tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2807403883562053852.post1145775112632024251..comments2024-03-27T08:40:31.785-06:00Comments on Clayton Cramer.: Making an Equatorial Telescope MountClayton Cramerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03258083387204776812noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2807403883562053852.post-29401544273790701792022-06-15T11:32:56.999-06:002022-06-15T11:32:56.999-06:00https://welkerproducts.com/pdf/07_RulonBearing.pdf...https://welkerproducts.com/pdf/07_RulonBearing.pdfWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16464836634888906831noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2807403883562053852.post-34409221630458812492022-06-14T12:54:08.579-06:002022-06-14T12:54:08.579-06:00Good suggestions. I see self-lubricating bearing ...Good suggestions. I see self-lubricating bearing as well.Clayton Cramerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03258083387204776812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2807403883562053852.post-40402579938360755962022-06-14T12:53:25.246-06:002022-06-14T12:53:25.246-06:00Good idea. Three set screws to hold it in place. ...Good idea. Three set screws to hold it in place. I picked 1/4" wall because that gives 5 turns.Clayton Cramerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03258083387204776812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2807403883562053852.post-16308660155150839962022-06-14T01:04:48.300-06:002022-06-14T01:04:48.300-06:00For oil leak control, consider using o-rings or ac...For oil leak control, consider using o-rings or actual oil seals. They both come in standardized dimensions, and there is an o-ring kit that uses rolls of material that you cut to length and glue the ends together. <br />Along with that, there is oil absorbent pads or batting that could be wrapped around the shaft to suck up loose oil. <br />I rebuilt a Porsche heater-A/C fan that used that to keep the bushings lubed in the electric motor. OEM design for many decades! (a new assembly was ~$1000 8-)Willhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00722792638246578812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2807403883562053852.post-74879891206838720722022-06-14T00:25:54.113-06:002022-06-14T00:25:54.113-06:00I suggest you consider something other than drilli...I suggest you consider something other than drilling/tapping a bearing race. One, they tend to be much thinner than you would think from looking at the externals, and they are hardened. I'm not sure drills or taps would survive the attempt. Perhaps a clamp around the bearing (split housing), or a snug fit with some variation of loktite to fixture it.<br /><br />One potential mistake designers make is using too course a thread in aluminum. <br />Also, steel only needs about one diameter of depth when threading, but aluminum should have at least 1.5, and preferably 2.0 dia depth. Sometimes a jam nut on the other side of the threaded part is sufficient to add strength when it can't be thicker. <br /><br />Set screws can be found with all manner of tips: nylon, brass, teflon, steel ball (some with spring), toothed, flat, radiused, and more. They can also have plastic type side inserts to resist position changes.Willhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00722792638246578812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2807403883562053852.post-10452654755455699022022-06-13T15:15:35.839-06:002022-06-13T15:15:35.839-06:00why not use thick-walled aluminum tube for the axe...why not use thick-walled aluminum tube for the axes as well? <br />Save 3-40% with no loss of strength The center does little for the rigidity. <br /><br />Also, put a decent spring load somewhere to prevent lash. B https://www.blogger.com/profile/10586046436233366155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2807403883562053852.post-85782538703726223432022-06-12T17:31:28.245-06:002022-06-12T17:31:28.245-06:00If you do a continuous worm gear drive on the RA a...If you do a continuous worm gear drive on the RA axis, consider using a simple clutch to engage / disengage the drive from the shaft (even something as simple as a driven collar with a set screw).<br /><br />This could let you 'slip' the RA axis to align with a star, then simply re-engage the drive to track...Wayne Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07652553584958469329noreply@blogger.com