Lunar Anomaly Dovetail

Moving to the literal next level of the Calculation Module, we start with the lunar anomaly whipple-tree system. This adds the various lunar anomalies mechanically, and features a prominent dovetail slider supporting the links. This is actually the first dovetail I’ve ever made, and it has been on my list for quite a while. One of the difficulties with making dovetails is a true bilateral dovetail can’t directly be measured as it approaches dimension, and it is easy to overshoot and end up with too much slop. For this design I split the base into two pieces, which allows the dovetail and the base to be machined separately and then clamped together and match machined on one face. The separate base piece (with the four bolt heads) is multi-functional:

• It has a stiff lower half, held with four bolts to the primary base

• It has a thin section that serves as a flexure to the top half, which includes a set screw. When the set screw is tightened, the part flexes about the thin section and pushes the top half inward, applying pressure on the dovetail.

• It has a tall vertical section with a guide hole for the lunar equation of center rod, which completely unrelated to the dovetail

All in all, some very fun parts to make!