[sac-forum] Re: On Binoculars and Mounts

Yeah, I am definitely interested in binocular mounts. (Paul, could you forward the photos ?) I may be one of the few folks (in our group) who actually saw Beevo's nice parallelogram bino mount, before he sold it. (He did show it off at a ValleyMetal Home Shop Club meeting.) It was pretty compact, and would fold up nicely. The main features included a longish upright stainless steel support pin, that screwed onto a standard 1/4-20 tripod screw fitting. The paralleogram arms were square aluminum tubing (as I remember). The size and proportions of Beevo's design were well suited for all but the very largest binoculars. Of course it requires a sturdy tripod -- an additional part that could be "manufactured" as part of the project.... So the main features that would require some work, and possible re-design for folks who do not have a complete machine shop (like Beevo) would be the arms and the upright support pin. Perhaps a simpler long bolt or rod or some other arrangement could be designed, to avoid having to machine that long rod for the upright pivot.... Beevo pointed out to me that for smooth operation, it is >very important< to drill the holes for the pivots on the arms very accurately, so that the holes in both arms are exactly the same. Beevo used his Bridgeport milling machine for accuracy, but I think that a simple fixture or jig to hold the arms and make the spacing the same would do, presuming one has a drill press. This is where having access to a well-equipped shop (like Paul's, thank you!) would help, particularly if a group were making a batch of mounts that were all the same. I don't feel that the particular material used (such as square aluminum tubing, vs. aluminum angle, or even hardwood for the arms) would make much difference. The next stage is to get up a set of proposed plans, and then try making a prototype that would be suitable for a group to construct. I have a collection of various design articles I have found on the internet, for additional ideas if anyone is interested. I am working on a design of my own, but I am aiming for a little bigger model, suitable for my Celestron Skymaster 25x100 binos, and possibly in future a pair of 5 inch (120mm) ship's binoculars... but that has turned into a very long-term project (I acquired those about 25 years ago, and have only got them disassembled and cleaned so far....) 
Gene Lucas
(17250)
Paul Lind wrote:
Ok, it sounds like there's interest. I don't believe pictures can be attached here, and I don't have a site for posting them. I'll go ahead and send them to those who responded. Beevo didn't seem to mind sharing them. Basically, his mount is meant to attach to the camera screw on a sturdy camera tripod. The really nice thing is that it folds up really small. Oh, Steve, one thing that doesn't show in the picture is the upper part of the steel pin that screws onto the tripod head. It fits inside the vertical part shown, and I believe it serves as the main support and bearing surface on which the mount rotates. Wait a second and I'll send the pix. 
-Paul


[earlier comments snipped -- GL]

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