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| (In)Sanity |
 Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2005 12:21 am Post subject: Dampening vibration |
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Forum Cosmic Wizard
Joined: 19 Oct 2004
Posts: 2168
Location: Phoenix AZ
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Not sure where to put this question, so it goes here for now. My trustworthy moderators can move it as needed.
OK, so I have my nice telescope that weights in about 65lbs or so. It's a wonderful device, but I want to make it a little better. The legs on the tripod are hollow aluminum. This of course can cause vibrations and other odd resonating vibrations to be produced that can end up in the view. For the most part it's good, but it could be better.
Now the simple solution is to just replace the legs with something like oak. The second best perhaps would be steel. I'm trying to do the home brew solution and just improve what I have without replacing it.
So some people will fill the legs with sand, one guy I even read about filled his with expanding foam, like the stuff they use for packing and insulation.
I had the idea of tossing re bar (steel rob used for concrete reinforcement) down the tubes and then filling them with expanding foam. The idea of course being to add stiffness to the legs and more weight.
The question is, can anyone think of some good ideas to make these legs stiff and dead of vibration using supplies that can be found at any home improvement store?
Also what do you think about the re-bar and expanding foam idea? I would love some possible feedback before I actually try it.
I'm looking to kill all vibration.
Thanks. |
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| silylene |
| Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2005 8:02 am Post subject: |
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Forum Sophomore
Joined: 14 Oct 2005
Posts: 175
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| Try putting each leg into a tall bucket of sand. Might be the easiest fix. |
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| oracle |
| Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 11:10 pm Post subject: |
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Forum Freshman
Joined: 25 Jun 2006
Posts: 70
Location: CA
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| silylene wrote: |
| Try putting each leg into a tall bucket of sand. Might be the easiest fix. |
That probably wouldn't be very stable 
I am not sure if having super stiff legs is a great thing, the stiffer, the more it transmits small vibrations.
Filling the legs with sand could work, but I wonder if using a fluid would work as well.  |
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| OldSage |
| Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 8:42 pm Post subject: Re: Dampening vibration |
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Forum Freshman
Joined: 14 May 2008
Posts: 41
Location: North Olympic Mtns.
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| (In)Sanity wrote: |
Not sure where to put this question, so it goes here for now. My trustworthy moderators can move it as needed.
OK, so I have my nice telescope that weights in about 65lbs or so. It's a wonderful device, but I want to make it a little better. The legs on the tripod are hollow aluminum. This of course can cause vibrations and other odd resonating vibrations to be produced that can end up in the view. For the most part it's good, but it could be better.
Now the simple solution is to just replace the legs with something like oak. The second best perhaps would be steel. I'm trying to do the home brew solution and just improve what I have without replacing it.
So some people will fill the legs with sand, one guy I even read about filled his with expanding foam, like the stuff they use for packing and insulation.
I had the idea of tossing re bar (steel rob used for concrete reinforcement) down the tubes and then filling them with expanding foam. The idea of course being to add stiffness to the legs and more weight.
The question is, can anyone think of some good ideas to make these legs stiff and dead of vibration using supplies that can be found at any home improvement store?
Also what do you think about the re-bar and expanding foam idea? I would love some possible feedback before I actually try it.
I'm looking to kill all vibration.
Thanks. |
Orion telescopes, has anti-vibration pads. #5155
You could also add weight, hanging from the center braces, some tripods already have a hook for this. An empty metal bucket w/bail and garden trowel, works for field trips. Only don't excede the function of the pads.
For the backyard, a better solution would be a pier mount set in a thick concrete slab, with a wood deck to walk on, but not in contact with the slab or pier.
Good viewing! |
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