Coming back...

I LOVE finding out about different ways to appreciate the Sun and light in general. Use this forum to post your info or questions about various outside the mainstream ways to appreciate our life giving star!
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Coming back...

Post by Wah »

After a long leave, I am now redesigning the spectroscopes and creating the parts by using a 3D printer.
Some optical glass slits have been used also, I hope the overall image quality can be improved.
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Re: Coming back...

Post by Montana »

Excellent!! I really look forward to your excellent images again :hamster:

Alexandra


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Re: Coming back...

Post by marktownley »

Fantastic Wah! I'm looking forward to the results.


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Re: Coming back...

Post by Merlin66 »

Wah,
Glad to see you back.
I think 3D printing is the way forward. Paul has been active producing his LowSpec spectroscope design, a great introduction to slit spectroscopy.
Are you going to update your SLM software to allow larger files???


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Re: Coming back...

Post by Wah »

Which file format and what size do you need?
As far as I remember, I was using an external library for avi format which cannot handle larger size files.
Then a newer version could handle mono-color ser files without problems (I guess).


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Re: Coming back...

Post by Merlin66 »

Wah,
I've been trialling a fast frame ASI 174MM camera on the SHG, using the x2 RA speed to reduce acquisition time. ( Using an ROI just enough to get the spectral line, I can get up to 400 fps)
The SER files can be up to 3Gb in size....this seems to be an issue for SLM?
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Re: Coming back...

Post by Wah »

What error did it show? Or it never prompt error when the file is over 3GB?


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Re: Coming back...

Post by Merlin66 »

I think it just didn't run.....
(Been a while now due to weather and other issues. I could probably find the file on the computer and check if needed.


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Post by Wah »

You may compress and upload the file to google drive or dropbox and let me have a try.


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Re: Coming back...

Post by Merlin66 »

Wah,
Give me some time to find the files.
I'll email you when I'm ready.
ken


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Post by MERRILL »

It looks very nice!


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Re: Coming back...

Post by Carbon60 »

Welcome back. Looking forward to seeing the results from your new kit.

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Re: Coming back...

Post by Wah »

The refill filament has arrived and more parts have been printed out.
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Post by Wah »

Two improvements:
1. Slit fixing method
2. Print direction
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Re: Coming back...

Post by Merlin66 »

Wah,
""
Some optical glass slits have been used
""
The OVIO reflective slit plates????


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Re: Coming back...

Post by Wah »

Not from OVIO, but tailor-made from China some years ago.


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Re: Coming back...

Post by Merlin66 »

Wah,
I've sent you an email with the SLiM errors, and sent a copy of the AVI file (930Mb) to dropbox
https://www.dropbox.com/s/rrjtee31vwf1h ... p.avi?dl=0
Ken


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Re: Coming back...

Post by Phil Rousselle »

Hi
Very nice job Wah !
I've also a 3D printer, and it's a very good tool to make parts for SHG
Phil


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Re: Coming back...

Post by Wah »

Merlin66 wrote: Tue Jun 09, 2020 2:08 am Wah,
I've sent you an email with the SLiM errors, and sent a copy of the AVI file (930Mb) to dropbox
https://www.dropbox.com/s/rrjtee31vwf1h ... p.avi?dl=0
Ken
I just experienced the error myself this morning, and found that it should be a setting problem. I mistakenly set the project as X86 rather than X64, so it could only allocate a very limited amount of memory. I will post a recompiled version later and let you try.


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Re: Coming back...

Post by Merlin66 »

Wha,
Thanks for the feedback.
Your continued support for the SHG is appreciated.
Look forward to trying the new version.


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Post by Wah »

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Gnfkx2 ... sp=sharing

Hi Merlin, are you able to download the file from the above link?


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Post by highfnum »

interesting


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Post by Merlin66 »

I’m in transit....I’ll download later when I get home.
Many thanks.


