Post by Ron Walker on Apr 19, 2022 19:00:34 GMT -7
Posted by: Ron Walker Sep 1 2013, 05:34 PM
As I've said before, without Mr. Brent I would not have half the planetarium equipment that I have, especially the really (IMHO) good stuff. Not only can he find the good stuff but he finds it at a price I can actually afford.
Now I must admit that I really didn't need a different orrery projector, I was actually very happy with the Spitz unit that I have (and I was actually happy with the A3P projector that I had rebuilt) but it's hard to say no to better things. Anyway, I couldn't say no to this Conic Projection Orrery, it's a weakness I guess.
So what is a projection orrery you may ask. Basically it is a projector that shows the planets orbiting the Sun from a point far out in space directly above or below the ecliptic. Usually projected are the Sun, Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. One can immediately grasp the idea of orbits and orbital speed from this type of display.
Now, what makes the Conic different and special compared to the others?
First (and I know it shouldn't matter) it just looks impressive. The only other unit that I have ever seen even pictures of that looked as impressive were the Zeiss and the hand built one at the Morrison planetarium. There is just something about gears rather then rubber "O" rings that says accuracy.
There is a cover for the bottom of the unit that hides and protects the motors and drives which is removed in this picture as I am working on the wiring. As with most everything that I get, a different manufacturer has made the control unit and only part of it made the journey. A new control system will be made and integrated into my new control panel. The manufacturer must also like the look of fine machinery as the central gear box is protected by clear Plexiglas so that the inner workings are easily viewed.
It looks like they got their gears from the same place that Minolta did as they are a quarter of an inch thick and will probably last forever. With gearing like this, one wonders exactly what the accuracy is.
Looking at the bottom one can see two motors.
The one on the right is a very typical Bodine DC drive motor which via a timing belt runs the complex gear train. But what about the one on the left...more on this later.
As I've said before, without Mr. Brent I would not have half the planetarium equipment that I have, especially the really (IMHO) good stuff. Not only can he find the good stuff but he finds it at a price I can actually afford.
Now I must admit that I really didn't need a different orrery projector, I was actually very happy with the Spitz unit that I have (and I was actually happy with the A3P projector that I had rebuilt) but it's hard to say no to better things. Anyway, I couldn't say no to this Conic Projection Orrery, it's a weakness I guess.
So what is a projection orrery you may ask. Basically it is a projector that shows the planets orbiting the Sun from a point far out in space directly above or below the ecliptic. Usually projected are the Sun, Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. One can immediately grasp the idea of orbits and orbital speed from this type of display.
Now, what makes the Conic different and special compared to the others?
First (and I know it shouldn't matter) it just looks impressive. The only other unit that I have ever seen even pictures of that looked as impressive were the Zeiss and the hand built one at the Morrison planetarium. There is just something about gears rather then rubber "O" rings that says accuracy.
There is a cover for the bottom of the unit that hides and protects the motors and drives which is removed in this picture as I am working on the wiring. As with most everything that I get, a different manufacturer has made the control unit and only part of it made the journey. A new control system will be made and integrated into my new control panel. The manufacturer must also like the look of fine machinery as the central gear box is protected by clear Plexiglas so that the inner workings are easily viewed.
It looks like they got their gears from the same place that Minolta did as they are a quarter of an inch thick and will probably last forever. With gearing like this, one wonders exactly what the accuracy is.
Looking at the bottom one can see two motors.
The one on the right is a very typical Bodine DC drive motor which via a timing belt runs the complex gear train. But what about the one on the left...more on this later.
