SUPER TUNE THE PLANET KILLER
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- Опубліковано 31 бер 2021
- Do you own a Maksutov 180mm telescope, NOW IT'S TIME TO SUPER-TUNE and UNLEASH THE POWER!!!
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So please everyone show your support to MP ASTRO and subscribe onto my channel, if you want to see real authentic reviews and modifications that do work and have been tested out by myself.
ua-cam.com/channels/t5E.html...
The links to the products are here:
However if you find these modifications to daunting for you or too much of a challenge, than there is alternative for a mild modification but it will not replace the poor dovetail unit.
so check this part:
www.365astronomy.com/mount-ac...
For the viewers who are brave GO FOR IT!! UNLEASH THE POWER OF THE MIGHTY MAK!!
Skywatcher 180mm Maksutov:
www.rothervalleyoptics.co.uk/...
ORION OPTICS Mak 180 scope rings:
www.orionoptics.co.uk/ACCESSO...
CONTACT DETAILS TO ORION OPTICS:
www.orionoptics.co.uk/contact...
GEOPTIK ARTIFICIAL STAR from RVO:
www.rothervalleyoptics.co.uk/...
FLOCKING MATERIAL:
www.firstlightoptics.com/misc...
LOSMANDY DOVETAIL:
www.altairastro.com/altair-tm... - Наука та технологія
If I may add two tips:
1) add flocking to the inside of the main baffle (the focus tube you referred to). It’s a much more likely place for light to reflect off of and actually make it into the eyepiece.
2) after installing the backplate (with the primary mirror), it ia a good idea to put a piece of paper over the front end (where the meniscuslens goes), markt the center, and then use a laser (collimator) in the visual back to make sure the backplate with primary mirror is installed squarely.
Having the backplate rally square to the tube and the center aligned with the center of the meniscus is really important for optical performance.
Martin Pylott You deserve a medal Your advice has helped so many in this community You are a legend. Martin thank you from my heart!
Wow, thanks!! I must admit I don't get very much apprieication on my channel, with the amount of hard work I put into my channel. Though my content might be too long for some viewers, put my content is REAL and the TRUTH!!
These companies that make these big and expensive makustov telescope should offer a flocking option. Everybody has to be a DIY guy ... whether they can or not. These manufacturers still think flat black paint is "good enough".
Anyway....good video!
Totally agree, now you can see my point. It makes me so mad that manufacturers want to make a product so cheaply, and to a maximise as much profit. Even well branded scopes are made from same place of factory nor matter what brand, just re-badged, and prices pumped up for extra measure. Annoying indeed!!
Flocking hell, Martin, you're a brave man taking that apart!!! Great video, extremely informative, thank you! Clear Skies m8
Thanks 👍 Go for it Bro, and be brave!!
@@MPAstro I recall watching another YT video where the guy was taking off his corrector plate from his 11" SCT - it was like watching a WW2 bomb being defused.
Right after I watched your video, I went looking for those scope rings. I got super lucky and found a pair just like yours on EBay for a pretty good price, and here in the USA. They should be here in a couple of days. I have an Orion 180 Mak.
Good stuff These will defo be much better than the Orignal Skywatcher vixen dovetail fixed onto the main tube, plus you will able to balance the scope properly
You did a fantastic job with that flocking. I've done that kind of stuff on non-telescope applications, and it's not easy. I'm hoping to buy a used one of these scopes with the 1.25" visual back this weekend... They don't come up for sale very often.
Thanks for such a great tutorial. I've not actually purchased the mak 180 yet, but am going to be soon hopefully. This video will be very useful. It's definitely worth spending more to improve it.
Have fun!
Yes! One of my favorite scopes by one of my favorite channels. Can’t wait.
Right on!
Love the channel, you are definitely different when it comes to astronomy channels on UA-cam with the telescope DIY. I have the 127 Mak, had no idea you could get 180 Mak's, what a beast!!
Wow, thank you! Yes the 180 Mak is defo a beast, though Skywatcher should make a 200mm to 250mm model, Now that would be very exicting indeed!!
Great video very informative , thanks for posting
well done! thank you for the flocking tip dear!
Glad it was helpful!
You are an expert, Martin. You did very nice modification of 180 MCT, great job!!
