250 mm x5mm mild steel discs

[Tinbasherdan]

How do all, I've been asked by my science tutor (long story, returned to college blah blah blah) if I could make some base plates to stop the college telescope sinking into the ground or shifting in any way on soft ground, so I require the following: 3 off 250mm dia mild steel discs, 5mm thick, with 3 off 30mm holes eq spaced on a 210 PCD. Local firms aren't massively keen on doing such a small batch and it has to be cheap as the science department has blown it's brains out money wise buying the telescope in the first place! If anyone could help, that would be a massive bonus for me
Cheers
Dan

 

[DanielW]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mild-Steel-6-0mm-Round-Discs-Fly-Press-Folder-Guillotine-Drill-Milling-Machine-/111786410673?var=410776548062&hash=item1a06fd42b1:m:mPCAgCSV2b2BHNlXLp0CU4g


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/6-0mm-Thi...hash=item5d5095c99d:m:mqZXrAux7Wp5csq4QOpImRg

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Round-Dis...316334?hash=item3d0a177c2e:g:jycAAOSw~bFWL~H-

 

[rikrobson]

wont that be a bit heavy? is the scope portable or fixed. does it move position? I may be easier to make a concrete plinth for it to stand on. or use a sheet of 18mm OSB or PLY to rest it on when viewing. or make a wooden frame to spread the weight.
Aluminum feet would be a lot lighter and more portable than steel. wood would be a lot cheaper.

Don't give him what he asks for or wants, give him what he needs.

 

[DanielW]

A heavy base is whats needed if used outside in very windy conditions anything less and its prone to topple over.

 

[Woody.v8]

What about an actual weight?, Say 10 kg or 25 kg or multiples of whatever?

 

[Tinbasherdan]

The idea is that these pads will be staked into the ground with rebar pins to stop any chance of movement when using it on grass so need a bit of strength behind them

 

[Welderpaul]

Ring a profilers, tell them you want them for samples for a big order, and that you are willing to pay for them, just that you don't want hitting with minimum charges

 

[AndyStobbs]

Buy some solid car brake discs.

 

[Tinbasherdan]

What about an actual weight?, Say 10 kg or 25 kg or multiples of whatever?

The tripod itself has to be weighted, but at the same time it needs to stay completely level once you've set it up as it throws off the gps.

 

[Tinbasherdan]

wont that be a bit heavy? is the scope portable or fixed. does it move position? I may be easier to make a concrete plinth for it to stand on. or use a sheet of 18mm OSB or PLY to rest it on when viewing. or make a wooden frame to spread the weight.
Aluminum feet would be a lot lighter and more portable than steel. wood would be a lot cheaper.

Don't give him what he asks for or wants, give him what he needs.

It's portable but there's some argument going on between the tutor and the department over stability issues, hence wanting what they've cleared! The whole thing is to be carted around in either the college mini bus or my landy atm to get it to site, and the position for the scope is easily accessible by vehicle so weight isn't a giant concern , I'd sooner they didn't buckle the plates pinning them down!

 

[ukracer]

Seems to be Daniel W has it all covered..http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/262162316334?_mwBanner=1

 

[Tinbasherdan]

It seems that way, it's always worth asking if a forum member has anything kicking around tho

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Make the feet from alu, and for the stability get a bag of sand on the end of a rope which can be suspended from the centre of the tripod once set up level.

 

[Paul G]

I thought Bolton was the home of heavy engineering. Every back yard has a 100 ton press and all that.


Can't help myself as we don't do any thicker than 22g down south.

 

[Tinbasherdan]

I thought Bolton was the home of heavy engineering. Every back yard has a 100 ton press and all that.


Can't help myself as we don't do any thicker than 22g down south.

You'd have thought so wouldn't you?! No one wants the work round here unless it's a couple of grands worth.

Make the feet from alu, and for the stability get a bag of sand on the end of a rope which can be suspended from the centre of the tripod once set up level.

we know that will work but the department is a bit on edge about usin it and have passed it off in steel!

 

[Shedendman]

I've got 3 of these in steel

But 10mm thick weigh 6.1 Kgs each
local scrappys had about 50 of these weighed in so i grabbed a dozen
Yours if you want them for a few beer tokens,but how you get them is up to you i'm afraid

 

[slim_boy_fat]

but the department is a bit on edge about usin it

What reason did they give for their reluctance?

 

[Tinbasherdan]

What reason did they give for their reluctance?

They are bean counters not metal workers and steel obviously sounds better than Ali to them

 

[DanielW]

Guys you do not put a £400 camera on a £12 tripod.

 

[Tinbasherdan]

Guys you do not put a £400 camera on a £12 tripod.

Try a £4k telescope!