Hmmm. Methodology questions: a number of key steps here you never defended: 3:20 1) first adjustment you made was tilt plate instead of adjusting 2nd mirror 4:10 2) next you adjusted the secondary Why that order? If the secondary is totally off, that’s adjusting the tilt plate to an off position, isn’t it? I guess there’s some catch 22, ie how to know which is really off or which to address first, but I would think we would bare minimum want to make sure the secondary is at least not too radically off FROM CENTER first… 6:55 3) what “minor adjustments were made at this point? Secondary or tilt plate? From comment at 7:11 I assume it means this adjustment was with tilt plate, and now next to be followed is secondary adjustment. This may be right… but it seems critical to get this right and to know why that order? 10:42 4) “as a result” - that meant make final adjustment with tilt plate, right? Just making sure, that would certainly seem to be the correct choice I wish you could name the precise laser tools, I saw an Astromania , in the other diagram it said hotech, then at end 8:38 ff seemed to be a different laser, was that a different laser for SC? I hope this is viewed as constructive feedback that adds to the community and to the video, much thanks to you and everyone who took the time to make a video like this. I just got a used RC8 and am trying to discern the best method to use, that’s the context for me. Clear skies!
@@ShamrockBanksObservatory ahh great I’ll check that out! I think the hardest thing about RC collimation may be that the tools needed are often not easily buyable from normal outlets, or even then are often out of stock. Much appreciated to have a video on one of these tools 👍
For a SCT the Hotech methodology gets very complicated (eg; loosening and centering the corrector plate, etc.)-and for simple visual observations could I ever tell the difference? Good to watch you do this this however :-)
BTW, I know that is a hyperstar, just consider the structure in the middle of the diagram to be the secondary mirror. And yes, the mirrors need to be clean.
Apologies if i missed it but why do it twice? why do it without your image train only to have to re-do it after adding that gear? Thanks for the video!
Funny you should ask. I have a Hotech Advanced SC Collimator and I'll go over that in an upcoming video. The problem with the basic laser collimator is two fold. 1/ Is the laser itself collimated? Put it in a diagonal attached to a bench and shine it on a wall 20-30 feet away. Then rotate the laser in the diagonal. Does it stay on the same point and just twist, or does it form a circle? If it forms a circle it needs to be collimated until it stays at one point. 2/ The simple laser only squares the secondary to the visual back. If the visual back is not square with the primary mirror, it is still out of collimation. Hotech Collimator squares the primary to the visual back and the secondary, and centers the secondary on the primary. The drawback is that it cost nearly $600 (consider joining forces and buying one for a club rather than individually buying one). The advantage is that once the primary and the visual back are square, it is a simple matter to square up the secondary with a laser and a defocused star. I collimated my SCT with a simple laser. I couldn't get a decent focus (HFR around 4). I got the Hotech and collimated it properly, then did a star collimation of the secondary and now I am sitting pretty around HFR 2.5. I'll do a video on the Hotech shortly.
Very straight forward and clear, thank you, Doc.
Hmmm. Methodology questions: a number of key steps here you never defended:
3:20
1) first adjustment you made was tilt plate instead of adjusting 2nd mirror
4:10
2) next you adjusted the secondary
Why that order? If the secondary is totally off, that’s adjusting the tilt plate to an off position, isn’t it? I guess there’s some catch 22, ie how to know which is really off or which to address first, but I would think we would bare minimum want to make sure the secondary is at least not too radically off FROM CENTER first…
6:55
3) what “minor adjustments were made at this point? Secondary or tilt plate? From comment at 7:11 I assume it means this adjustment was with tilt plate, and now next to be followed is secondary adjustment. This may be right… but it seems critical to get this right and to know why that order?
10:42
4) “as a result” - that meant make final adjustment with tilt plate, right? Just making sure, that would certainly seem to be the correct choice
I wish you could name the precise laser tools, I saw an Astromania , in the other diagram it said hotech, then at end 8:38 ff seemed to be a different laser, was that a different laser for SC?
I hope this is viewed as constructive feedback that adds to the community and to the video, much thanks to you and everyone who took the time to make a video like this. I just got a used RC8 and am trying to discern the best method to use, that’s the context for me. Clear skies!
Great comments. This is an old video. See the more recent one on the hotech collimator
@@ShamrockBanksObservatory ahh great I’ll check that out! I think the hardest thing about RC collimation may be that the tools needed are often not easily buyable from normal outlets, or even then are often out of stock. Much appreciated to have a video on one of these tools 👍
The hotech is very good, you have to buy the tilt plate and then you just need some Allen wrenches
Very interesting thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it
For a SCT the Hotech methodology gets very complicated (eg; loosening and centering the corrector plate, etc.)-and for simple visual observations could I ever tell the difference? Good to watch you do this this however :-)
BTW, I know that is a hyperstar, just consider the structure in the middle of the diagram to be the secondary mirror. And yes, the mirrors need to be clean.
Do you have to do star collimation again during the night as the temperature changes?
Probably not but you can check it each time you focus
Apologies if i missed it but why do it twice? why do it without your image train only to have to re-do it after adding that gear? Thanks for the video!
just to make sure it is still right.
That great for an RC, but how about other designs such as an SCT or CDK type scopes
Funny you should ask. I have a Hotech Advanced SC Collimator and I'll go over that in an upcoming video. The problem with the basic laser collimator is two fold.
1/ Is the laser itself collimated? Put it in a diagonal attached to a bench and shine it on a wall 20-30 feet away. Then rotate the laser in the diagonal. Does it stay on the same point and just twist, or does it form a circle? If it forms a circle it needs to be collimated until it stays at one point.
2/ The simple laser only squares the secondary to the visual back. If the visual back is not square with the primary mirror, it is still out of collimation.
Hotech Collimator squares the primary to the visual back and the secondary, and centers the secondary on the primary. The drawback is that it cost nearly $600 (consider joining forces and buying one for a club rather than individually buying one). The advantage is that once the primary and the visual back are square, it is a simple matter to square up the secondary with a laser and a defocused star.
I collimated my SCT with a simple laser. I couldn't get a decent focus (HFR around 4). I got the Hotech and collimated it properly, then did a star collimation of the secondary and now I am sitting pretty around HFR 2.5.
I'll do a video on the Hotech shortly.
The hotech video is out
@@ShamrockBanksObservatory going to look for this one now!