The AstroGazer Instruction ManualV1.923

Transcription

1 The AstroGazer Instruction ManualV1.923 Thank you for your purchase. If you have any questions, please call or JGS Enterprises, LLC or 2/24/2008 1

2 Note: We are no longer using vinyl with the blue lining. Otherwise the photos below accurately depict the parts as shipped. While no tools are required to assemble the AstroGazer a step-ladder or ladder is required in order to reach the apex of the dome. Parts List for Cylinder section of the AstroGazer: Fig. 1 (6) Bracket upright & (12) Upper and Lower ring sections Fig. 2 (5) PVC supports Fig. 3 (1) String with clips and 1 Level Fig. 4 (2) Sections of rectangular material Fig. 5 (18) Bungee Cords Step 1: Assembling cylinder. Take all pieces out of carry bags. You will find 12 curved sections. They are Upper and Lower ring section all ends with quick connect fittings. You will also find 6 Bracket uprights with PVC diagonals attached (Fig. 1). Two of the Bracket uprights have a Velcro like loop material on the surface that will face outwards. These two uprights are also labeled Door/Front & Rear on the roller bracket. The remaining four Bracket uprights have none, so their outer surface is bare metal. The two uprights with the loop must positioned properly so that the vinyl sections can be secured together and the door closed. The upright marked Door / Front will form the left hand portion of the entrance. The Rear upright needs to be positioned directly opposite from the Door/Front upright. When the cylinder portion of the 2/24/2008 2

3 AstroGazer is assembled these 2 uprights will be 180 degrees apart. When the Bracket uprights are in position you will have the following sequence going left to right: Loop (Door/Front) None None Loop (Rear) None - None. (See Fig 5a) Fig 5a BLUE= Door/front RED= Rear Entrance Be sure to position uprights with the top screw facing out of the circle. (Lay all other pieces aside) The uprights have an aluminum leveler on the bottom. Each leveling plate has 2 holes in them for staking the AstroGazer down and approximately 6 of leveling capability (Fig. 6). Lay out the 12 curved sections, 2 at a time end to end, making a rough circle. Place a bracket upright where each of the sections meet. 2/24/2008 3

4 First connect one set of curved pieces with bracket facing up, to form the bottom ring (Fig.7) making sure they are clipped in from the bottom. At the same time, connect the PVC diagonals, attached to the upright by snapping in the quick connect fasteners into the connectors, located nearest the upright, on each ring. (Fig. 8) Continue around and complete the lower ring, before connecting any of the upper ring sections. Repeat this process to form the upper ring. Once both rings are assembled, place the PVC supports (Fig. 10) into the connectors in the middle of each of the ring pieces. Do not put a PVC support in the section that will be used as the door. 2/24/2008 4

5 Step 2: Placing material on cylinder. Layout both sections of the rectangular material (Fig. 4). Select the section with BLACK hook and loop first. Take the end with the grommet, have the shiny, smooth side facing out, placing it over the upper screw post on the upright which will be the left side of the door. The door is formed by the one section of the cylinder that does not have the PVC upright in it. (Fig 9). Continue around placing all the grommets over the screw posts, making your way around towards the rear of the cylinder. It will end at the PVC support opposite the door. Now take the piece with WHITE hook and loop, with the AstroGazer logo facing out, and start at the same upright that you started with when hanging the short section. This is the door side. Secure the grommets starting on the same screw posts that you started with for the other section. Then secure the hook and loop, running vertically down the edge of the material, all the way to the bottom ring. Work your way around the cylinder as you did with the first piece, securing the grommets on the screw posts and ending at the same PVC support. Secure the hook and loop all the way to the bottom as well. Fold the material over the top ring and brackets (Fig. 11). Then tuck material in under the bottom ring around the levelers. 2/24/2008 5

6 Step 3: Securing the Material. Fold back the door, securing it with the extra bungee supplied. Step inside the cylinder and place the adjustable side of the bungee cord into the top grommet and let it hang (Fig 12). Once all are placed, hook the fixed end of the bungee into the bottom grommets (Fig. 13). Then make your way around the inside of the cylinder tightening the bungees as needed, taught is good. Do not over tighten as this will cause excess wear on the material. The bungees are used because temperature changes can make the material expand and contract. Once this is completed, you have successfully formed the cylinder. 2/24/2008 6

