Any way to combine my ls60 to my meade127?

RobBower · Post by **RobBower** » Sat Jul 20, 2013 12:12 am

Im seeing all this mod stuff.....and really curious about turning my 60 lunt into meade 127mm triplet.... Good? Bad? Completely retarded?
Thoughts from you great peeps please!

RobBower · Post by **RobBower** » Sat Jul 20, 2013 12:18 am

Lmao I just didnt want to fork out another 5000 for a 100mm or 9000 for the 152......

And I have a nice new hacksaw blade...... I need to cut something up.... Hahahahaha

RobBower · Post by **RobBower** » Sat Jul 20, 2013 12:38 am

If they can put a pst on an 8"refractor they must be able to use a lunt 60 to build a 127!

Union President here.... Ill cut just about anything! Hahahahahahaha

RobBower · Post by **RobBower** » Sat Jul 20, 2013 12:50 am

:side: :blink: as long as it has a chance of working out! That is....

RobBower · Post by **RobBower** » Sat Jul 20, 2013 1:04 am

Stop it John! I was looking at a 152 a couple of weeks ago...... I wasnt gonna spend... Just mod.... I have the 127 apo already! Lol

RobBower · Post by **RobBower** » Sat Jul 20, 2013 1:08 am

:whistle: Hmmmm if I sell the 127 apo for a 153 achro.... Isnt that kinda going a little backwards? Maybe I should sell the 127 and buy the 6" lunt? Then sell my truck and buy a scooter to get back to work! M :woohoo:

RobBower · Post by **RobBower** » Sat Jul 20, 2013 1:53 am

Lol so you think I should just get a 6"achro and butcher it i stead!

:rockon:

RobBower · Post by **RobBower** » Sat Jul 20, 2013 2:34 am

hmy: Hmmmmm i guess I best just place an order for a 100 or 152mm lunt and just bite the bullet..... :pinch:

sullij1 · Post by **sullij1** » Sat Jul 20, 2013 5:40 am

Where there is a will there is a way. We have discusssed it here before and it has been sucessfully done. Google it. Here are a couple of leads:

Our chat:
http://solarchat.natca.net/index.php/en ... unt-etalon

The best I saw was in this blog. You will have to search for the detailed instructions but they are there. Here is the overview with the warning not to do it unless you are confident in your skill set.

http://www.davidcortner.com/slowblog/20120717s.php

sullij1 · Post by **sullij1** » Sat Jul 20, 2013 5:43 am

If memory serves correctly Andy Murner pulled it off on one of his early designs. Check with him.

sullij1 · Post by **sullij1** » Sat Jul 20, 2013 5:53 am

Brian also pulled one off here:

http://solarchat.natca.org/index.php/en ... brid-scope

Allcart · Post by **Allcart** » Sat Jul 20, 2013 1:11 pm

And here is one I did recently. No reason why you could not do this with a 127mm. It also works fine with my 120mm XLT. No tube cutting needed.

http://solarchat.natca.net/index.php/en ... =120#70249

I'll gladly swap my C6-R for your 127 if you like.

RobBower · Post by **RobBower** » Sat Jul 20, 2013 2:19 pm

Lol John.... Trust me bud. Im not dropping the coin! I cant justify the spend while I have this lovely 60! But I would like to try and get it on the 127! Not having to use the powermates to get in tight to all that detail and a bit more light gathering..... Its just what I need....

RobBower · Post by **RobBower** » Sat Jul 20, 2013 2:20 pm

Thanks for the links Sulli im going to read all about it!

Allan.... Letme think about that one! :woohoo:

sullij1 · Post by **sullij1** » Sat Jul 20, 2013 3:04 pm

Your welcome, send us som pics if ya get'er done.

Allcart · Post by **Allcart** » Sat Jul 20, 2013 5:20 pm

Hey! don't think too long Rob. I don't make that kind of offer everyday.

MapleRidge · Post by **MapleRidge** » Sun Jul 21, 2013 2:01 am

Hi Rob...

By the mods assembled by the folk here I'd say that you can likely make anything if you have the time and patience.

The PST mods work well, especially with a scope with an f10 objective. The DSII etalon assembly works well for me on f10 and f8 systems (the Lunt scopes are f7 so closer to that seems to work a bit better).

Brian

RobBower · Post by **RobBower** » Sun Jul 21, 2013 2:21 am

Lol Ok Allan....

Brian my meade is a series 5000 triplet. Its 950mm and F7.5
John tells me youre a master of Mods..... Im all ears! Lol

Is this something you might recommend? Or am I way off on this? I wont be double stacking this as it will reduce the newly added apeture back down to 60mm. But for close up images.... Is this a good or bad idea?

Allcart · Post by **Allcart** » Sun Jul 21, 2013 9:59 am

I think its an excellent idea Rob, but I'm sure Brians mod won't work with the LS60T. The LS60 etalon position is outside of the tube and so can't be attached like Brians DSII. I based my LS60 mod on David Cortners idea as it allowed an easy method of changing from 60mm to 150mm. All I have to do is remove the front lens from the LS60 and then slide the LS60 into its dovetail plate on the aluminium cradle.
The hardest part was collimating the optical path of the 2 scopes, but a pair of 100mm guidescope rings and a laser collimater made that easy.
I can use the same cradle for my 150mm C6R and my 120mm XLT just by changing the position of the LS60 in its dovetail plate. To revert back to the standard LS60 I just remove it from the cradle and screw the lens back on.
My erf is sub aperture and fits in a foam cell at the end of the donor tube just in front of the LS60T. This is how the 120mm looks with the LS60 behind it. This mod did not require any machining skills and the only tools needed were a hacksaw a drill and a tape measure.

