Planetarium Star Projectors

[m2b]

Wow, you guys really know this machine!!!

We suffer from the disease "planetariumidus", much like the good folks on this site suffer from "laseridus". I will admit that I know nothing about lasers and have received a lot of great information and help on this site. Now I personally love planetariums and am happy to help anyone inflicted with this disease, but it is great to also be able to give something back on this fine forum. I am finding that there is a kind of "cosmic connection" between lasers shows and planetarium programs, a connection I would love to see come back.

The A3P is a fine machine and if treated well would probably last another 100 years or longer. We will do all in our power to get your machine running to your satisfaction and enjoyment.

[m2b]

Wow, thank you for taking the time to write such a detailed guide for disassembling the projector!
I have a date set for collecting it now, I'm going to take a day off work next Friday the 15:th, wish me luck!

I am reading the thread over on OC now, great pics!

EDIT: the other thread you are refering to, is it this one?
http://www.observatorycentral.com/in...showtopic=1625

Sorry I missed this. That thread shows the lens used on the 20 watt arc bulb. I have found that the lens is very useful with any type of lamp as it acts like an extreme wide angle lens making the light source appear smaller and thus the pin hole projected stars as finer dots and more star like.

[m2b]

Best of luck !! This A3P was from Brigham Young University Idaho which was disassembled and re-assembled. A few of these pictures show the analog control modules in the control cabinet, look for these and grab them if they are still sitting around. The photo that shows the colors reversed indicate the ropes that I use to position the machine while I am attaching the back half and starball to the core when there is nobody to help me do it.

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Good grief...a picture of me, I show up everywhere I can find planetariums.

[SpitzSTP]

Good grief...a picture of me, I show up everywhere I can find planetariums.

Ah yes, indeed. Do they have a 12-step program for this yet?

[SpitzSTP]

Ooops, this is the correct picture examining the treasure liberated from a planetarium outside of Chicago.

[m2b]

Ooops, this is the correct picture examining the treasure liberated from a planetarium outside of Chicago.

I guess I was blue/green with envy.

[SpitzSTP]

Work continues on the AVI Omniscan to get everything ported off the old Dell PC, vintage year 2000 / Win95 before this old system bites the dust. I hope I can pull this off.. on the top shelf of the cart is a new ISA/PCI passive backplane in a rackmount chassis. The Omniscan came with a QM32 card mounted in the Dell, but all of the software is on the (very old) hard drive. I did not get the original Pangolin CD's. I did manage to copy off all of the AVI utilities for effects wheels, eyelid control, diagnostics, etc which were simple .EXE files so those can just be ported over, I hope. The idea here is to get the Omniscan working just like it was in the Science Center to prove its base functionality before spending any more money which I currently don't have any of, anyway and to get off this old Dell PC before its too late.

[dar303]

Do you think that the A3P will fit inside a van that is L2.50 * W1.65 * H1.55 meters (8.2 * 5.4 * 5 feet) if taken apart as m2b describes or should I try to get a bigger vehicle?

[SpitzSTP]

Yes, the dimensions for this van as mentioned should be big enough provided that the instrument is taken apart as m2b describes. The largest components of an A3P are the console (which you said you are not getting) and the wooden pedestal atop which the machine sits. The dimensions of the pedestal vary from installation to installation and were custom manufactured by Spitz to match the dome size and spring line height. The largest pedestal I have seen is about 5 feet tall and about 4 feet wide at the top, with a negative taper towards the bottom at about 3 to 3.5 feet. Given the dimensions of your van, it sounds like it will all fit although be sure to bring some packing materials - you will want to protect the star ball which is thin sheet brass and prone to denting. I always wrap them in bubble wrap and put them in a box all by itself, surrounded by stryrofoam peanuts. Be careful to disengage the worm drive gears on the central core by loosening the screws to allow for free movement during transport. It will be a good idea to have at least one person help you move the core, as they are difficult for one person to manage. Hopefully m2b will jump in to confirm these details, and adjust anything I have said. Please let us know if we can further assist, I am so glad to hear this machine will be saved from an uncertain fate. Many have already been destroyed and they stopped making them a long time ago. It would not be a bad idea to get a vehicle that is even larger than what you anticipate, just in case. Also, if the cables are still laying around, be sure to get those as well. They are grey multiconductor and very expensive to replace. Be careful with the planet cage (the back part of the machine), it needs to be in a box by itself and never lift it in such a way as to place stress on the delicate wire cage. These are prone to buckle under stress and if it breaks, it is next to impossible to fix or replace.

[dar303]

Thanks! I feel quite prepared now and will assemble my toolboxes and get packing materials.