For my 5" refractor and 8" reflector I turned the problem over to my wife.
We went to Wal-Mart. We bought two boxes of BB, some "fat quarters" (if your spouse does quilting, have her explain), and some elastic material.
Then we measured BBs into 8 ounce bowls, and she made bean bags to hold the BBs into two one pound and one half-pound packets.
Then she made elastic loops that around the end of the tubes on the other side the balance from the camera/adapter aassembly.
Okay, they look funky (especially the astronomy themed bean bags) but they are fast to remove and install, and I can get 1/2 pound, 1 pound, 1 1/2 pound, 2 pound, and 2 1/2 pound adjustments in tube balance.
I am so glad that I bought her a sewing machine for Christmas a few years ago.
Could you attach a container that would allow you to pour in water until it’s balanced? If you want to be snooty or it’s cold you could use expensive cognac, but in any case the container wouldn’t have to be large for 1 to 3 pounds, and weight increments would be very fine, literally drops.
ReplyDeleteMaybe something like a medical saline bag that you fill or drain via tubing until exact balance is achieved.
Even a half pound off can be fixed by adjusting clutch on the declination axis.
DeleteSince I spent a lot of time learning knots when I was learning to sail, I usually look for a knot. In this case I would use a boom hitch or a constrictor knot. Sort of evolutions of the clove hitch, but they are much more secure, and should hold onto a smooth surface.
ReplyDeleteYou could tie a couple of hitches onto the tube, with a bowline in the in end and then clip weights to the bowline with a carabiner or shackle.
Both of those knots tend to jam. So you need a knife to untie them, but paracord is cheap.
Why do the weights have to be in even increments? Adjust the position on the boom to the weights you have. And velcro should do just fine
ReplyDeleteThe camera with the prime focus adapter is onev weight with the eyepiece projection adapter, another weight.
Delete