Thank you very much!
Thanks for the video. very interesting upgrade. I also upgrade mine too with a zwo eaf .
Nice 👍 And the EAF will be a dream for auto-focusing as well especially when Narrowband imaging
@@MPAstro if you like I can send you instructions on how I did it. just need a private mail to send you instructions and pictures.
Excellent video, I watched it through entire length ! Martin, please can you calibrate your audio level, as I had to turn the volume on the ads to 1, and your video was at a higher volume of about 20 on my TV ! Can get deafening so I had to quickly scrambe to turn volume down about 10 times or more (too many advert interruptions). Do you have some imaging results from your supertune Mak180? I want to see Jupiter, Saturn, Mars and Uranus/Neptune and the Moon ! Thanks
Sorry about that!! I have noted this and I will try re-edit my mistakes on my next video!!
Very inspiring video..
There is a super black paint you can get now rather than that pain in the reticle flocking application
Got my MAK 180 last week. Have to wait 2 to 3 months for acessories. Flocking seems tempting, and adding new tube rings .. Not sure about the collimating risk ???? I am building a permanent observatory site so I postponed my interests in an 8 " or a 9.25" EDGE SCT or a RASA... Want to develop my imaging skills, imaging processing with my other telescopes further.. next winter..
Great video Martin! Many thanks! One question please. Flocking the Mak 180 like this, doesn't it significantly increase the cooling time (which is already high)? I'm sure that the thermal resistance of the flocking is higher than aluminium. Have you noticed something in that sense? Thanks in advance
Very good point David, I think it does effect it slightly, however I have a new plan up sleeves!! This solve the case!! Just need more skies to record.
Hi Martin! Thanks for the video. Will collimation be needed if you only move the front disk?
If your careful, you could get away with it?? You never know
Very interesting Martin tossing up between a 9.25" SCT or one of these. The flocking really made a difference though it does not look easy. Excellent presentation you could use a lapel microphone perhaps to improve the audio my only complaint.
Right on!! Point taken on the Lapel Microphone, something I need to invest, especially I have new neighbours with 4 kids running about. So a serious point you addressed which I need to save up on!!
Great vid I have ordered the flocking from FLO I have the 180 Just ordered it the first one turned up broken but was sorted out in a week!
FLO offer really good service, so far they have been good retailer and they they keep track on the stock levels on their website.
Hi Steve. Did you have the chance to flock your Mak? How was it?
Hi @@MrDserranogil. Yes, I followed Martins instructions but did it in 3 sections as it was easier, which makes an improvement! Also bought the electronic focuser, just awaiting the gears and belt. @Martin Pyotts tips are fantastic!
Safe to clean the inside by simply removing the front glass? I think I have some mild inside.
Nice video good information
So nice of you with good feedback Darren.
15 yrs ago I threw myself into an Intes Maksutov MN 78 . Loved its sights on moon and planets, but it demanded a very sturdy german mount, which I couldnt afford - and therefor used it on a dobsonian mount.
Later I went to a 16" dobsonian. Now, passing 60, I finally downsized to an 8" dobsonian on an EQ-platform, - which I didnt know about when still having the MN 78. Would have made a nice and affordable combo: MN 78 on dobsionian mount driven by an EQ-platform (esp. if it were a dual-axis Osypowski EQ-platform).
Such an awesome Russian telescope the MN 78 is!! Yet thanks for sharing your past experience with the Maksutov,
A scope which is so under estimated and the performance is unreal. There not many of these MN 78 around and so they are very rare to find indeed!!
@@MPAstro Hello, Martin - thanks for noticing my little comment. I just watched your video -great job again! Happy Easter.
Thanks for watching, and I wish you clear skies over the Easter Holiday Fingers crossed the weather plays ball!
I am awaiting delivery of Skymax 150 and one thing I am certain I will not be doing is taking it apart. 😁 I am going to make some use of it before I eventually start improving it. Where is your baseball cap Martin 😁
Thanks for watching ravnica1, Lol I used to be in a FB group called A4B, but I no longer support that group anymore due to some people I didn't get on with, so I moved on and went solo!!! Hence why I don't wear the baseball cap any more!!!
