PST etalon repair, decontacted?
- MalVeauX
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PST etalon repair, decontacted?
Hey all,
I'm looking to attempt to repair what seems to be a decontacted PST etalon. I picked this one up in a deal because it was not working, figured I'd give it a try and learn something along the way. I've looked up some resources and read a little bit, but curious if anyone has successfully recontacted the etalon? I'm comfortable fully disassembling the etalon housing and have looked at he etalon plates and the contact. When looking through it, it's an orange blob on the sun. When looking through it not at the sun, I can see visible lines and my understanding is I should see concentric circles in moire pattern? I have reagent grade acetone to work with as I've read to use that. But, lots of things are known to me, such as orientation, spacing, what to look for, etc. Any tips appreciated!
Very best,
I'm looking to attempt to repair what seems to be a decontacted PST etalon. I picked this one up in a deal because it was not working, figured I'd give it a try and learn something along the way. I've looked up some resources and read a little bit, but curious if anyone has successfully recontacted the etalon? I'm comfortable fully disassembling the etalon housing and have looked at he etalon plates and the contact. When looking through it, it's an orange blob on the sun. When looking through it not at the sun, I can see visible lines and my understanding is I should see concentric circles in moire pattern? I have reagent grade acetone to work with as I've read to use that. But, lots of things are known to me, such as orientation, spacing, what to look for, etc. Any tips appreciated!
Very best,
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Re: PST etalon repair, decontacted?
I successfully recontacted my Coronado ASP-60 etalon. The hard part was sawing into the etalon chamber without disturbing the etalon or producing any debris whatsoever. Once I got in and saw that the spacers appeared to still be stuck to one side, I literally just pressed the two together. No attempt at cleaning for fear I would do more harm than good. The two glass sides seem to have adhered because it never came apart again. And it remained right on band.
Mine had recently lost contact, and that probably helped. A lot of time and shipping in between may allow particles to adhere to the glass and prevent bonding as well as change the frequency.
George
Mine had recently lost contact, and that probably helped. A lot of time and shipping in between may allow particles to adhere to the glass and prevent bonding as well as change the frequency.
George
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Re: PST etalon repair, decontacted?
Thanks George,
I don't even know what's truly safe to do to the etalon contact plates as it is, such as wiping them, washing, what agents can be used to clean, etc. Most info I've found just said to put reagent grade acetone and place the plates together and let it evaporate and they "snap" together again when contacted. But, this is very vague. Figured someone may have done it around here. I got this extra etalon as it is, it was already decontacted (if that's even what's wrong with it, I'm not certain, just assumed), it was worthless so even if I cannot repair it, no loss, just gain some experience with it maybe. If I can get it working, well, one more thing to play with.
Very best,
I don't even know what's truly safe to do to the etalon contact plates as it is, such as wiping them, washing, what agents can be used to clean, etc. Most info I've found just said to put reagent grade acetone and place the plates together and let it evaporate and they "snap" together again when contacted. But, this is very vague. Figured someone may have done it around here. I got this extra etalon as it is, it was already decontacted (if that's even what's wrong with it, I'm not certain, just assumed), it was worthless so even if I cannot repair it, no loss, just gain some experience with it maybe. If I can get it working, well, one more thing to play with.
Very best,
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Re: PST etalon repair, decontacted?
Then I think I might try just pressing them together and see what happens (if the spacers are still stuck to one side). If they come right apart, I don't think you are any worse off.
George
George
- MalVeauX
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Re: PST etalon repair, decontacted?
Here's some images to help show what I was trying to describe. When looking through it, installed, there's just an orange blob for the sun but no details, so it's not on band or anything no matter how it tunes. When looking at the etalon itself out of the housing, there are these weird lines, almost like oil lines to me, but I'm not sure what I'm looking at. Looks like ronchi graph almost? I assume the arrows are meant to face each other and all that. Not sure if rotational orientation matters here? Not much marking to go off.
Very best,
Very best,
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Re: PST etalon repair, decontacted?
I've recontacted a PST etalon twice and a SM40 etalon once simply by pushing them together with even pressure. Try this first.
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!
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Re: PST etalon repair, decontacted?
Hey Mark,marktownley wrote: ↑Wed Sep 18, 2019 6:58 pm I've recontacted a PST etalon twice and a SM40 etalon once simply by pushing them together with even pressure. Try this first.
Was there a sure way to know they recontacted when you did it without total reassembly and pointing it at the sun and tuning?
Any ideas on safe cleaning solution or things to avoid? Any way to surely damage the reflective surfaces that need to be contacted easily?
I just cleaned and re-seated them again. Didn't hear a "click" as I've read about. And of course, it's now raining after being sunny all day as if the weather gods knew I was fiddling with solar stuff. Hopefully a sign it contacted? hah. I didn't see the weird ronchi looking pattern this time looking through it, totally clear this time. Fingers crossed.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++
Current progress. Reassembled into PST housing and rebuilt, waiting for a moment on the sun to test. Of course, raining.
Very best,
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Re: PST etalon repair, decontacted?
Marty,
I don't see the four small spacer flakes???
Are these visible?
I don't see the four small spacer flakes???
Are these visible?
"Astronomical Spectroscopy - The Final Frontier" - to boldly go where few amateurs have gone before
https://groups.io/g/astronomicalspectroscopy
http://astronomicalspectroscopy.com
"Astronomical Spectroscopy for Amateurs" and
"Imaging Sunlight - using a digital spectroheliograph" - Springer
https://groups.io/g/astronomicalspectroscopy
http://astronomicalspectroscopy.com
"Astronomical Spectroscopy for Amateurs" and
"Imaging Sunlight - using a digital spectroheliograph" - Springer
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Re: PST etalon repair, decontacted?
Not that I recall ever seeing.
This... does not bode well. Likely they are gone and this is now garbage.
Very best,
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Re: PST etalon repair, decontacted?
Yes you need the spacers, this is how it should look like sideways:
https://pbase.com/reneweenink/image/167846098
https://pbase.com/reneweenink/image/167846098
- MalVeauX
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Re: PST etalon repair, decontacted?
Oh my, this etalon is probably a lost cause then. I'll toss them.
Very best,
Very best,
- MalVeauX
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Re: PST etalon repair, decontacted?
I got to test it today. Was able to focus a sharp sun. But was not able to see HA details, just a sharp orange solar disc with no details. Full turn to the left, and it went very dark/dim. Full turn to the right and it got very bright. Working between the two extremes, no details, just dimming and brightening. I made sure it was in the original position as I had marked the whole that the screw into the tuning mechanism was.
I'm guessing this etalon is without hope.
Very best,
I'm guessing this etalon is without hope.
Very best,
- marktownley
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Re: PST etalon repair, decontacted?
It's no good Marty
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!
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Re: PST etalon repair, decontacted?
I figured as much, but learned a lot fooling with it. And I have some spare PST parts to mess around with like the lenses and various threaded plates. I'll just let the etalon be and consider it dead.
Very best,
Very best,