Initial ME Mock-up User manual

Initial Instruction ME
Mock-up
Ali Gombas
Dr. Barbara Chaparro
First Steps
WARNINGS!
•Don’t drop items in the
hole in the pier
Pier set up
1. Attach the Velcro to the cart
2. Turn the bags inside out if they are wet
3. Stick the mount screws up through the
bottom of the pier to help with mount
alignment
1
Preliminary instructions
1. Assembling the telescope is a partner effort and requires
COMMUNICATION between both people
2. Do NOT put things in your pockets during assembly
3. Some steps you must know but will not be required to do during
labs

Mount: Set-Up WARNING!
•This operation requires
two people
• DO NOT PUT A HAND
UNDER THE MOUNT
BASE
• YOU SHOULD NOT
NEED TO DO THIS
•Don’t drop items in the
hole in the pier
Lift the mount off the cart
1. Two people are required
2. Each have one hand on the bar across
back and one on the counterweight
shaft
a. Avoid allowing any torque
Place the mount on the pier
•The counterweight on the side that
points toward the dome for 1m
telescope
• Remove screws from the bottom of the
pier plate
2
Mount: Level and Install WARNING!
• YOU SHOULD NOT
NEED TO DO THIS
• Do not overtighten
knobs
• Ensure all screws are
engaged so nothing
moves
3
Level the mount
•Leveler is located in optics box on cart
•Balanced when bubble is in the center of
the circle on the level
•Call over professor/TA if not balanced
•Tighten or loosen levelers to balance
• Return leveler to cart when done
Screw the mount onto the pier
•Hold levelers with one hand
•Install the base attachment screws
through the leveler
•Tighten to hand-tight only; do not
overtighten
WARNING!
• Call over professor
if not level

Counterweight: Install WARNING!
•Two people required
•Always have one hand
on the counterweight
•Do not forget to replace
the plug
Put counterweight on the shaft
1. Remove the plug from the end of the
counterweight shaft
2. Slide on counterweight ¾ of the way
down the shaft
3. Tighten X-screw to hand-tight
Replace the counterweight plug
1. Put the plug on the shaft
2. Tighten to hand-tight
4
WARNING!
•Always have one hand
on the counterweight
•Do not forget to replace
the plug
Tube Placement WARNING!
•Both on one side of cart
to slide off tube
together
Place tube in mounting rings
1. Open mounting rings by unscrewing
knurled knobs
2. Place tube with the eyepiece end
pointing toward the parking lots
behind COAS
•Dew shield is fully extended
•First mounting ring is about an
inch behind the dew shield
Secure tube
1. Rotate tube until the focuser is
perpendicular to the ground
2. Close mounting rings
3. Tighten knurled knobs
4. Double check that knobs are engaged
5
WARNING!
•Do not over tighten
knobs
•Make sure knobs are
engaged

Eyepiece: Set-Up WARNING!
•Check that the focuser
and rotator are tightly
attached to the tube
• Make sure all screws
are engaged so
nothing moves
Check that the adaptor and mirror diagonal is
installed
●If not install the adapter by twisting it in
●Fully retract copper rings in the adaptor
until flush using screw
●Insert mirror diagonal and tighten the
screws so it does not move
Prepare mirror diagonal
1. Remove cover from tube and plug
from eyepiece adaptor
2. Fully retract copper rings until flush
by turning screw to the left
6
Eyepiece: Installation WARNING!
•Do not force the
eyepiece in
•Make sure the adaptor
does not move
Insert the 35mm eyepiece
●Slide the silver end of the eyepiece
into the adaptor
●Make sure eyepiece is easily
accessible
Lock in Eyepiece
●Tighten screw to finger-tight
7
WARNING!
•Make sure the eyepiece
does not move

Focuser Set-Up
Unlock focuser
•Use small chromed lever on the
focuser
• Push towards the objective lens
■This requires some force
Fully extend focuser with the focuser knob
•Use the larger knobs to make large
changes in focus
•Lock the focuser back in place when
fully extended
8
Balancing in Declination: Checking Balance
WARNING!
•Two people required,
one person always
holding the telescope
Disengage the upper Declination balance knob
1. Hold the telescope
2. Rotate Declination knob clockwise
until it disengages
Check the balance of the telescope
1. Hold the telescope horizontal
2. Let go of the telescope, moving hands
a few inches away
3. Note if and how it moves
4. Test multiple angles/positions for any
movement after balanced in one
9a
WARNING!
•DO NOT LET IT TURN
MORE THAN A FEW
DEGREES

Balancing in Declination: NEXT STEPS
If the telescope is balanced,
skip to step 12
If the telescope is unbalanced (moves when
released), continue to step 10, repeating steps
9-11 until the telescope is balanced in
Declination
9b
Balancing in Declination: Which Way to Move the Tube
If the objective lens moves down, move the
tube back in the mounting rings
If the objective lens moves up, move the tube
forward in the mounting rings
10

Balancing in Declination: Balance adjustment
WARNING!
•Make sure all knobs are
fully engaged
•Keep a hold of the
telescope at all times
Re-engage the Declination balance knob
1. Return the telescope to the neutral
position (horizontal)
2. Turn the Declination knob all the way
counterclockwise
Move the telescope
1. Unscrew the knurled knobs on the
mounting rings
2. Adjust telescope as determined in
step 10
3. Close rings and knurled knobs to hand
tight
Repeat steps 9a-10 until balanced
11
WARNING!
•Make sure plate is
locked in place
•Keep a hold of the
telescope at all times
Balancing in Declination: Return to Neutral
WARNING!
•Do not overtighten the
Declination knob
Return the telescope to a neutral position
•Keep a hold of the telescope
•Hold the telescope horizontal
Re-engage the Declination knob
●Turn the knob counterclockwise until
gears are locked
12