H!! I ve a skymax 180 too what size if the rings please 👍😉
Which of the two Mak150 F/12 or Mak180 F/15 would be better for general use, daytime, or DSO without a focal reducer ? Is the Mak180 with F/15 designed only for planets or very bright stars ?
Hi Gunnar, I think Mak150 is better for general use, as this is fastest F Ratio telescope at F12, though it is still slow, but Focal Reducer will still needed for DSOs!! Both telescopes are great for planets and double stars, However the Mak 180 is the trick pony as it offers the biggest aperture to reveal planets in awesome detail.
Do you think any SCT can beat the Mak180 for planetary imaging ? Even with bigger apertures like 9.25 or 11 inch ?
Scts are great telecopes for planets, though the larger secondary mirror will reduce the sharpness of the images making planets look more softer. The Maks have smaller obstuctions of around 22%, and so planets are almost as sharp compared to an APO Refractor perfomance. However Scts offer the larger aperture to reveal much finer detail, so I would recomend Scts of 11inch upto 14 inch is where you will really get the better jump up for the best planetary performance. The Mak 180 will beat the 9.25 inch by it's sharpness by a mile off, even though the 9.25inch has more aperture. Bare in mind that these Scts demand a very heavy duty mount, and so the bear minimum mount would be NEQ-6 mount for the 11 inch and a EQ-8 mount for the 14inch SCT. With the Mak 180 you can get away with just an HEQ-5 mount, or at a push I have mounted my Mak 180 on a EQ-5 mount, but it's fine for planetary imaging not suitable for long exposure DSO imaging. To be honest I wish Skywatcher would launch a 10 inch and 12 inch Mak as these will beat any 14" Sct in planetary performance, due to their smaller obstructions the planets will look much sharper, and the best thing about Maks you do not need to collimate them, compared to a Sct where you will have to collimate everytime you use them especially when travelling to a remote dark sky site.
I am sure flocking makes a difference. I have done my 130PDS and 72ED and the reduction of internal reflections on long exposures from bright stars is consideable. I just haven't had the guts to do my Skymax 127 yet
Your Right Clive!!! I agree if you don't have an Artificial star or tools to adjust the primary mirror, your completely correct in your decision. Good policy is always!!! "If it ain't broke, don't FIX IT!!"
Clive. I've been inside my 127 Celestron Mak to clean as i left the diagonal out too long and dust got in. I was able to gently clean the primary, and it didn't effect the collimation. Just make sure you take your time, and have everything you need to hand.
please make a video for the collimation of mak 150/180 thanks man!!!
Thank you for the input, something I defo look into, the only problem is I need at least 70m to get the Mak 180 brought to focus with an Artificial Star. The process is exactly the same has my Mak 127. I have done a video on the collimation of my Mak 127, it's quite old but you may need to scroll down my channel to find it.
Thanks. I am considering in getting an 8 inch EDGE or a 9.25 EDGE for deep sky when I can afford it. I dont plan on getting a 11 inch EDGE... So, I would not be wasting my money if I got a MAK 180 for planets in the meantime ? I have two mounts HEQ5 and EQ6-R pro. I have been struggling to get my 8 inch Newtonian F/4 800mm collimated. with or without a 2x barlow.....in nasty minus 20 degree conditions in Iceland...Hope my Newtonian will deliver. My other telescope is a WO Z81 refractor..One problem with getting an EDGE SCT today is that it is impossible to get the 0.7 reducer at FLO, sold out. So one would have to use them at F/10 for the year 2030 . So, thus even a Mak150 F/12 seems even a better option ?
The Mak 150 is pretty compact too and so both mounts you have will be OK, Have you ever considered the Hyperstar system, the Edge telescopes can be converted to ultra-fast F2 focal ratio, if you want ultimate speed this will be the best route to take, even though it's expensive, you'll get the wow detail on DSOs in no time, sometimes saving up is only option. Here is typical system for an 8" Edge telescope. www.firstlightoptics.com/starizona/starizona-hyperstar-8-v4.html
The older scope does not really have 180mm mirror. The new version had updated true 180mm primary mirror so says skywatcher.
Thanks for the video, quite helpful.
As I just received my Skymax 180, I will delay any optimisations like these (at least until the warranty expires) - and until I get a bigger mount than my HEQ5, which accepts only Vixen rails.
