Waid Observatory

Shutter Track 01

Shutter Track 02
Shutter Track

I used "pocket door track" and ball bearing pocked door rollers for the shutter door to roll on.  The aluminum door track had to be cut at 1 1/2-inch intervals in order to bend along the contour of the dome.  I used a scroll saw with a metal cutting blade to do this.  I cut arches from 1/4-inch plywood that would extend 1 inch above the dome surface and attached them to the dome shutter opening.  These would act as a splashguard.  I fiberglassed the splashgaurd and the dome section that the tracks would be attached to.  I then attached the door tracks to the dome.  The door tracks extend all the way across the length of the dome.  I used stainless steel screws to attach the track.  

 
Copyright Donald P. Waid