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Post by Merlin66 »

Wah,
Downloaded OK
I'll try it ASAP and give you feedback.
Many thanks,
ken


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Post by Merlin66 »

Wah,
Unfortunately it still shows the same error messages.
Looking at the "Unhandled exception" - Object reference not set to an instance of an object
There seems to be references to d:\projects\SLiM_RemovedProcessing\form1.cs.
I assume this was your working directory????
Let me know how I can assist.
regards,


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Re: Coming back...

Post by Wah »

Is there a line number or which function causes the error?


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Re: Coming back...

Post by Merlin66 »

Wah,
Error message shows lines 1753, 2044, 3286
I've attached a copy of the error screen.
SLiM2_110620_error.JPG
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Re: Coming back...

Post by Wah »

Merlin66 wrote: Tue Jun 09, 2020 2:08 am Wah,
I've sent you an email with the SLiM errors, and sent a copy of the AVI file (930Mb) to dropbox
https://www.dropbox.com/s/rrjtee31vwf1h ... p.avi?dl=0
Ken
I just downloaded this file, it is "AVI" format.
Can you try mono "SER" instead?


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Post by Wah »

I can process the video after converting and rotating the AVI to SER.
I only program to process horizontal lines, so you need to capture the lines horizontally.
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Re: Coming back...

Post by Phil Rousselle »

Hi Wah
What kind of process can do your software SLiM ?

Phil


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Post by Merlin66 »

Phil,
SLiM software developed by Wah! provides the means to convert an AVI/SER video of a spectral line to a spectroheliogram.
It can correct for slant and smile and offers different extraction widths. In my experience it needs the video cropped to the line of interest (VDub) prior to using.
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Post by Wah »

I've forgotten the "Horizontal mode" checkbox myself, it seems still work without the tick.
It is suggested to use SER format rather than AVI because it seems won't crash for larger/wider videos and also support 16bit per pixel which has higher dynamic range.
It seems the "o" doesn't show correctly on your screen. I have extended the size of the button and built the solution again.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1125tvY ... sp=sharing


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Post by Merlin66 »

Wha,
Thanks.
I'll try that as soon as the weather allows. I'm testing a new SHG (hence the previous out of focus result) hopefully the next results will be better.


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Post by Wah »

I am struggling to tune my SHG back for better image quality but the results are still disappointing.
I think I have to disassemble it and check each element to make sure they are all in good condition...


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Post by Merlin66 »

Wah,
Always challenging experience!
I try to get the spectrograph section working first. Giving a clean, well focused H alpha line.
Then work with the slit to give minimum usable gap.....
Final the scope should work at the same focal ratio as the spectrograph ie f10 scope to f10 spectrograph.
My "challenge" at the moment is getting a well focused solar image on the slit......


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Post by Wah »

Because my SHG is based on Littrow design, it can easily introduce some coma + astigmatism aberration.
The slit I am using is fixed-width glass slit, I think I need to remove it first and replace the grating to a mirror to check the problem.


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Post by Merlin66 »

Wah,
Shouldn't be any coma...but astigmatism, probably; could also be vignetting from the pick off mirror. Remember the f ratios must match.


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Re: Coming back...

Post by Phil Rousselle »

thank you
I have a "SLim" software but for 8bits videos


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Post by Wah »

I replaced the slit with a pinhole last night, and checked the 0 order image.
There was some blur on the edge, while some red in the vertical direction and some green in the horizontal direction.
I tried to tilt the lens but no big help. Now I have no idea how to solve the problem...


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Post by Merlin66 »

Don't know.....
Need to think about it.
Which grating are you using?
What's the focal length of the collimator?


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Post by Wah »

Both the grating and collimator are old parts that once did create good image quality.
I think I will try to rotate the collimator and check again.


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Re: Coming back...

Post by Wah »

I just captured the pinhole image, and now suspect that the aberrations are from the cheap lens.
The previous good image could be due to part of the lens being blocked by the original tube and reduced some aberration.
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Re: Coming back...

Post by Wah »

I just barely recall that I had a mask on the lens long ago and then being removed later.
I think I will try to add a mask back and see if the image quality improves.


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