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The observatory domes from Technical Innovations
are shipped in sections and require assembly at
the final installation location. The general
approach to dome assembly is the same regardless
of size. The two primary considerations
throughout the process are keeping roundness
(within listed circumference tolerances) and
maintaining levelness. This requires stopping
for measurements multiple times throughout
assembly, even when the preassembly service was
provided. Manuals provided by Technical
Innovations take you through the assembly
process step-by-step, and are supplemented with
drawings and photos. By choosing the dome size
category to the left, you will see a series of
photos which are a sampling from the new
assembly CD now provided with the observatory
dome assembly manual. |
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Preassembly -
Technical Innovations offers an optional
preassembly service. Preassembly is much more than
just a "pre-drilling" process. The dome is
completely constructed, with all accessories (except
rectangular and circular skirts), and then put
through a complete series of "working observatory"
tests. When disassembled for crating, as many parts
as possible are left in place and seams are
carefully marked. Walls can be crated in "stacks"
rather than individual ring sections. Preassembly
typically reduces final assembly at the owner site by
more than 50%
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Mounting Dome -
The observatory must be securely
fastened to protect from high winds and bad
weather. Most standalone observatories are
mounted onto concrete pads, but some people
elect to bolt their observatory to a wooden deck
(with an independent pier and pier support
structure). We suggest using concrete anchor
bolts approximately every 15"-18" around the
circumference. The bottom ring of the
observatory has a 3" or 4" mounting flange which
turns to the inside all around the
circumference. Typically a 2" long 3/8 anchor
bolt will be adequate. A large fender washer
should be used inside between the bolt head and
the fiberglass flange. |
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Weather Sealing -
Your observatory will arrive with
several tubes (depending upon size, number of
wall rings etc) of quality clear silicone
weather sealing. Once construction of the
observatory is completed, this silicone should
be applied into the seams where fiberglass
sections are bolted together. The three primary
areas (as displayed in the photo) are where the
dome quadrants meet, where the dome halves are
mounted onto the Dome Support Ring, and where
the wall ring sections are attached to each
other as well as the rings above and below. A
small bead of the silicone should be applied
with a regular caulk gun and can be smoothed to
an even and consistent finish. |
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Moving Dome -
The reason our observatories are classified as
"temporary structures" for zoning/permitting
purposing is that they truly can be un-assembled
and taken to a new location. Often the most
difficult task when taking the dome apart is the
removal of the clear silicone provided for
weather sealing. We advise customers who know
that they will only have the dome at the first
location for a short period of time, to use a strippable
caulk during the initial construction and save
the silicone for after moving the dome to
its permanent location. |
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