Packing the Dobson in the Silver Box

• So that the Dobson is protected and cushioned, the big silver box for the instrument must be packed correctly. (No “peanut” type packing material!)

• The box must be filled completely so vibration and shifting is minimized.

• The top piece of hard foam must be in place to give stiffness to the box.

• The boxes have been in use for about seven years and are showing wear and tear. Some of the packing material has “evaporated.” Some improvisation may be necessary.

What goes into the box:

• Dobson….

• Sun director

• Encoder and plate with the hold-down bolt. (Semi-auto Dobson only)

• Counter for Encoder (Semi-auto Dobson only)

• Standard lamps and holder with cable

• Microammeter

• R-dial

• power cord (put the power cord inside one of the large holes in the lower casing of the Dobson).

Removing the Encoder (Semi-Automated only)

The encoder connects to the R-dial through a bellows connector (loosen it/them), and to the Dobson lid through a ¼-20 bolt (remove it). The three big screws are leveling screws – do not loosen these screws (unless the encoder zero/scan is a problem).

Leveling

Screws

Hold Down Bolt

R-Dial

Encoder

Encoder Plate

Access to Setscrew(s)

Cap Screw

s

Preparing the Dobson – after removing encoder, and R-dial.

Rods in all the way!

Q-levers in the down position Tape the R-dial shaft so it

will not move

Power Cord goes here

Thermometer remains in the instrument.

These end pieces support the instrument on the soft foam cradle. Leave these and the back lower piece in place.

The Coffin awaits…

Dobson in the box

R-dial shaft taped, and the R-dial thumbscrew mounted

Instrument’s back towards the foam spacer

Tape on hole for Encoder plate hold-down bolt.

Thermometer in instrument – protect the projecting

piece.

Ground Quartz Plate and Inlet window cover in place.

Packing the sub director – wrap in plastic and then in two inch soft foam.

Fully Packed with accessories and filler so that the space is filled completely. The level is just so that when the top piece of foam is in place, and lid closed, there is a slight compression.

Sun-Director

R-dial taped to top of instrument , upside-down

Hard Foam Spacer between “nose” and crate wall. IMPORTANT

Top foam in place – It’s designed to fit one way. Look for the slanted left side, right side goes in first, and the left side falls in to place. There are “sockets” on the

underside for the Dobson bits that stick up.