Attached files

RobBower · Post by **RobBower** » Sun Jul 21, 2013 1:10 pm

Thanks Allan this looks like an interesting way to go. How much dust etc do you get in that gap? Or are you just showing before its closed in? Also, you are double stacking, so thats just a 60mm again with very long focal length. Do you notice a huge difference in detail?

Allcart · Post by **Allcart** » Sun Jul 21, 2013 2:39 pm

I did intend to cover the gap, but have not got round to it yet. I don't notice much in the way of dust at the moment, but it would be easily dealt with if some should appear. I have only just made the DS adapter and have only had a short trial with it on the scope. I need more time with it to evaluate it properly. It does add a lot of ghost images into the view when used as a DS.
On the other hand, the LS60f on its own on the front of the 120XLT is much better. No ghost at all, and tuning is easy albeit a bit of an arm stretch and it does bring things in closer too. I still favour the PT over the tilt tune, so the Lunt mod is still better.

Post by **marktownley** » Sun Jul 21, 2013 9:08 pm

Any dust that does get into that gap will not be visible at the focal plane....

RobBower · Post by **RobBower** » Sun Jul 21, 2013 10:09 pm

Since I wouldnt be using it with a front etalon ever...I think Id need a more permanent completion in order to do the mod... I was hoping to turn my 127 into a permanent solar H-alpha using the pressure tuner set up and blocking filter on my ls60.. Then sell my ds module. Either that or I sell my 60 and double stack and get the etalon and blocking filter 100 for the 127.... Seemed cheaper the first way with more apeture.

MapleRidge · Post by **MapleRidge** » Sun Jul 21, 2013 10:22 pm

Hi Rob...

You should come over one day and have a look at the mod using the DSII module.

Depending upon the scope you may not have to cut the OTA tube...my C102 had to be cut, but the CR-150 works as is. Biggest issue will be getting a flange machined to match the DSII unit to the tube, and an ERF. If you stop it down to 100mm, you get an f10 light cone and could run a PST mod as an alternate mod.

I spoke with Lunt on Friday and 80mm DSII's are a 3-4 months out.

Brian

RobBower · Post by **RobBower** » Sun Jul 21, 2013 10:39 pm

Thanks Brian! Id love to check that out! As far as this mod goes...im in the dark! Lots of good ideas....but it has to be permanent!

Post by **Merlin66** » Mon Jul 22, 2013 8:22 am

Rob,
The Lunt60, internal tilt tuned etalon has been successfully used on a few mods now.
No major issues/ problems - just need to find that "majic sweet spot"
There's a complete thread here on the mods....
(I'll find it and paste the link)
http://solarchat.solarastronomy.org/ind ... talon#7002

RobBower · Post by **RobBower** » Sun Jul 28, 2013 2:14 pm

The folks at KW said I should get in touch with you Brian! They claim you are the guy in regards to the mod Im looking for.... It kind of blew me away actually. I was calling them to order the LS100.... Then we got talking about why I wanted it....then he sent me to you? Lol hmmm how much are your advisor fees?

MapleRidge · Post by **MapleRidge** » Sun Jul 28, 2013 5:54 pm

Hi Rob...

My advice comes pretty cheap. I got where I am with a lot of assistance form the modders here, so only happy to extend what help I can in return.

I was at KW a few weeks ago and took in the laptop and showed Brady and Brian the images I had been getting, so they likely had that fresh in mind when you spoke with them.

We should talk about what you need/want then you can decide on the LS100 or go on the mod route! If you want visual and large FOV on images the mod isn't my 1st choice. There is a distinct sweet spot visually and on prime focus (even 2x barlow) images...so if this is what you want it may not be the best choice. You may have a better FOV with the f7.5 OTA...my initial scope was a 4", f10 before moving to the 6", f8 OTA used now. The Lunt objectives are f7, so my guess is the closer to f7 the donor OTA is the better the match to the etalon.

I'll send you my phone #...house or cell...let me know when you might call (home evenings after 8, or cell in daytime) and I'll send you the numbers.

Brian

RobBower · Post by **RobBower** » Sun Jul 28, 2013 6:06 pm

Thanks Brian
My apo is 7.5 im happy with the ls60 for great full disks but i like getting ROI. Not enough length for that...nor the aperture for really high resolution of them. If the best solution s just a 90 Coronado screwed on the front of my meade.... Then so be it as well.... I can however always learn mosaics.... Maybe?

My email..... [email protected]

Feel free to send your info when ever you like so we can chat.... John Hicks might even be up for a lunch meeting? Lol

Anyone else who wants my email can grab it too..... Im not too worried! Lol

Any way to combine my ls60 to my meade127?

Any way to combine my ls60 to my meade127?

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