7 Parts List for Dome Section: Fig. 18 (10) Dome Ring curved sections including (2) viewing opening piecing holes, and sections cut out for the T connectors* *Identified by drilled Fig. 19 (10) T Connectors Fig. 20 (20) Thumb Screws Fig. 21 (14) Color coded curved sections to form dome w/attached supports Fig. 22 (6) Staking Spikes Fig. 23 (2) Dome Hemisphere Material Fig. 24 (1) Viewing Opening Material Fig. 25 (5) Separate Viewing Opening PVC Supports (2) Viewing Opening Aluminum Supports 2/24/2008 7

8 Step 1: Assembling the Dome Ring If assembling the AstroGazer by yourself, it is recommended that you assemble the dome ring in stages by pre-assembling the ring into 3 sections. The first section should be 4 pieces in length and include one of the view opening sections. The larger section will allow the partially assembled ring to be supported between two rollers and allow a single person to connect the other 2 pre-assembled portions. Start by laying out each section matching the color coded sections together making sure the viewing opening sections (2 smaller sections) are opposite each other. (If you have help assembling, you can connect each piece of the ring together in place, while feeding them through the upright brackets.) Connect each section of the Dome Ring (Fig. 18) with a T Connectors (Fig. 19). Example in Fig. 26. See Fig. 27 for completed Dome Ring on cylinder. 2/24/2008 8

9 Step2: Rounding and Leveling the Cylinder. At this point we recommend that you stake down one bracket upright. This will make the rounding of the AstroGazer easier. Take enclosed string with line level attached (Fig. 3). Place one end over the screw post on one side of cylinder and the other end on the opposite bracket upright on the other side. (Fig. 15). The AstroGazer rotates easier the more circular & level it is. It does not have to be exactly circular or level, but the closer the cylinder is to a circle the easier the dome will turn. Pull the cylinder out to make the string taught. To make sure cylinder is level, check the line level on the string (Fig. 3). If it is not close to level, find the section that is lower and unscrew the leveler to adjust (Fig. 6). Repeat the leveling process with two other pairs of uprights. It is recommended that this leveling is done between at least two pairs of the uprights. Now rotate the dome ring. You should adjust the uprights, moving them towards the center of the circle, or away in order to minimize the force necessary to move the ring. It is recommended that you rotate the dome using the dome ring only. Do not use the upper supports as a handle. Once you have verified that the dome rotates freely, put the remaining (5) stake spikes (Fig. 22) into one of the holes in each of the leveler pads (Fig. 6). The stakes should be driven into the ground from the outside. This will maximize holding strength and prevent those inside the dome from tripping over a stake. If you are in an area with sandy soil, it is recommended that you use 6 spiral stakes, sometimes referred to as dog stakes. They can be attached to each of the uprights by rope or bungee cords. 2/24/2008 9

10 Step 3: Placing Uprights to form Dome The first step in assembling the dome support structure is to locate the 4 pieces that make up the two 90 degree supports. The lower portion of these sections can be identified by the aluminum connector that is permanently attached (This piece should not be confused with the middle section of the view opening support, which has two connectors, one in each end). Before being placed on the dome ring the 90 degree supports need to be assembled by sliding the section with the corresponding color code over the connector and using the thumb screw to secure it (Fig. 28). Place each of 10 color coded sections of pipe on each T Connector. (The color code corresponds with the sections you just assembled.) They will slide down onto the T Connector (Fig. 29). Using a step-ladder, connect the center section of the view opening, these sections have the hook and loop fabric on them, this will form the viewing opening. They also have a plastic fitting at the base of them. This is to keep the material away from the brackets as it rotates. They can be rotated for storage purposes. (Fig. 30) 2/24/