If I get a better mount (looking at an EQ6-R), then I'll go for the rings and flocking upgrades.
Another possibility is to get the Celestron 180 Mak, which has a Losmandy rail from the factory, but it's rather hard to locate in European markets (and more pricier than the Skywatcher version)
The scope rings will vastly improve on the stability on the main tube, much better than the awful Skywatcher vixen dovetail, many times I've had close calls, that the vixen was not secured properly on the ADM clamping system, and could have fallen off the mount. I know that scope rings and Losmandy dovetail are expensive, but they well worth every to secure your investment. Someone tried to place scope rings with the original vixen dovetail in place, without removing optical elements, but it did not work out for him in the end, caused more balance issues and added a lot more weight then necessary. Believe me when I make these videos, I make sure do these properly, I'm sorry to some viewers that you simply cannot cut corners when your investment is at risk!! Do it right in the first place and you'll never need to do it again!! For yourself Nick you going in the right direction and you will soon see the results!! The video is there to help you, and you will be able to achieve it!! My videos are long but you cannot condense this type of valuable info, but thank you for watching Nick and please show your support by giving a thumbs up ion the video!! I'll keep posted for more adventures on the Mak 180.
At least Celestron have got it right with the Losmandy, However there are hard to find in the UK. The Skywatcher and Orion are the ones that seem to be available for the UK.
@@MPAstro having a Losmandy dovetail restricts the mounts which can use the telescope, though. Because I own a HEQ5 mount (bought used), I even had to replace the Losmandy dovetail on my C9.25 with the standard Vixen dovetail (for now).
If I upgrade to an EQ6-R or similar mount, I will move to upgrade to Losmandy dovetails.
I have a mixed view of between the Vixen and Losmandy, Yes they do one job to clamp and secure the telescope tube on to the mount. I find Losmandy has much better clamping than the vixen and is more suited for bigger optical tubes. Anything with a vixen is ideal for smaller optical tubes of around 100mm for Refractors and 6" Newtonians which is the max I think for a vixen dovetail. Unbelievable that a older HEQ-5 uses only a Vixen Dovetail clamping system, considering it's second best from the NEQ-6 flagship, you would think that that the HEQ-5 comes at least a dual clamping system?? The newer ones (with the green RA & DEC axis setting circles) now come with a dual mount saddle clamping system, which considering this mount is proven time after time as a good all rounder and performance budget mount for many years and been very trustworthy mount for Astrophotography, It's taken Skywatcher 10 years to sort this out??
Do you think this Mak 180 is worth the money if I already have a GSO 200/1000 Newtonian?
Not really to be honest the 200/1000 is great for planet viewing, The Mak 180 has the advantage of sharper images than a Newtonian, unless you want to go serious on planetary imaging and high power close-ups, the Mak is best suited but no telescope will show you more unless it's mounted on a good Equatorial mount
Martin, may I ask where you got the drivebelt and pulley wheels from and their sizes? I want to do the same mod on mine.
Hi Andy got the plans from another Subscriber, at the moment I have been looking at the plans carefully, and there is no sizes or dimensions which I find it difficult to figure out. This mod is not for the average user neither and it requires someone with Mechanical Engineering experience and it's a destructive modification onto the mount. So even though I have the plans, the links aren't great neither and I'll have to carefully plan what is needed and will take some considerable time, At moment my budget is zero and I'll to save more cash before I even attempt this mod, already £35 is priced on the pulleys for the motors, so not a cheap mod I'm afraid to say?? I'll keep posted Andy, but there is no rush to get it done, and you know me, I never put out video just for views, I put videos which are the truth and they must be tested out before I launch the video, so I know that they work and so many of my viewers can undertake this project with confidence.
@@MPAstro Hi mate, I just meant the teo pulleys that go on the ota focuser and the focus motor, plus the belt for the motor to adjust the ota focus, seems pretty straightforward to me, perhaps you thought I ma=eant something else? Andy.
Andy please comment on the right video for the given subject in question to avoid confusion, I do get a lot of comments, apologies in advanced but it can be difficult at times for me to chase up!! Lol
Best thing I did was flock my tubes.
C8 and my other refractors.
8” F/9 ach
6” F/15 ach
6” F/5
and my 10X50mm finder as well as blacking the lens edges on the 50mm lens.
