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How to Raise AP1600 Height
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Thanks for the tip Chris Keep safe from Covid2 Don Anderson
On Saturday, March 21, 2020, 08:33:37 p.m. MDT, Christopher Erickson <christopher.k.erickson@...> wrote:
I have seen a fair number of Linak re-sellers on eBay. On Sat, Mar 21, 2020, 2:52 PM Don Anderson via Groups.Io <jockey_ca=yahoo.ca@groups.io> wrote:
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Don,
I do not know if Linak sells direct to the general public. Here is a link to their website: https://www.linak-us.com/products/lifting-columns/ The DL2 is the column that I have been using. If you have access to a machine shop that can fabricate top and bottom plates for the columns, the completed lifting column setup can be cheaper than a system from Pier-tech. But if you do not have the resources to fabricate the needed plates, then it is probably best to pay more and get a system from Pier-tech. My next door neighbor runs a small machine shop and another friend is a welder, so I had access to the resources I neede to make a system once I purchased the lifting columns, control box, hand controller and cables. Jack Huerkamp |
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Christopher,
I just checked Ebay and there were several Linak lifting columns and accessories available. The key is getting a system with hand controller, control box, cables and lifting column. Also with dual column systems, they have to be synchronized so they work together, You can do that by running the columns to their lowest position, releasing the down button, and then holding down the down button for a few seconds. The columns will move downward slightly (about 1/16") and return. This is how I was told to synchronize them so that they work together. When the person I sold my original 1000 Newton system to received them, he noted that when fully extended one column was slightly taller than the other. After running the above sequence twice, the columns had reset and worked perfectly as a pair. Yours truly, Jack Huerkamp |
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Thanks Jack
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I have a lathe and drill press and could do some work myself. Will look into this further. Thanks for the link to the Linak site. Will check out their site as well as Ebay. Keep safe Don On Mar 22, 2020, at 8:39 AM, Jack Huerkamp <Mallincamusa@...> wrote:
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Jack
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Which model control box and hand controller do you use? Are they universal to all column models? My rig (127mm refractor AP-900 mount) is not that heavy would likely go with a single column. Not sure which one though. Don On Mar 22, 2020, at 8:48 AM, Jack Huerkamp <Mallincamusa@...> wrote:
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Joe Zeglinski
Jack,
I must admit that I have a bit of trepidation that
the two pillars might become unsynchronized – one passing by the other pillar
height position. Image if it was more than an inch of height difference, causing
a dangerous tilt of the mount and scope, in an uncontrolled “lifter runaway” on
one side's motor. I would attached a cam’’d micro switch to each one, touching
the opposite surface,, each with a (very short) “Boss Bump” for the switch
levers to ride on and open or close the circuit. If one switch lever slips
too far past the other (inner facing) side, it immediately kills the lift power
to both, until reset by the user. This emergency override would be in addition
to any logic in the TWO lifters controller.
That would be a very inexpensive and simple safety
override precaution. But, I would feel more confident with a powerful, single
lift pillar, in such case. Joe Z. |
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Bruce Donzanti
Jack,
Are you thinking of getting something like the PT-3 dual pier column that Pier-tech sells? I know you mentioned Pier-Tech previously but looking for another source as it is expensive. I must say, if you are looking for this design, the one I got from Pier-Tech, albeit expensive, has worked like a charm for almost 2 years now with my AP1100, C11" and now 80mm piggybacked on top. Vito is always available and everything is under warranty. It makes me sleep better at night. Bruce |
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Woody Schlom
Bruce,
Interesting comments regarding Vito. My experience has been the exact opposite (with PT mobile observatory). Once I’d fully paid him, it was mine – along with all its problems. Warranty useless. My club has had much worse experiences with him on two large observatories. We’ve all had to solve our own problems – at our own expense.
Once I had to sick PayPal on him TWICE to get money back I’d paid him – for accessories he never shipped.
Fortunately my single column PT pier has performed flawlessly over 4 years.
Just a warning.
Woody
From: main@ap-gto.groups.io <main@ap-gto.groups.io> On Behalf Of Bruce Donzanti
Jack, |
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Don,
The hand controller for the new higher thrust columns is identical to the one I received for the low thrust units. But the controllers are different. The original lifting columns have a different screw thread pitch and fully extended in about 1.2 the time of the new high thrust columns. Jack Huerkamp |
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Joe,
I had the 1000 Newton thrust column pairs in use for almost 8 years and they never became unsynchronized. When I shipped them to their new owner in New Jersey, he tested them like I did with the new ones. The two columns were sitting on the floor and when he raided them to their maximum extension, one column was about 1mm taller than the other. After he ran the initialization routine, both columns were the same height. As far as lifter runaway, the 1000 Newton columns take 25 seconds to full extend the 500mm (19.7"). The 2500 Newton columns take 50 seconds to full extend the same amount. I doubt of your safety override mechanism would be needed, but if desired, it could be added to the system. Yours truly, Jack Huerkamp |
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Worsel
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