Heavy duty polar mount prototype 1

[Channel Hopper]

Thanks ched, I am starting work on the mount tomorrow, I will probably go and buy a cutter to save time, at the end of the day I might be able to make and sell a few and get my money back,
The mounts that take a four inch pole are over £600.

Not the one I've got one here, still doing nothing......

 

[sonnetpete]

Sorry i never mentioned why i don't think they will work, they will work on smaller lighter stuff, but the only way to get them to work properly you are depending on them alone to hold the full weight of the dish

Martin, the only experience I have with rose joints was on my mates single seater racing car. We never had a suspension failure and though they were changed between seasons as a preventative measure, a visual inspection couldn't detect any cracks. They are by their purpose, designed to take a lot of punishment. However, if you are more confident with your original plan, go with that, after all it's your dish.....

 

[Archived-1]

I managed to get out and do the mods on the pole fixing today, its coming together slow but sure and another job out of the way.

 

[Captain Jack]

Looking good, Martin!

 

[ched999uk]

Looks good, well done. If you want to butt weld and get more strength you can chamfer the edges at 45degrees to get more passes of weld.

 

[Archived-1]

Looks good, well done. If you want to butt weld and get more strength you can chamfer the edges at 45degrees to get more passes of weld.

Thank you ched, I have been using that method in certain places where I feel it matters. but I know I am going well over the top and still have to do it lol,

A old feeling of strengthening things up just come back to me, I will be converting the welder to gas cheaper wire and cleaner welds too much splatter from the flux with gassless but does weld very well.

 

[Piltdownpaul]

I used to do a lot of automotive welding, but these days we sub it all out , i rarely get to do any,doing more oxy-acetylene than anything.

 

[Vipersan]

I'm seriously Impressed with what you have achieved so far Martin..
keep the pics coming mate.

 

[Archived-1]

Thank you lads, my design has changed and I am now following this design from a 2.4 CM with a few little mods of my own.

 

[wod]

Are you going to be using an actuator to lower/raise the dish elevation ?

 

[Archived-1]

Are you going to be using an actuator to lower/raise the dish elevation ?

Yes wod, but not to start with, I want it pulling from the two top corners, i will have to take a look at the best way to do it once everything else is in place,

 

[Captain Jack]

Why pull from two corners as opposed to from the middle?

 

[Archived-1]

Less chance of any movement more stability CJ, I know these dish's are strong but now I have the welder it wont take long to make something and it will only help in windy conditions,

 

[Captain Jack]

If you used spherical joints, it would be super stable. I didn't think that my new Gibby would be stable but it's rock solid.

You would still need to pull from the centre though, right? What about getting some gas struts for the sides?

 

[Archived-1]

If you used spherical joints, it would be super stable. I didn't think that my new Gibby would be stable but it's rock solid.

You would still need to pull from the centre though, right? What about getting some gas struts for the sides?

I am not keen on using them joints tbh CJ, I have never seen any fitted to proper made mounts ive looked at and I would not like to trust them, the dish will be 15ft above the ground and will be under a walk way for me and my family including my grand children,
They maybe on top of the job but they don't tick any boxes for me,

Yes I will still have to pull from the centre with a modded plate with a gas strut at each end something like this.

 

[Archived-1]

Just taking a look at the weight 1.5 gib weighs 7.5Kg 1.8 CM 47.5kg, you might understand my concern a little more .

 

[Captain Jack]

47kg?!?! Wow! I did not realise it was THAT heavy.... How are you going to get it up 15ft in the air?

Still, at least it will last and not warp at the first breeze forecast

What size jack will you be using for elevation control?

 

[Archived-1]

47kg?!?! Wow! I did not realise it was THAT heavy.... How are you going to get it up 15ft in the air?

Still, at least it will last and not warp at the first breeze forecast

What size jack will you be using for elevation control?

My neighbour is a painter and has put together scaffold platform, my other neighbour at the other side is willing to help he his is my age and strong and my bro, so 4 of us and a scaffold platform,

But when its at its final resting place I will be building a hard standing area as part of a roof for a garden project, so once its up maintenance will be made easy.

I will be using a 36 inch jack on my main pivot not sure what size for the other atm.

 

[Archived-1]

Not much progress today due to the rain, my shed is full of stuff and needs a good clear out, any how i have been and made a clearing so I can get on with it when its raining,

I want to be able to change any nut and bolt if it wears and also want to use nylon locking nuts, so i can not weld a nut to the plate, so I have left the bit open for maintenance and I will just tack a plate over the holes, so if any nut/bolt needs replacing I can just grind the plate of,

I have been checking a few angles and I might have to take about 10/15mm from back of the pole mount, its not a problem just a quick grind,

 

[Piltdownpaul]

15ft up in the air, i'm pleased your neighbours are okay with this. You'd never get away with that around here----lots of dogooders poking their nose just where it doesnt belong. You're going to get some serious windloading on that, thats going to test your welds Martin. Looks right smart so far though.