Cartridges will…
Read MoreFocuser Hardware Arrived
So the focuser hardware delivery beat the printed parts due to printer problems. Good news is, the screws fit the inserts. The grub screws are tiny! I need to order an 0.9mm wrench for them. Interesting notes on part origins: Bearing shafts: USA Bearings: Japan Grub screws: Taiwan Heat Inserts: USA or Japan or Taiwan…
Read MoreFilter Cartridge Adjustments
The focuser has been moved up to accommodate the filter cartridges (seen here in gray). They have been increased in height to 13.5 mm, a little over half an inch. The filter will sit entirely within the cartridge. This means cartridges with inserted filters can be kept safely in a foam-filled accessory case without any…
Read MoreFirst 3d-Printed parts ordered!
Big day, the first round of focuser parts have been sent to a printer. They are being printed in Onyx–nylon combined with chopped carbon fiber–for 1.4x the strength and stiffness of ABS. There is no real unit testing yet, since the focuser is itself a unit test of the tertiary housing. No doubt a lot…
Read MoreThe Russ Rule
I’ve already mentioned the Russ Rule in one post, so I thought I’d better explain that. Russ was my neighbor for several years. At the time of writing, he’s 100 years old. Russ has lived alone for decades, but lives a full life with minimal help of family and friends. Up until last year, he…
Read MoreFilter Cartridge Prototype Progress
Prototype 1 of the filter cartridge is nearing completion. Here you can see its place just above the tertiary mirror and below the focuser. It will slide quickly into and out of the tertiary housing. The triangular tab seen in the bottom corner will be textured for two reasons. One is for better grip. The…
Read MoreRetaining the Focus Shaft
There is now a retainer on the other side of the shaft. Hopefully it will provide enough balance to the heavier knob side. Since the knob assembly is held in place mostly by the press fit on the other side, this retainer merely serves to prevent it from pulling out. An M2 set screw will…
Read MoreMaking Room for the Focus Knob
The Drifter will use GSO’s dual-speed Crayford focus knob upgrade kit as its focus knob. It’s a complicated assembly and worth using an off-the-shelf product that’s already battle tested. This is one of the few off-the-shelf components in the Drifter. The first half of making a custom slot in the drive block for this knob…
Read MoreSecondary Mirror Vanes
While work continues on the cartridges, I’ve added the secondary spider vanes. At this juncture, the plan is to use a single piece of bent aluminum. It will attach to the secondary mirror in the manner of Gary Seronik’s curved vane secondary. It will attach to the rotating cage on mounts that are still being…
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