New 150mm PST Mod Project

Frankenscope? Let's see it!***be advised that NOTHING in this forum has been safety tested and you are reading and using these posts at your own peril. blah, blah, blah... dont mess around with your eyesight when it comes to solar astronomy. Use appropriate filtration at all times...
Post Reply
Solarhound
Ohhhhhh My!
Ohhhhhh My!
Posts: 132
Joined: Sun Jul 28, 2013 4:51 pm

New 150mm PST Mod Project

Post by Solarhound »

This will be my 3rd PST mod . First I would like to thank the many talented people here for sharing their valuable information here and also a big Thank You to Stephen for this amazing site .

This scope is actually 3 scopes combined . Starting at the aperture end I used an old Aopgee 127mm , the dew shield on this scope is slightly larger than 150mm and will not obstruct the light cone . I will need to make a mounting ring to hold the objective cell that will extend the cell 2" from the end of the dew shield , this way the light cone will clear the hole where the 127mm lens used to sit .
Next I needed a way to extend the tube to bring this to 1500mm . The Celestron 102 XLT that I used for my first mod was just the ticket . First I made a guide ring that can be threaded to the end of the 102 that would fit snug into the Apogee 127 tube , Then I made an end cap for the 127 that would fit the 102 tube and lock it into place . By combining these two scopes together I was able to leave the baffles in place .
IMG_1178.JPG
IMG_1178.JPG (65.19 KiB) Viewed 4002 times
The ERF is a 100mm Lunt and is mounted in a PVC cell and slides into the 127 tube , the glass can be tipped within the cell if required . The cell will be held in place with 3 small screws .
IMG_1179.JPG
IMG_1179.JPG (73.95 KiB) Viewed 4002 times
I had previously used this 102 for my first mod so the back end was all ready set up to accept the stage II PST mod .
IMG_1183.JPG
IMG_1183.JPG (49.25 KiB) Viewed 4002 times
This is what I ordered for the aperture , it arrived on Saturday and I will be leaving shortly to pick up the aliminium I will need to mount it
IMG_1184.JPG
IMG_1184.JPG (107.22 KiB) Viewed 4002 times
Here is a view of the complete configuration , if it works I might even paint it to tone down the Frankenscope look !
IMG_1187.JPG
IMG_1187.JPG (122.54 KiB) Viewed 4002 times


User avatar
swisswalter
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Posts: 17948
Joined: Thu Feb 06, 2014 4:28 am
Location: Switzerland
Been thanked: 1 time
Contact:

Re: New 150mm PST Mod Project

Post by swisswalter »

Hi Mike

that's going to be a fine mod with the ISTAR lens


Only stardust in the wind, some fine and some less fine scopes, filters and adapters as well. Switzerland 47 N, 9 E, in the heart of EUROPE :)

from 7 am - 7 pm http://www.nanosys.ch

from 7.01 pm - 6.59 am http://www.wastronomiko.com some times vice versa ;)
User avatar
Carbon60
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Posts: 14209
Joined: Wed Mar 07, 2012 12:33 pm
Location: Lancashire, UK
Has thanked: 8418 times
Been thanked: 8162 times

Re: New 150mm PST Mod Project

Post by Carbon60 »

I can certainly vouch for the ISTAR lens.

Good luck with your first light.

Stu.


H-alpha, WL and Ca II K imaging kit for various image scales.
Fluxgate Magnetometers (1s and 150s Cadence).
Radio meteor detector.
More images at http://www.flickr.com/photos/solarcarbon60/
User avatar
marktownley
Librarian
Librarian
Posts: 42272
Joined: Tue Oct 18, 2011 5:27 pm
Location: Brierley Hills, UK
Has thanked: 20435 times
Been thanked: 10245 times
Contact:

Re: New 150mm PST Mod Project

Post by marktownley »

Very good indeed! I look forward to watching how it develops!


Image
http://brierleyhillsolar.blogspot.co.uk/
Solar images, a collection of all the most up to date live solar data on the web, imaging & processing tutorials - please take a look!
Solarhound
Ohhhhhh My!
Ohhhhhh My!
Posts: 132
Joined: Sun Jul 28, 2013 4:51 pm

Re: New 150mm PST Mod Project

Post by Solarhound »

Thank you for the positive comments guys , having Solarchat mekes it easy to follow in others footsteps .

I picked up the aluminium I needed to mount the lens cell on Saturday and had it all ready to go late Sunday . Here is a shot of the aperture mounted and a shot of the completed scope . The good news is that it worked . I was able to get some first light images yesterday and will post them in another thread with my initial findings shortly .
IMG_1194.JPG
IMG_1194.JPG (59.99 KiB) Viewed 3936 times

IMG_1196.JPG
IMG_1196.JPG (158.7 KiB) Viewed 3936 times


User avatar
swisswalter
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Posts: 17948
Joined: Thu Feb 06, 2014 4:28 am
Location: Switzerland
Been thanked: 1 time
Contact:

Re: New 150mm PST Mod Project

Post by swisswalter »

Hi Mike

what a fine setup


Only stardust in the wind, some fine and some less fine scopes, filters and adapters as well. Switzerland 47 N, 9 E, in the heart of EUROPE :)

from 7 am - 7 pm http://www.nanosys.ch

from 7.01 pm - 6.59 am http://www.wastronomiko.com some times vice versa ;)
Solarhound
Ohhhhhh My!
Ohhhhhh My!
Posts: 132
Joined: Sun Jul 28, 2013 4:51 pm

Re: New 150mm PST Mod Project

Post by Solarhound »

Thank you all for your positive comments .

