Vixen A80M Coronado PST Phase 2 Mod... done! (finally)

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...
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andreahaku

Vixen A80M Coronado PST Phase 2 Mod... done! (finally)

Post by andreahaku »

Hi everyone,

finally today I got the Crayfor SC focuser and I can go with phase 2 PST Mod on the Vixen A80M.

I already tested it briefly... now I'm processing the images. They won't be great as we had a sunny but very windy day. It seems that my "first light" has to be done with the wind :D

Anyway... here are a few pictures of my Frankenscope







Isn't "she" (it's a "Vixen") lovely? :D

I'll post first captures later, after processing.

Andrea


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Re: Vixen A80M Coronado PST Phase 2 Mod... done! (finally)

Post by Merlin66 »

Well done!
Looking good....
The Stage 2 mod results even with a BF5 are always better than Stage 1!!!!
(The next thing you need for aesthetics to to make a tube adaptor between the SCT focuser and the end of the OTA - a lever clamped on the PST adjusting ring and a slot in the tube would give that "streamlined, professional" look)
Just my 0.02euro


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Re: Vixen A80M Coronado PST Phase 2 Mod... done! (finally)

Post by swisswalter »

Hi Andrea

she looks great. Congrats on the mod. I'm interested too in the first pics you have been able to capture


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Re: Vixen A80M Coronado PST Phase 2 Mod... done! (finally)

Post by marktownley »

Looks good Andrea! I take it's pretty easy to unscrew the etalong assembly from the black box of the PST?


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Re: Vixen A80M Coronado PST Phase 2 Mod... done! (finally)

Post by andreahaku »

It took me days to do it. It's been the hardest thing to unscrew in my whole life!
But once done you feel like Superman... with a cryptonite piece in his hand :D


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Re: Vixen A80M Coronado PST Phase 2 Mod... done! (finally)

Post by Merlin66 »

The original "ol' gold" PST etalon were relatively easy to remove; the first couple of batches from the Mexican assembly plant were overloaded with loctite and are VERY difficult to separate..the latest PST's don't seem to be as bad....


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Re: Vixen A80M Coronado PST Phase 2 Mod... done! (finally)

Post by andreahaku »

Mine is very very old... I think one of the first (serial 94052) and it's been very very hard to do. Particularly the Etalon.


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Re: Vixen A80M Coronado PST Phase 2 Mod... done! (finally)

Post by marktownley »

Is the etalon unscrewed from the black box using the boa constrictor / rubber strap tool then if it's a toughy to get out?


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Re: Vixen A80M Coronado PST Phase 2 Mod... done! (finally)

Post by andreahaku »

I didn't use it but more brutal methods. But I think that with the rubber strap it wouldn't unscrew.
Just my opinion. But probably it was because mine is a very old one.


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Re: Vixen A80M Coronado PST Phase 2 Mod... done! (finally)

Post by Merlin66 »

OK.
I haven't found an PST etalon yet that would not unscrew using two industrial strength BOA wrenches.....


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Re: Vixen A80M Coronado PST Phase 2 Mod... done! (finally)

Post by andreahaku »

I'm sure about it :) It was quite easy to unscrew the gold tube, the BF, etc. only the etalon was very very difficult but I think it was just mine :D


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