I will provide a link to flock I got here in
the USA.
Thanks Kelly for sharing your input in this!! Totally agree 100% Flocking works and you can see the results straight away!!
Hello,
I want to buy thé rings... But what is thé good dimensions ??
225mm perhaps ?
Check description
I wasn't impressed how the dovetail was attached to the 180 they are tiny screws so I modded my scope drilled bigger holes and used bigger bolts. I also modded The Dovetail to connect to my mount with far sturdy bolts. ordered the flocking from FLO I will be doing that upgrade. shame we can't post piccy on this as I could show a few cheap simple upgrades
Totally agree the dovetail is very poor, and still Skywatcher continue to make Mak 180mm with that horrible dovetail, the only thing they have changed is the colour of the Dovetail. Considering that a brand new Mak 180mm costing almost a grand, they should be mounting these on a Losmandy dovetail by now!!
@@MPAstro I so love your advise if ollow it to the letter!
Thứ mà bạn dán vào bên trong lòng ống kính nó là gì vậy, nó là chất gì, xin hãy cho tôi thông tin về miếng dán của bạn
Please can you make a reference of time of the recording of the video, so that I can find out what you mean, it's been 3 years ago since I made this video Many thanks!!
I wish the scope was white.
Have you noticed any improvement with the scope's performance with the flocking? Has the flocking pealed away from the sides at all? I watched this video on super black paint. I'd have to guess that it would be better than flocking... ua-cam.com/video/4PSaGS5i1Yw/v-deo.html And I finally own a 180 Mak! It's got the 1.25 visual back, but I'm thinking that the light cone is so darn small by the time it gets back to the eyepiece, a 2" visual back isn't any benefit other than for attaching 2" equipment. Jason
Yes I have, and the performance as made much better in contrast, and that paint video I've watched looks impressive, the only thing that sort of put me off was that guy shining the light the painted dummy head melted!! Crikey I don't like to use this paint if does that to the plastic head!!
@@MPAstro Just a note on that "super black paint". That video was for "Black 3.0". I read some Amazon reviews for "Black 2.0" and the purchasers were fairly disappointed with 2.0. I'm now guessing that this "Black X.0" is just a sales gimmic... So everyone should be carful before buying any of that stuff... I thought it was an awesome idea when I first saw that video.
@@jasonmcintosh2632 Not to worry the idea was there, but it's better to stick with flocking on the safe side
You might find it difficult to get a tube finished with Vantablack, however there is an older product called Nextel, we used to use it to paint the inside of black body cavities. It is over £100/litre, but 3-4sqm per litre so would do a few tubes. It is a bit of a specialist job to spray as it is more like a suspension of particles than a paint as such. You can also get spray on flocking, it is used for dashboards on kit cars so it should be simple enough to find someone to do that.
Flocking scopes would cost manufacturers buttons to do at the factory, that they don't should be a big clue that it doesn't do anything. Even the most expensive telescopes costing 10's of thousands do not use it. Your video like many others is also missing any kind of scientific evidence that contrast is actually increased.
The limited baffles that come with the scope are already effective at removing stray light.
I disagree, the baffles don't work effectively on this scope, because there isn't any?? Flock or not to flock!! that is the question???
There is nothing wrong with that dovetail for a 15 lb scope. I can't believe anyone would disassemble a factory-aligned (with sophisticated equipment) Maksutov to change out the dovetail plate. They have these people called "engineers" who know what they are doing! If you want, you could put a permanent Losmandy overlay on the Vixen bar. This sort of video makes my toes curl up in horror.
It is really not compilcated to do if your careful, and there is no point of adding an Losmandy adapter plate to clamp over the vixen dovetail, which will make no real difference in making the set-up more secure.This scope should be designed with a Losmandy dovetail in the first place due to its sheer weight, Yet Skywatcher have continued to have not done anything about it. And yes I have studied Mechanical Engineering and I have over 26 years of Mechanical Experience on Equipment care working with variety of Military and Civil Engineering equipment so yeah I pretty know my stuff. However thank you for watching this video and I agree that this supertune it's not for everyone to master and I wouldn't expect some people to undertake it if they have no mechanical Engineering experience and rightly so. However a few can and had benefited from this video.