Orion's answer on optics pinch in ED80

This would suggest that:
1. The problem is not widespread.
or
2. People are using this scope for imaging or
widefield deepsky observing.
or
3. They have not had the scope out in cold weather enough to
notice it.

However, since the lenses and cells are made the same way, I expect
this to crop up more than it has to this point.

One person had the cell milled out 6/1000 and this noticeably
minimized the problem. This would indicate the tightness of the
cell is the problem.

Since it's warrantied, I'm going to test mine a bit more before
sending it back. Or I might just have the cell milled out since
anything they send would have the same dimensions as what I'm now
using.

From Orion:

Thanks for the email to Orion. I've not heard of a pinched optics
problem
with the ED-80 so, regrettably, I have no immediate suggestions for
you.
This is the type of thing that should be covered under warranty. We
would,
however, require that it come back to us for warranty evaluation. If
it was
purchased from us directly we would of course have the proof of
purchase.
If it was purchased from one of our Authorized Dealers then a copy of
the
sales slip would be required. Let us know if we can be of further
assistance.

Clear Skies,

Orion Technical Support

"RichA" wrote in message
...
This would suggest that:
1. The problem is not widespread.

Rich,

Where are you finding these pinched optics reports?

Ed T.

"Ed T" wrote in message
k.net...

"RichA" wrote in message
...
This would suggest that:
1. The problem is not widespread.

Rich,

Where are you finding these pinched optics reports?

Rich is the optics equivalent of a racist. He hates little refractors that
cost more per inch than other scope designs (and the people who make them).
With that, he doesn't need accuracy in his posts about the optics or the
people who make them --- just wording that stirs things up.

Hmm, that sounds like something that rhymes with droll...

Clear Skies

Chuck Taylor
Do you observe the moon?
Try http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lunar-observing/
And the Lunar Picture of the Day http://www.lpod.org/
************************************


Ed T.

On Thu, 18 Nov 2004 10:41:12 -0800, "CLT" not@thisaddress wrote:

"Ed T" wrote in message
nk.net...

"RichA" wrote in message
...
This would suggest that:
1. The problem is not widespread.

Rich,

Where are you finding these pinched optics reports?

Rich is the optics equivalent of a racist. He hates little refractors that
cost more per inch than other scope designs (and the people who make them).
With that, he doesn't need accuracy in his posts about the optics or the
people who make them --- just wording that stirs things up.

Hmm, that sounds like something that rhymes with droll...

Clear Skies

I already cited that there were only two reports, one from me and one
from another person. I gave the source for the other report.
Idiot.
-Rich

Chuck Taylor
Do you observe the moon?
Try http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lunar-observing/
And the Lunar Picture of the Day http://www.lpod.org/
************************************


Ed T.

RichA wrote in message . ..
On Thu, 18 Nov 2004 10:41:12 -0800, "CLT" not@thisaddress wrote:

Where are you finding these pinched optics reports?

I already cited that there were only two reports, one from me and one
from another person.

Only just picked up this thread. I have seen this distortion once too
- on a very cold night when I was using my Orion 80ED as a "quick
look" scope. With a 3-6mm Nagler zoom on the 6mm setting, I noticed
that the airy disk on brighter stars didn't look entirely round - but
not so out of shape that I could see exactly what new shape it had
taken on (variations in seeing prevented that mainly). I did get a
sense that there was some kind of 3-lobed abberration in there though
and worried that I'd misaligned things when the scope took a small
tumble the day before.

I've since "promoted" the 80ED to permanently mounted guide scope in
the obsevatory and a recent star test showed a perfect diffraction
pattern - even though temperatures were similarly low (actually -
probably colder). Quite a relief that the scope is OK (and testament
to the 80ED having some degree of ruggedness :-)

So I saw it once, but the problem seems to have disappeared. Why?
What's new?Well I've now got a heater tape wrapped around the lens
cell which I didn't have when using it in "quick look" mode.

So IF there is a problem here - this seems a simple, pragmatic
solution.

Cheers
Beats

Sounds more like a cooldown problem. If the cell were too tight for cold
nights, you would have seen the same result on other cold nights.

Clear Skies

Chuck Taylor
Do you observe the moon?
Try http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lunar-observing/
And the Lunar Picture of the Day http://www.lpod.org/
************************************

Only just picked up this thread. I have seen this distortion once too
- on a very cold night when I was using my Orion 80ED as a "quick
look" scope. With a 3-6mm Nagler zoom on the 6mm setting, I noticed
that the airy disk on brighter stars didn't look entirely round - but
not so out of shape that I could see exactly what new shape it had
taken on (variations in seeing prevented that mainly). I did get a
sense that there was some kind of 3-lobed abberration in there though
and worried that I'd misaligned things when the scope took a small
tumble the day before.

I've since "promoted" the 80ED to permanently mounted guide scope in
the obsevatory and a recent star test showed a perfect diffraction
pattern - even though temperatures were similarly low (actually -
probably colder). Quite a relief that the scope is OK (and testament
to the 80ED having some degree of ruggedness :-)

So I saw it once, but the problem seems to have disappeared. Why?
What's new?Well I've now got a heater tape wrapped around the lens
cell which I didn't have when using it in "quick look" mode.

So IF there is a problem here - this seems a simple, pragmatic
solution.

Cheers
Beats