Pier Construction
Pier Bolts
Pier Bolts and Template
The pier is aluminium and is bolted onto a concrete plinth. Embedded into the plinth are four threaded studs, each approximately 50cm long. At the bottom of each stud a slot was ground out and a small piece of rebar fixed into the slot with JB Weld. The studs were bolted onto a wooden template to ensure the correct spacing when embedded into the concrete.
Concrete Pier Plinth
Concrete Plinth
A hole approximately 45cm square by 60cm deep was dug for the pier plinth. Pieces of rebar were fixed into the hole.
After mixing 16 bags of ballast, some cement and water the pier plinth was formed. Shuttering was used to make the plinth stand approximately 30cm above the ground level so that pier base would be a similar height to the observatory floor.
The plinth is aligned to be parallel with the observatory walls, and the studs are in a north-south direction.
After mixing 16 bags of ballast, some cement and water the pier plinth was formed. Shuttering was used to make the plinth stand approximately 30cm above the ground level so that pier base would be a similar height to the observatory floor.
The plinth is aligned to be parallel with the observatory walls, and the studs are in a north-south direction.
Completed Plinth
Completed Plinth
The concrete was allowed to go off for a few days, then the shuttering and bolt template were removed.
The pier and mount were temporarily installed to see how it all looked.
The pier and mount were temporarily installed to see how it all looked.