I have made a couple of changes to complete this project . First big change was to replace the original 127mm lens cell that was holding the dew shield to the main tube . This was plastic and the dew shield just slid on and was nothing that I wanted to trust to support the 150mm Istar objective . So I made another aluminium ring to securely join the dew shield to the main tube .
I didn't like the "cobblescope" appearance so I gave it a paint job to give it a more professional look .
The last issue was my mount , My GM8 didn't like this much load and the tripod legs would get in the way of the scope . Walter suggested a G11 would handle this scope and I am sure it would but I found a nice used EQ6 Pro mount on a column type base . This base has wheels and jack screws with no legs to interfere with the scope . I am very happy with how this all turned out , just waiting for some sun now .
IMG_1231.JPG
IMG_1231.JPG (148.57 KiB) Viewed 3872 times
IMG_1232.JPG
IMG_1232.JPG (81.12 KiB) Viewed 3872 times


User avatar
swisswalter
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Posts: 17948
Joined: Thu Feb 06, 2014 4:28 am
Location: Switzerland
Been thanked: 1 time
Contact:

Re: New 150mm PST Mod Project

Post by swisswalter »

Hi Mike

yes very fine, you are ready for the first light


Only stardust in the wind, some fine and some less fine scopes, filters and adapters as well. Switzerland 47 N, 9 E, in the heart of EUROPE :)

from 7 am - 7 pm http://www.nanosys.ch

from 7.01 pm - 6.59 am http://www.wastronomiko.com some times vice versa ;)
FRAZ
Ohhhhhh My!
Ohhhhhh My!
Posts: 153
Joined: Fri Jun 20, 2014 5:36 pm
Location: LIVERPOOL
Has thanked: 178 times
Been thanked: 96 times

Re: New 150mm PST Mod Project

Post by FRAZ »

Hi Mike,

That is a brilliant finish to your mod. The pics of your images using this scope are a treat too.
Nice job.

Fraz.


Stage 2 mod completed @ 100, 127.
Istar 228 arrived, building the frame slowly while learning cnc.
User avatar
pedro
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Posts: 12256
Joined: Sun May 01, 2016 8:26 pm
Location: Portugal
Has thanked: 14 times
Been thanked: 6577 times
Contact:

Re: New 150mm PST Mod Project

Post by pedro »

Great mod Mike. I love the final result (OTA)


Solarhound
Ohhhhhh My!
Ohhhhhh My!
Posts: 132
Joined: Sun Jul 28, 2013 4:51 pm

Re: New 150mm PST Mod Project

Post by Solarhound »

Thanks for the comments folks , it rides much smoother in the EQ6 . All I need now is some clear sky's

One last thing to do on this mod and that is to add a second motor from Moonlight to adjust the etalon . I have ordered the motor and my hand control has 2 channels so if it all works I will have focus as well as etalon control on the same hand control


User avatar
swisswalter
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Posts: 17948
Joined: Thu Feb 06, 2014 4:28 am
Location: Switzerland
Been thanked: 1 time
Contact:

Re: New 150mm PST Mod Project

Post by swisswalter »

Hi Mike

once done please post a pic or two


Only stardust in the wind, some fine and some less fine scopes, filters and adapters as well. Switzerland 47 N, 9 E, in the heart of EUROPE :)

from 7 am - 7 pm http://www.nanosys.ch

from 7.01 pm - 6.59 am http://www.wastronomiko.com some times vice versa ;)
User avatar
marktownley
Librarian
Librarian
Posts: 42272
Joined: Tue Oct 18, 2011 5:27 pm
Location: Brierley Hills, UK
Has thanked: 20435 times
Been thanked: 10245 times
Contact:

Re: New 150mm PST Mod Project

Post by marktownley »

Glad to see this is coming along well!


Image
http://brierleyhillsolar.blogspot.co.uk/
Solar images, a collection of all the most up to date live solar data on the web, imaging & processing tutorials - please take a look!
User avatar
Carbon60
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Posts: 14209
Joined: Wed Mar 07, 2012 12:33 pm
Location: Lancashire, UK
Has thanked: 8418 times
Been thanked: 8162 times

Re: New 150mm PST Mod Project

Post by Carbon60 »

Very nice, indeed.

Looking forward to seeing the results.

Stu.


H-alpha, WL and Ca II K imaging kit for various image scales.
Fluxgate Magnetometers (1s and 150s Cadence).
Radio meteor detector.
More images at http://www.flickr.com/photos/solarcarbon60/
Post Reply