Orpington Astronomical Society

Astronomy => Technical => Topic started by: MarkS on Aug 18, 2009, 11:59:19

Title: C11 Corrector Plate Removal
Post by: MarkS on Aug 18, 2009, 11:59:19
I need to remove my C11 front corrector plate for cleaning.

Yes, to be ready for DSC, I very carefully cleaned the front surface of the corrector plate at the weekend to remove months of accumulated dust and marks, without scratching.  But, silly me, distilled water ingressed into the tube and found it's way onto the inside of the corrector plate where it dried, leaving noticeable marks - I guess the distilled water picked up something nasty on its way through and neatly deposited it on the inside surface.

So now I'm faced with removing the whole corrector plate to clean the inside :-(

Yes, I'm aware of the warnings about carefully marking the position of everything that is removed and to only gently tighten the corrector plate retaining ring screws on reassembly.
Title: Re: C11 Corrector Plate Removal
Post by: Rick on Aug 18, 2009, 13:02:45
Good Luck... :-?
Title: Re: C11 Corrector Plate Removal
Post by: Ian on Aug 18, 2009, 13:31:29
Can't you just hose the corrector out from the eyepiece hole? If the marks are a bit stubborn you can borrow my jetwash. Drill some holes in the side so it drains properly. Job done.
Title: Re: C11 Corrector Plate Removal
Post by: Tony G on Aug 18, 2009, 13:35:13
Windolene works wonders (so does Double Diamond  ;)) with a cloth tied to a bamboo cane.

Tony G
Title: Re: C11 Corrector Plate Removal
Post by: JohnP on Aug 18, 2009, 13:35:49
Ian you are full of good ideas..... NOT!!!!!

Good luck Mark - I hope you get it all back together by the weekend,  John
Title: Re: C11 Corrector Plate Removal
Post by: Tony G on Aug 18, 2009, 13:47:42
Quote from: JohnP on Aug 18, 2009, 13:35:49
Good luck Mark - I hope you get it all back together by the weekend

If not, bring it down as I've got the 'Pink Toolset', and that can fix anything.  ;)

Tony G
Title: Re: C11 Corrector Plate Removal
Post by: Ian on Aug 18, 2009, 14:13:16
I really think you should keep your pink tool to yourself Tony. Did you mean fix, or did you mean another word starting with f and rhyming with the name of a water fowl whose feathers are often used to fill pillow?
Title: Re: C11 Corrector Plate Removal
Post by: Tony G on Aug 18, 2009, 15:21:35
What! a FOOT.  ;)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coot (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coot)

Tony G
Title: Re: C11 Corrector Plate Removal
Post by: MarkS on Aug 18, 2009, 17:57:15

I think I took a previous suggestion of Mike's rather too literally:
http://forum.orpington-astronomy.org.uk/index.php?topic=4460.msg24052#msg24052
Title: Re: C11 Corrector Plate Removal
Post by: Mike on Aug 18, 2009, 23:28:38
I made myself chuckle reading that again. I'd forgotten about that.
Title: Re: C11 Corrector Plate Removal
Post by: MarkS on Aug 19, 2009, 05:57:22

The whole operation went suprisingly smoothly last night - it's all back together again now.  Just need to do a star test and re-check collimation.

Mark
Title: Re: C11 Corrector Plate Removal
Post by: Mike on Aug 19, 2009, 17:37:58
How are the fish doing?
Title: Re: C11 Corrector Plate Removal
Post by: MarkS on Aug 19, 2009, 22:46:10
Did a star test tonight - the 'scope has held its collimation!  Not bad considering it was in bits last night.   8)