*
10.30
34F outside, 36F inside. The sun has finally reached the dome. Imaging? I'd
better give it a try. Or not. It quickly clouded over from the west. So
much for the sunny forecast. The optics are dewed over but responded to
the hair drier. No real point in continuing with all this cloud masking
the sun.
I
did find some rectangular aluminium box tubing for the rail struts.
I'll cut back enough of the section to leave a tab on each end. Which
can be drilled and bent to provide the fixing point. The struts will be
roughly 35cm long. If I clamp the channel to the zenith board there will
be no need for end resistance. I do not want to drill the channel anywhere near the center. To avoid weakening it. Nor drill down through
the top of the dome in case of leakage. Any rainwater drips would be
right over the equipment below.
The second, top bogie is now fitted to the other shutter. Removing the drawer slide was an hour long nightmare! Getting at the screws on the inside of the top board was very difficult even with a torch and mirror. The incredible retaining power of such tiny Torx screws was unbelievable. 4.5x20mm.
Thanks goodness the lower drawer slide broke while the dome was still on the ground! Giving me a vital warning of their vulnerability. It has been a marathon to replace them with skate wheels but it is well worth it. The shutters are too flexible to allow the much greater precision demanded of drawer slides.
Hopefully the twin, channel tracks will
solve this issue. There is enough freedom for the wheels to take their
own path within the channels. Without worrying about diagonal tension. The skate wheels roll effortlessly compared with the drawer slides. Which should mean that the shutters should move as one. Rather than the top or bottom lagging behind.
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