Post by katodog on Feb 25, 2007 14:20:35 GMT -6
WEEEEE!!! Let's spend more money!!!!!
Well, my new JMI cases came Friday. The refractor case is heavy even when it's empty. JMI is right when they say you can stand on the case. I wouldn't suggest it, but I let my daughter jump up and down on it and it didn't budge. I figured I'd give it a try, but everything has some limit to what torture it can endure, so I decided to stay off. The case is built pretty tough, and it looks like it can take a beating. Not that I'll be giving it one. I bounced it of a door frame at work (oops), so it has it's first official ding. Metal door frame, plastic case, hmmm, who's gonna win that one? A tiny sliver a plastic got shaved off, but that's probably only the first of many bumps and bruises the case will get. It seems like it will take it pretty good though.
The ota fit in really nice, but I did have to cut a piece of foam out to accomodate the focus motor, which I knew I'd have to do anyway. I cut a channel between two of th ecutouts and the focus motor controller fits perfect in there, and the cable won't get smashed. The ota fits in great, and it goes in with the finder attached. The only issue was that the handle I made won't allow the cradle to fit in the position it's in when the tube is balanced, so I have to move the cradle up the tube to drop the ota in. But I guess that's not too big of a problem considering I re-balance everything anyway every time I use the equipment.
The mount case is pretty heavy duty. It's made a bit thicker walled than the ota case. The mount fits in great, but I would have made the foam in a way that you could just take the mount off the tripod and drop it in. The way it is now, you have to rotate the DEC axis down. Once again, no big deal. The mount is cushioned really nice, and doesn't move at all when the case is closed. And yes, I did shake the heck out of it to see. The straps that hold the counterweight shaft and controller are elastic, and already are getting stretched out a bit. I'm going to take the straps out and put in some double sided velcro. Not that anyone would steal the case, and if they did, it wouldn't be hard to get into it, but I would have made a place to add a padlock to the case.
The counterweight caddy was probably not necessary, but I think it is a great idea considering the only other thing I would do is let them roll around the back of the van. You don't realize how heavy the weights are until they're all bundled together. Good thing I'm strong (I think)
All in all, I am pretty pleased with the cases. Except for the fact that now I'm forced to keep the equipment in the cases in the garage. I can't use the "I don't have any storage" excuse with the boss. No more leaving them assembled in the living room. The other good thing is no more huge cardboard boxes cramping the garage.
Well, my new JMI cases came Friday. The refractor case is heavy even when it's empty. JMI is right when they say you can stand on the case. I wouldn't suggest it, but I let my daughter jump up and down on it and it didn't budge. I figured I'd give it a try, but everything has some limit to what torture it can endure, so I decided to stay off. The case is built pretty tough, and it looks like it can take a beating. Not that I'll be giving it one. I bounced it of a door frame at work (oops), so it has it's first official ding. Metal door frame, plastic case, hmmm, who's gonna win that one? A tiny sliver a plastic got shaved off, but that's probably only the first of many bumps and bruises the case will get. It seems like it will take it pretty good though.
The ota fit in really nice, but I did have to cut a piece of foam out to accomodate the focus motor, which I knew I'd have to do anyway. I cut a channel between two of th ecutouts and the focus motor controller fits perfect in there, and the cable won't get smashed. The ota fits in great, and it goes in with the finder attached. The only issue was that the handle I made won't allow the cradle to fit in the position it's in when the tube is balanced, so I have to move the cradle up the tube to drop the ota in. But I guess that's not too big of a problem considering I re-balance everything anyway every time I use the equipment.
The mount case is pretty heavy duty. It's made a bit thicker walled than the ota case. The mount fits in great, but I would have made the foam in a way that you could just take the mount off the tripod and drop it in. The way it is now, you have to rotate the DEC axis down. Once again, no big deal. The mount is cushioned really nice, and doesn't move at all when the case is closed. And yes, I did shake the heck out of it to see. The straps that hold the counterweight shaft and controller are elastic, and already are getting stretched out a bit. I'm going to take the straps out and put in some double sided velcro. Not that anyone would steal the case, and if they did, it wouldn't be hard to get into it, but I would have made a place to add a padlock to the case.
The counterweight caddy was probably not necessary, but I think it is a great idea considering the only other thing I would do is let them roll around the back of the van. You don't realize how heavy the weights are until they're all bundled together. Good thing I'm strong (I think)
All in all, I am pretty pleased with the cases. Except for the fact that now I'm forced to keep the equipment in the cases in the garage. I can't use the "I don't have any storage" excuse with the boss. No more leaving them assembled in the living room. The other good thing is no more huge cardboard boxes cramping the garage.