Balancing in Right Ascension: Checking Balance
WARNING!
•Two people required,
one person always
holding the telescope
Disengage the lower Right Ascension balance
knob
1. Hold the telescope
2. Rotate Right Ascension knob clockwise
until it disengages
Check the balance of the telescope
1. Rotate the telescope until the
counterweight shaft is horizontal,
parallel to the ground
2. Let go of the telescope, moving hands
a few inches away
3. Note if and how it moves
4. Test multiple angles/positions for any
movement after balanced in one 13a
WARNING!
•DO NOT LET IT TURN
MORE THAN A FEW
DEGREES
Balancing in Right Ascension: NEXT STEPS
If the telescope is balanced
skip to step 16
If the telescope is unbalanced (moves when
released)
Continue to step 14, repeating steps 13a-15
until the telescope is balanced in Right
Ascension
13b

Balancing in Right Ascension: Which Way to Move the Counterweight
If the telescope rotates upward, move the
counterweight higher (inward) on the shaft
If the telescope rotates downward, move the
counterweight lower (outward) on the shaft
14
Balancing in Right Ascension: Balance Adjustment
WARNING!
•Make sure all knobs are
fully engaged so plates
do not move
Re-engage the Right Ascension balance knob
1. Rotate the counterweight shaft to be
horizontal, parallel to the ground
2. Turn the Right Ascension knob all the
way counterclockwise
Adjust the counterweight
1. Hold the counterweight with one hand
while someone holds the telescope
2. Loosen the X-screw and move the
counterweight according to step 14
3. Retighten the X-screw
Repeat steps 13a-15 until balanced
15
WARNING!
•Keep a hold of the
telescope at all times
•Keep one hand on the
counterweight when
moving it

Balancing in Right Ascension: Return to Neutral
WARNING!
•Do not overtighten the
Right Ascension knob
• Do not forget the
declination knob
Return the telescope to a neutral position
•Keep a hold of the telescope
•Hold the telescope horizontal
Re-engage the Right Ascension knob
1. Turn the knob counterclockwise until
it is engaged
2. Turn the knob 1/4th of a clockwise
turn
3. Rock the telescope lightly to make
sure the motor is engaged
4. Repeat 1-3 with Declination knob
16
Cart and Power Strip WARNING!
•Do not start until
finished with telescope
set up
Position the cart
•2 roof tiles away from the pier
•Long axis perpendicular to the line of
piers
Plug in power strip
1. GFCI breaker on the wall is reset
●Green LED indicates that it is reset
1. Plug in strip and test if it comes on
2. Turn off the strip
3. Position on the ground near the pier
base where it is not a tripping hazard
17

Laptop Power WARNING!
•Reinstall the battery if it
has been removed
Plug the laptop power supply into the laptop
●Location depends on laptop
Plug in the laptop power supply
1. Plug the laptop power supply into the
power strip using the 6ft AC extension
cord
2. Place the laptop power supply at the
base of the cart closest to the pier
18
Mount Power WARNING!
•Do not force the
connectors
•Make sure use the
correct connectors
Plug the mount power supply into the power
strip using the 1ft AC cord
•Carefully thread the electrical
connector onto the mount, not tight
•Gently push to engage
•Double check that it is the “48-volt
power in” being used
Plug in mouse
•Use the USB port on the laptop labeled
MOUSE (physical location depends on
laptop)
19

Communication Connection WARNING!
•Do not skip this step
•Secure cables
Communication cable to laptop
1. Plug flat end of 5m USB
communication cable into USB port
labeled MOUNT
Communication cable to mount
1. Plug square end of the cable to the
port on the back of the mount
2. Wrap Velcro strips around pier to
secure cables
●Leave some slack in the cables
20
Joystick and AC Power WARNING!
•There is a locking tab on
the joystick connector
•Complete all previous
tasks in order
Plug in the joystick
•Use the socket labeled joystick
•Pay attention to orientation and
locking tab
• Hang joystick by its loop over one of
the attachment screws
Turn on AC power strip
•Use the toggle switch on the power
strip
•It should light up
21
WARNING!
•Make sure all devices
are off before turning
on power

Mount and Laptop Startup
Turn on mount
•Use the switch on the back-left side of
the mount
•Listen for series of beeps and indicator
lights on the back of the mount
■Beep for DEC and beep for RA
■excessive, repeated beeping
indicates error
Turn on laptop
1. Power up the laptop
2. Login credentials on the left
3. Zoom information on the right
22
Set Date and Time
Check accuracy of date and time
●Located in the bottom right hand corner
●If off by more than a minute, then see
professor/TA
23
WARNING!
•The date and time must
be correct to calibrate
the telescope

“The SkyX” Set Up
WARNING!
•Make sure there is
nothing for the
telescope to hit
Start up “The SkyX”
1. Open by clicking on the desktop icon
2. Click on “start up” dropdown menu
3. Choose “Connect telescope”
•A popup window will ask you to
home the telescope
Home the telescope
1. Make sure the telescope won’t run
into anything/anyone
2. Click “Yes” on the popup window to
home
3. Wait for telescope to finish homing
●Status will say “tracking at
sidereal” when completed
Setup is complete!
24