Heavy duty polar mount prototype 1

I've just set it all up and had a play with some 5mm steel butted together, no problem on no 2 power out of 3, penetration no problem power 3 was to much and burning holes, so its on top of the job,

I am very pleased with it just need to do a few practice runs to get back in to it :),
 
Looks good Martin. Always better, if possible, to spend a little more on something that will do everything you can throw at it rather than something that is pushing it. Lets face it if the weld wasn't good enough with a small welder the consequences of a weld failing may be quite expensive.

Can't wait to see your progress with the new welder.
 
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:eek:.
 
martin-f said:
LOL pete, no it was this type pal that one looks older than the hills:-lol.
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Down here if you drove one of those you'd get called a Trevor. Too light at the back for sure. Speaking from experience of a souped up escort rs2000 mk2!
 
I have put a few 2ltr Cortina engines in the mk1/2 escorts in the past paul, getting the four branch manifold to fit was a pain if I remember correctly.
 
Looks like we are about same age. mk1 1.3 escort was my first car, put a 1600 crossflow in that and then 2.0 pinto :) Had 2 Cortina's to get engines for mk1.
Cars were so simple in those days :)

Hope the welding goes well.
 
Well I did not get started while late this afternoon, i've been out fetching steel nut and bolts etc,

After a few practise runs I made a start, a bit slow to start with getting my setting right, I had just about finished the dish plate and i run out of weld cable, they must just give you a bit to start with.

Any how just two small runs and the dish plate is finished, I am hoping to get most of it finished tomorrow, not much to see but I have run the weld all way round each point apart from two little bits.
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Looks good. Well done. Not that it matters on the back of your dish but I understand that 'flapper wheels' are better to tidy up welds than grinding disks.
One thing to remember is not to weld enclosed sections. i.e. don't weld up both ends of a box section without an air hole. If you don't have anywhere for the air to expand to when it gets heated by the welding it can be dangerous.

Good luck and take it easy :)
 
Thanks ched, the first weld they was plenty of holes lol, but on a serious note thanks for the tip I can think why it could be now thanks I will take care,

I think flapper wheels would have struggled with the first weld :eek::-doh, the dish will be easy accessible when everything is in place, with a standing area acting as a roof for another project nothing to do with satellite, so it will be easy to maintain any parts,

I will post up tomorrows progress :)
 
A little advise please, I had to go out and do a job so I've not got much done today,

Any how I put the lugs on for the dish to hang on and cut the tube to fit exact thinking once its set in place it wont be moving keep it tight,

But I will be putting a motor on for inclined orbits and very fine tuning so this point will need to move, I think it would be best to put a washer each side in there, what do you think please. I will be using washers on the main pivot and think it would be best here even though it wont get as much use as the other.
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I would look into using spherical joints for inclination. And some sort of bearing for the main pivot.

That said, washers will work...but movement won't be as smooth.
 
Captain Jack said:
I would look into using spherical joints for inclination. And some sort of bearing for the main pivot.

That said, washers will work...but movement won't be as smooth.
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Thank you CJ, ive looked all over for something like a spherical joint for movement on the pivot sections and can not find anything,

Even on the machine made mounts up to a 3mtr dish they fit nothing like that, that i can see, the spherical joints will be ok for the other end of the jack, unless you could point me to something ?,

I would love the main axes on something smooth but same again i have only seen washers fitted ?.
 
Yep, that's exactly what I meant, Pete, and is what I am using for my inclination joints.
 
I don't think so pete but thank you, its these two joints that a bush would need to fit to if you have any other thoughts please.
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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,

In my case with a heavy dish and mount i would not like to trust them at 15ft of the ground. but thank you:).
 
They are fairly sturdy but I understand your concern. I think washers or a flanged bearing will work fine. It's what they use on official CM mounts!

My Precision PM that came with the PF dish is super heavy duty and that does have proper bearings on its pivot joints. A bit like the one you'd get on a push bike's handle bar.

I'll try and find what I mean tomorrow when I am on my laptop.
 
Thank you CJ, i will await your report before progress on this point, and move over to the pole mount mods :), thanks again.
 
Good stuff Martin looking forward to seeing this up and running-Im sure to be very jealous.
 
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