11 Now fasten the quick connect fasteners on the end of each of the hemisphere supports to the view opening sections (Fig.31). Step 4: Placing all PVC Supports With the exception of the Viewing Opening Supports, the PVC supports are connected on one side to the Dome Uprights. Connect each section to corresponding quick connectors on the uprights across from each other. (Fig. 32). After the side supports are connected, clip in the Viewing Opening Supports. (Fig. 25) They can be identified by the red markings on both ends. There will be some tension, but this is good. The tension keeps everything in place and supplies the support needed throughout the structure. Also included are 2 aluminum view opening supports. These supports are the same length as the PVC ones and are identified by the red/blue color coding on both ends. These aluminum supports add additional strength to the dome and must be in place when severe wind / snow storms are expected. 2/24/

12 The AstroGazer is constructed so that during use, only 2 view opening supports need to be installed in the viewing opening, but when not in use, at least the 5 pvc supports should be in place. When in use you may use the 3 rear view opening support positions so that the zenith is clear of any obstructions. At this point the assembly of all the structural support sections of the AstroGazer is complete (Fig. 33) 2/24/

13 Step 5: Putting Material on Dome Putting the material on the dome hemispheres is easiest if you have a helper, but it can be done alone. Partially unfold one dome hemisphere, so that it remains folded in half. (Fig. 23) If alone, place it over the (PVC) top center supports on the side of dome, and then while standing on a ladder in the center of the AstroGazer lift the material into place (Fig. 34). If you have a helper, you can have them hand it to you while you are on the ladder. Line up center seam with the 90 degree upright. Press the hook and loop together attaching it from the top center outward, down both sides of the viewing opening (Fig. 35 & 35a). Repeat for the other side. Then secure tabs around uprights which are located inside on the seams of the hemispheres. 2/24/

14 The final step is to put the View Opening section of material in place. It is stored, rolled up onto two dowels. Find the red mark which indicates the center (Fig. 24) and align it with the sections that make up the 90 degree support. This will place it slightly lower than zenith (Fig. 36). You may then roll both sides down as far as you require. If the AstroGazer is not being used make sure that the cover is rolled down all the way. Congratulations, you have completely assembled the AstroGazer (Fig. 37). Disassembly The easiest way to take your AstroGazer down is in reverse order that you put it up. To reduce the number of times you must move the ladder, take one of the Viewing Opening PVC supports and tap the underside of the other supports to unclip them. (Remember, only one side of the supports is removable. You will still need to unclip the Dome Uprights from their connectors. Storage When not in use the AstroGazer can be stored in the bags provided. These bags have a opening cut the length of the bag to allow easy access to the parts. This opening is secured with hook & loop closure. It is recommended that you place only 3 uprights in each bag, with the levelers towards the end with wheels. 2/24/

15 The parts can then be separated, placing one-half of each part of the AstroGazer in each bag. There is also an outside pouch that can be used to store parts and/or the material. Manufacturing Note: The AstroGazer is hand made by AstroGizmos. All parts are made or assembled in the USA. Therefore there may be some variation of the appearance in some of the vinyl or aluminum used. The most obvious of these variations is seen where the blue skirt seam meets the white hemisphere material. These variations are cosmetic in nature only and do not effect durability or functionality. ANY QUESTIONS??? Please Call or Wind and Rain Instructions The AstroGazer Dome is stronger for its weight and cost than any other portable observatory structure. But it is still a light weight portable structures and as such is not designed to hold in unusually strong wind, or heavy snow. When possible, avoid exposed hilltops and narrow valleys where wind speed increases. Trees and brush between you and the wind help protect your dome. Your dome could be destroyed in extreme weather and your life or safety could be at risk. In heavy snow or wind your dome could collapse, damaging what you have inside or compromising your shelter. Do not rely on your dome as your only shelter. Accumulated snow must be shaken or brushed off. Just as you would not expect to be able to climb up on top of your dome and have it hold you, it will not support much snow. If you plan to use your dome in the snow you will need to knock off the snow periodically. Remember that items stored inside could be damaged by the weight or melting of the snow. Anchoring: Your dome is no stronger than its anchors, so it is important to anchor it securely. Be sure to read your Instruction Manual section on anchoring carefully. If your dome is free from its anchors it can tumble and blow away and possibly collide with and damage people or property. Do not let your dome get away from you, anchor it well. 2/24/