Page 2
 

The Roof truss design to support the dome. The lower story has standard 8 foot wall studs. The top story has 6' wall studs. The second story floor is made of 2"x10" floor joists covered with 3/4" plywood. Note the steel door jams.

I started building the dome in the back yard in Phoenix of a friend's home, George Metro. His wife was very patient. About a year later he sold his house and I had to move the dome to my observatory site. The two friends helping me are Bill Loumaster to the left and Tom McGrath. Bill is an expert machinist who made my 12.5" Dall-Kirkham telescope.

 

This shows some of the detail involved in building the frame. To the bottom of the double railed base was attached the 1/4" 6061-T6 aluminum plate. Metal tabs had to be welded at some corners so the aluminum sheeting could be adequately weatherproofed with silicone rubber. Note also that all bolt holes were sleeved to prevent moisture from leaking into the tubing.

This illustrates the aluminum housing that was fabricated for one of the wheels of the roll over shutter.

            Page 2 of  4

        To Continue to Page 3 . . .

                   To go back to   Page 1
                                     or   Home Page