Precision Polar Mount Project

Captain Jack

Captain Jack

Retired human
My Satellite Setup
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North Somerset
I never seem to finish my projects, so here's another one. A sort of a continuation of the Laminas/CM one but more focused on the motorised aspects of it.

I have this pretty nice heavy duty Precision polar mount that was originally attached to a Precision 1.2m PF dish. As it seems pretty heavy duty, I am going to try and universal-ise it for use with various dishes by just changing the dish side bracket, so, I want to be able to fit my Laminas, Channel Master offset and the prime focus dish that I have to it without losing alignment as all I will have to do is change the dish and its declination. Metal work ordered already...

Here are some starting pictures of it that I took last year. I will put a new frame on top of that (marked in red) along with some mount points at the top for the declination jack. Not quite sure what the swing will be but hopefully it'll be wide enough to cover 53E to 58W.

2015-05-16 16.40.01.webp 2015-05-16 16.40.22.webp
 
Is the T90 concealed behind the Composter?
 
Captain Jack said:
I never seem to finish my projects, so here's another one. A sort of a continuation of the Laminas/CM one but more focused on the motorised aspects of it.

I have this pretty nice heavy duty Precision polar mount that was originally attached to a Precision 1.2m PF dish. As it seems pretty heavy duty, I am going to try and universal-ise it for use with various dishes by just changing the dish side bracket, so, I want to be able to fit my Laminas, Channel Master offset and the prime focus dish that I have to it without losing alignment as all I will have to do is change the dish and its declination. Metal work ordered already...

Here are some starting pictures of it that I took last year. I will put a new frame on top of that (marked in red) along with some mount points at the top for the declination jack. Not quite sure what the swing will be but hopefully it'll be wide enough to cover 53E to 58W.

View attachment 92900 View attachment 92901
Click to expand...

Hi C.J. -
Just started on a similar project myself .. having recently taken down the 3 m P.F - Prodelin. i would like to make a bolt on conversion of some kind to fit a large offset dish face to the prodelin polar mount ... not decided yet just what form the conversion frame will take ... but have botched a 1 metre channel master dish face on there just to check the arc tracking is ok with offset . (it is fine) .... i have other priorities during the next few weeks , so nothing is going to happen yet ... i will follow your project with interest though .
Regards :)

1.webp 3.webp
 
Captain Jack said:
I have this pretty nice heavy duty Precision polar mount that was originally attached to a Precision 1.2m PF dish. As it seems pretty heavy duty, I am going to try and universal-ise it for use with various dishes by just changing the dish side bracket, so, I want to be able to fit my Laminas, Channel Master offset and the prime focus dish that I have to it without losing alignment as all I will have to do is change the dish and its declination. Metal work ordered already...
Click to expand...

That looks more like the mount for the 2.2m Precision, but it may have been optional for a high wind/exposed installation.
 
Channel Hopper said:
That looks more like the mount for the 2.2m Precision, but it may have been optional for a high wind/exposed installation.
Click to expand...
Yes, my Precision 1.2 polar mount is nowhere near as beefy as that one CJ
 
While tidying the garage, I did a rough prototype of the bracket that will sit on top of the original frame. The sides and bottom will be made from 60x60x6mm angle iron and the middle bar to give it a bit more reinforcement will be made from 35x6mm bar.

2016-04-30 16.59.32.webp
 
Because I have crooked arms, which are unable to cut anything straight with an angle grinder, I invested in a mitre saw. Cuts through metal like butter. Just need that welder but maybe for later as it's rather expensive...

2016-05-02 15.52.45.webp 2016-05-02 15.52.54.webp
 
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Lovely chop saw, with laser for correct cutting, no wonder you cannot afford the welder, ( where ever she is )
 
Captain Jack said:
Because I have crooked arms, which are unable to cut anything straight with an angle grinder, I invested in a mitre saw.
Click to expand...

Everybody has crooked arms, they wouldn't be arms otherwise.
(or was it a wife - 'I have crooked legs, so I'm getting a large motorcycle' - type of reasoning ? )
 
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CJ,

Which particular model of the Evolution mitre saw did you get?
Have you tried it to cut any steel box section or angle iron yet and what thickness was it if you did?

Rgds
moonbase
 
It was this one. I haven't tried cutting box sections or angle irons yet but when I get my metalwork, I'll test it out. It can apparently cut steel up to 6mm thick - my angle iron that will arrive is 6mm thick, so it will be a good test.
 
Captain Jack said:
It was this one. I haven't tried cutting box sections or angle irons yet but when I get my metalwork, I'll test it out. It can apparently cut steel up to 6mm thick - my angle iron that will arrive is 6mm thick, so it will be a good test.
Click to expand...


If it can cut 6mm thick angle iron or 30mm x 30mm x 3mm thick box section it will be very useful for motorised satellite frame mount construction. Please keep me posted when your angle iron arrives and you have tried a few cuts with the saw.
 
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Out of it for a few days as I had surgery on my wrist today. Recovery will probably take a couple of days which is annoying as the weather is predicted to be nice this weekend. Most bits received, waiting for the reinforcement bar to come for the middle bit but it's not a show stopper.
 
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Captain Jack said:
Out of it for a few days as I had surgery on my wrist today. Recovery will probably take a couple of days which is annoying as the weather is predicted to be nice this weekend. Most bits received, waiting for the reinforcement bar to come for the middle bit but it's not a show stopper.
Click to expand...
Health care first CJ. It can wait for a few more days.
 
Despite my wrist still being 'healed', I decided to take advantage of the warm-ish weather and carry on with this. Pretty much done - here's the result.

2016-05-08 19.25.57.webp 2016-05-08 19.26.23.webp 2016-05-08 19.26.34.webp

All in all - not bad. Happy with the rigidity of it compared to the 1224. The two holes at the bottom are for the rose joints to go in and the loop at the top is for the declination jack.

The east/west jack on there now is a 12" Venture - not really big enough for the big swing and it's noisy as hell. I have four others to try out - all genuine 'SuperJack' ones, ranging from 18" to 36". I am hoping a carefully adjusted 18" 0ne will be enough. The 24" ones are 'heavy duty' and the 36" is a little bit worn out but is the quietest. Need to get some gaiters for these to stop water getting in.

When I'll be installing it, I've no idea. Working all week and I am in the big smoke next weekend. Maybe I'll try and do it during some lunch time on day.
 
@moonbase - the chop saw cuts 6mm stainless steel just about OK but I wouldn't go any thicker. 3-4mm steel is not a problem at all.
 
Lovely.
Maybe a good idea to at least paint the steel before you do much more?
(unless it's INOX, of course...)
 
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