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Barn door tracker built with LEGO parts

Built with LEGO parts

Barn Door Tracker

Materials

Giottos Mini Ball Head Camera Mount MH 1004 - $12.05

Aluminum Tubing Stock #1112 7/32 x .014 - $2.49

Aluminum Tubing Stock #1111 3/16 x 0.14 - $2.49

Stainless Steel 10-32 x 4-1/2" Threaded Rod - $3.49

Basswood Square Dowel 1/8 x 1/8 x 24" - $.99

Basswood Square Dowel 3/16 x 3/16 x 24" - $.99

88-7604 Revell Birch Plywood 1/8 x 4 x 12" - $1.29

General Purpose Slim Taper File 21866N - $3.97

X-ACTO X75300 Precision Razor Saw Set - $10.99

JB Weld KwikWeld Quick-Setting Steel Reinforced Epoxy - $5.69

(4) 10-32 nuts, (1) washer, (1) nylon lock nut, (1) Popsicle stick

(1) 1/4-20 nut for Quick Release

(1) 1/4-20 x 5/8 hex bolt, (2) washers, (1) nut (Camera Mount)

Blue tape, Fine sandpaper, Wood scraps for jigs, Wood glue

Power drill with the following bits: 3/16 (Tubing) 7/32 (Bolt)

Clamp to hold material for drilling, Hacksaw to cut all-thread rod

(1) 1/4-20 socket wrench to fit hex bolt, (1) wrench for nut

Ruler, Electrical tape, Lens wipes, Red cellophane, Clear tape

Camera - check the CHDK for supported cameras (SX260HS)

Tripod with Quick Release, old Samsonite Tripod 1100 - $20

Red flashlight - Gerber 22-80016 Recon (RGBW) - $20

Software

CHDK for supported cameras (RAW format and long exposure)
chdk.wikia.com/wiki/CHDK

Deep Sky Stacker - DSS (for light and dark frame processing)
deepskystacker.free.fr/

Star Walk (Stargazing guide app for mobile)
www.vitotechnology.com/star-walk.html

Sun or Moon Rise and Set Table
https://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/RS_OneYear

Phases of the Moon
https://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/MoonPhases

Optional: EV3 Home Edition Software (for the motorized crank)
www.lego.com/en-us/mindstorms/downloads/software/ddsoftwaredownload/

Optional: Image Composite Editor (convert 360 video to panorama)
www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/project/image-composite-editor/

 

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