From: "Tim" <tjp314@pacbell.net>

Date: March 8, 2006 2:56:00 PM MST

To: Astro_IIDC@yahoogroups.com

Subject: Re: Going to try building a 12.5" f/3.5 astrocamera

Milton:

Yep.  Gonna be interesting.  I've got to run out of town next week, but I'd like to rig this up 

before RTMC, so I can take it there.  Going to have to put a guidescope with it, as I'm not 

planning on making any provision for eyepieces.

I could mount it with the Mogg adapter in place, then put an LPR filter in that.

If this works well enough, I might try one of the higher resolution Pt Grey cameras.  Either 

the dragonfly or flea at 1024x768, or perhaps a 1600x1200 Scorpion, as even the 

Scorpion body is smaller than the secondary that came with the mirror.  

I wonder if I'll need a fan to dissipate heat from the camera, though.

-Tim.

--- In Astro_IIDC@yahoogroups.com, Milton Aupperle <milton@...> wrote:

Hi Tim;

Sounds like an interesting project and i can't wait to see how it  

turns out.

Remember you have an optional 1/4" screw thread mounting plate on the  

Flea camera, which will make it a easier to mount it on something  

like a single arm. And don't forget about adding something for  

holding filters too. If you use a light bucket like that in light  

polluted skies, you'll want a LPR on it.

TTYL..

Milton J. Aupperle

President

ASC - Aupperle Services and Contracting

Mac Software (Drivers, Components and Application) Specialist

#1005 - 815 14th Avenue. S.W.

Calgary Alberta Canada T2R0N5

1-(403)-229-9456

milton@...

www.outcastsoft.com

On 8-Mar-06, at 12:40 PM, Tim wrote:

Using a 12.5" f/3.5 full-thickness primary and a plywood tube I  

built for my cassegrain years

ago.

But instead of the gimongous secondary mirror that came with it,  

I'm going to mount my Flea

right at the prime focus of the mirror.  Only thing I have to  

figure out is the focusing

mechanism.  I'm thinking of mounting a curved spider on a pair of  

ball bearing drawer slides

so I can move the camera via a threaded rod and travelling nut  

(focus  knob), controlling the

backlash by having a spring preload on the assembly.

Got to run to lunch, more later.

-Tim.