Author Archives: james

Robert Brown Focuser Controller build, step by step #2

Posted on June 8, 2020 by james

The first parts have arrived: a pair of NEMA17 stepper motors with 27:1 reduction gearboxes.

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Robert Brown Focuser Controller build, step by step #1

Posted on June 8, 2020 by james

I’ve done a bit of reading and messing about with GIMP and this is what I think I plan to build: I believe I understand pretty much all of the circuit now. The resistor network to the left of the … Continue reading →

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Darkstar restoration, part 3

Posted on June 8, 2020 by james

Whilst sorting out a holesaw to enlarge the focuser port I made a decision regarding which focuser I was going to use and then set to with FreeCAD to design a new mounting plate for it. I’d measured the outside … Continue reading →

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Darkstar restoration, part 2

Posted on June 8, 2020 by james

The new world in which we find ourselves has brought other priorities to the fore over the last few months, but now things seem to be settling down a little, at least for a while, it’s time to get back … Continue reading →

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Darkstar 12″ f/6 dobsonian telescope restoration

Posted on February 26, 2020 by james

As I posted previously I am now the keeper of a 12″ f/6 Darkstar dob that’s in need of a reasonable amount of work to get it usable again. Having left it to loom over the power tools in the … Continue reading →

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Swimming, 25th February 2020

Posted on February 26, 2020 by james

Yet again work interferes with my swimming and I didn’t get to go yesterday. I didn’t sleep particularly well last night either, so wasn’t sure what to expect today. Unfortunately it was rather disappointing and I struggled through the entire … Continue reading →

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New (to me) Darkstar telescope in need of TLC

Posted on February 25, 2020 by james

Over the weekend I went to collect this monster from someone who had been given it “in need of some repair work”, but was struggling to find the time to do it. The consensus seems to be that it’s a … Continue reading →

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Swimming, 21st February 2020

Posted on February 25, 2020 by james

Another attempt at the same set, but today I really was feeling quite tired. Nonetheless, I managed to get to fourteen reps before my one failure on the 50m part of my set and followed that with twelve 25m reps … Continue reading →

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Swimming, 20th February 2020

Posted on February 25, 2020 by james

Work interfered earlier this week so I didn’t get to swim on Tuesday. I didn’t get a great night’s sleep so today felt as though it was going to be a bit of a struggle, but actually on the 50m … Continue reading →

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Good Omens Easter Egg

Posted on February 20, 2020 by james

My son and I have been watching the BBC screening of “Good Omens” recently and greatly enjoying it. There are some very nice little touches such as the nuclear power station press officer being someone impersonating Terry Pratchett (I assume … Continue reading →

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