Maier ITF - first failure?!

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Merlin66
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Maier ITF - first failure?!

Post by Merlin66 »

I, like many others, have replace failed Coronado ITF filters with the Maier ITF.
Over the years I've been very happy and impressed by the Maier performance.
Well, this morning I was presented with my first Maier failure......
The central 40% is "burnt out" - not easily visible from the bright front surface but very noticeable when inspecting the rear of the filter.....

(This is a "H-alpha ITF Blocker -ITF0143# 1")

Has anyone else experienced failure of these ITF???????


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Re: Maier ITF - first failure?!

Post by GUS »

That's interesting Ken, any pictures?


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Re: Maier ITF - first failure?!

Post by Merlin66 »

A couple of quick images.
First the rear surface against a bright background.....
Rear surface
Rear surface
Maier_failure1.JPG (241.96 KiB) Viewed 5788 times
The front surface....difficult to see the failure.
Front surface
Front surface
Maier_failure2.JPG (234.48 KiB) Viewed 5788 times


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Re: Maier ITF - first failure?!

Post by GUS »

Looks like the Beloptik might be a better option, hard coatings on KG3 and RG630, cost a bit more, and the whole filter diameter is utilised, you don't need the O ring.


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Re: Maier ITF - first failure?!

Post by Merlin66 »

My money would be on a Baader 35nm Ha CCD filter at the front of the blocking filter diagonal.

(No O ring was used in this fitment.....)


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Re: Maier ITF - first failure?!

Post by GUS »

I tried the Maier originally, but replaced it with the Beloptik ITF for one BF and a Baader 35nm plus a Beloptik KG3 with IR/UV cut for the other.


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Re: Maier ITF - first failure?!

Post by Merlin66 »

You don't need any secondary filters with the Baader.....it gives good cut-off as is.
(I've used the UV/IR KG3 filter on it's own as an ITF......OK but I prefer the Baader solution.)

Just interested... why did you replace the Maier ITF??


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Re: Maier ITF - first failure?!

Post by GUS »

I use my Coronado BF's with my Lunt scopes. The Maier filter had too much background glow, plus the O ring wouldn't fit which left an exposed bit of filter around the circumfrence. In comparison, the Beloptik filter image looked a lot cleaner without too much glow. Interesting about the Baader, I remember seeing a thread on here regarding the Baader not being sufficient as a stand alone ITF for visual. I know with the Lunt ERF which is RG610 that I can use the KG3 without the Baader.


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Re: Maier ITF - first failure?!

Post by marktownley »

I guess laminated filters are always going to fail sadly :(


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Re: Maier ITF - first failure?!

Post by Merlin66 »

Gus,
I don't believe there are any safety issues using the Baader 35nm filter as an ITF.
I use the the "big brother" D-ERF version on my PST Mod.......


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Re: Maier ITF - first failure?!

Post by Valery »

Merlin66 wrote: Tue Apr 03, 2018 10:29 pm Gus,
I don't believe there are any safety issues using the Baader 35nm filter as an ITF.
I use the the "big brother" D-ERF version on my PST Mod.......
According to my experience the KG3 is essential. 35nm Baader alone as an ITF is not enough.


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Re: Maier ITF - first failure?!

Post by Merlin66 »

Valery,
What exactly have you found that the KG3 gives that the Baader doesn't?
As tested with the spectrograph, there should be no issue.


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Re: Maier ITF - first failure?!

Post by DavidG »

Both of my Maiers filters are still perfectly clear and my two are the first two he made.

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