Mr Jack Martin

Forum Replies Created

Viewing 20 posts - 141 through 160 (of 222 total)
  • Author
    Posts
  • in reply to: More Lhires III mods #579434
    Mr Jack Martin
    Participant

    Alun,

    Attached last nights calibration frames taken around H alpha line.

    Far right double line with belt on, collimator screws loose to allow belt to rotate lens, same far right single line with belt off, collimator screws tightened and focused.

    Any thoughts as to why only 1 calibration line is double and what’s causing this ?

    Regards,

    Jack

    Essex UK

    in reply to: Meteor Spectrum – April 9th 2018 @ 00:17 UT #579432
    Mr Jack Martin
    Participant

    Michael,

    Nice spectrum. Good work.

    Regards,

    Jack

    Essex UK

    in reply to: More Lhires III mods #579431
    Mr Jack Martin
    Participant

    Alun,

    The belt is fairly taught to turn the collimator with a Velcro layer wrap around for grip.

    The white screws are slackened off 1/2 turn or so from tight to prevent side movement.

    The belt is not joined.

    I have adjusted both again and will see how it works tonight, and will report back.

    Regards,

    Jack

    Essex UK

    in reply to: New street lights fitted !! #579384
    Mr Jack Martin
    Participant

    Lee,

    It does to some extent.

    I contacted Essex County Council about turning off the lights from 12 instead of 1 to 5 am stating that it would save them money.

    I got a reply from a ‘Customer Services Officer’ with a link to the lighting section and council policy which seems to be set in stone ! 

    Jeremy, there is also the issue of the impact of white LEDs on nocturnal animals !

    They just don’t get it !!

    Regards,

    Jack

    Essex UK

    in reply to: Observatory Sheds in Spain? #579383
    Mr Jack Martin
    Participant

    Lee,

    Not sure if this company will have what you want but worth an inquiry;

     http://www.lunaticoastro.com/

    Regards,

    Jack

    Essex UK

    in reply to: More Lhires III mods #579382
    Mr Jack Martin
    Participant

    Alun,

    That’s a neat mod with the smaller motor.

    Attached is a pic of my finished mod with the Skywatcher motor.

    I tried it out on Sunday night and got double calibration lines l l (don’t have a pic) when I took the drive belt off and focused manually it settled down to give single calibration lines l .

    What’s causing this to happen ?

    Regards,

    Jack

    Essex UK

    in reply to: More Lhires III mods #579292
    Mr Jack Martin
    Participant

    Alun,

    The collimating lens worked loose in my Lhires but is easy to fix.

    I advise Lhires users to check just in case.

    Regards,

    Jack,

    Essex UK

    in reply to: More Lhires III mods #579291
    Mr Jack Martin
    Participant

    Thank you all for your input, lots to consider here.

    Almost finished motorising the collimating lens, I wrapped a 3 mm wide strip of Velcro round the edge of the lens which grips the belt and works best at fastest rotation speed setting on the handset.

    I will test the system and make any changes as necessary as per your suggestions.

    Once complete, this should be a more user friendly set up and relatively cheap to convert.

    Regards,

    Jack

    Essex UK 

    in reply to: HELP WITH VISUAL SPEC #579290
    Mr Jack Martin
    Participant

    Peter,

    I suggest you try British Astronomical Spectroscopy Software at

    https://uk.groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/astrobodger/info

    Hope this helps,

    Jack

    Essex UK

    in reply to: More Lhires III mods #579275
    Mr Jack Martin
    Participant

    Alun and Robin,

    Thanks for your advices.

    I will take measurements as suggested.

    A tear down sounds like a good idea which should sort any instability problems.

    1. There is a problem with wavelength shift any idea what’s causing this see attached.

    2. The calibration lines are in focus at start and can go out of focus at the end of the session.

    Both problems occur on and off, before motorising the collimator lens adjustment, I don’t expect that to make any difference.

    Has anyone else had these problems ? if so how did you overcome them ?

    Regards,

    Jack

    Essex UK 

    in reply to: More Lhires III mods #579265
    Mr Jack Martin
    Participant

    Alun,

    Which side did you remove the screw from the collimator body ?

    Regards,

    Jack

    Essex UK

    in reply to: More Lhires III mods #579264
    Mr Jack Martin
    Participant

    Alun,

    Thanks for the link, some good modifications.

    I can put one cover back on once I have got the belt gripping properly, will try putting o rings over the lens thread.

    The Lhires is contained in a film changing bag which should keep dust and light out. 

    A question, as I do not operate the spectrograph remotely is there any point in motorising the micrometer arm ?

    Regards,

    Jack

    Essex UK 

    in reply to: More Lhires III mods #579261
    Mr Jack Martin
    Participant

    Alun,

    I found a belt that fits from RS Components;

    https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/timing-belts/7785064/?sra=pstk

    Saves cutting and gluing.

    The belt around the lens keeps slipping, but sort of works, I will try some Velcro or o ring. 

    Regards,

    Jack

    Essex UK

    in reply to: More Lhires III mods #579248
    Mr Jack Martin
    Participant
    in reply to: More Lhires III mods #579245
    Mr Jack Martin
    Participant

    Alun,

    Thanks for your advices. and pictures.

    Today I installed the Skywatcher motor to the Lhires.

    I have yet to get a suitable drive belt.

    What is the yellow attachment on the motor shaft ?  

    Regards,

    Jack

    Essex UK

    in reply to: More Lhires III mods #579232
    Mr Jack Martin
    Participant

    Alan,

    Thanks for clarifying I will order the Skywatcher.

    Which is the smaller of the two, top or bottom picture ?

    How long is the belt ?

    Regards,

    Jack

    Essex UK

    in reply to: Geminids 2017 #579229
    Mr Jack Martin
    Participant

    Bill,

    Nice spectrum and excellent movie on U tube.

    Good work.

    Jack

    Essex UK

    in reply to: More Lhires III mods #579228
    Mr Jack Martin
    Participant

    Alun,

    Which motor have you ordered ?

    And why can’t you use a slotted bracket ?

    From your posts I am minded to go with the Skywatcher, any reason not to ?

    Regards,

    Jack

    Essex UK

    in reply to: More Lhires III mods #579222
    Mr Jack Martin
    Participant

    Alun,

    RVO say Skywatcher or JMI will do the job.

    Its not a question of money, but what works.

    Bulkiness should not be a problem, I use a film changing bag to keep the unit light tight which should also accommodate the motor.

    I suggest a slotted bracket would be good if the belt needs adjustment.

    This is a great improvement.

    Thanks for your efforts,

    Jack

    Essex UK 

    in reply to: More Lhires III mods #579219
    Mr Jack Martin
    Participant

    Alun,

    Thank you for further information.

    Looking at the link its difficult to see how the JMI would work without some modification, there appears to be no shaft correct ?

    Is there one similar to the Skywatcher ? which appears to bolt straight on to the Lhires body.

    Regards,

    Jack

    Essex UK

Viewing 20 posts - 141 through 160 (of 222 total)