For anyone who has experience assembling the 2021 model of NexDome.
I have been attempting to assemble the dome for my new NexDome. I have completed assembly of all dome components except the shutters. When I attempted to install the shutter (in the 2021 shutter NexDome CNC machined aluminum tracks), I discovered that the width of my shutter opening varied from 27" up to 29". When I attempt to close and open the shutter, the wheels and wheel struts get bound up on the aluminum tracks and the lateral lip of the shutter rides up on top of the aluminum tracks (see photos).
I have verified with photos with Babak that my dome assembly is correct. He has suggested that the shutter opening width may correct itself when I place the dome on the dome walls. However, the dome is currently sitting on my concrete parking pad with all edges of the dome in contact with the level concrete. I do not believe that sitting the dome on the wheels of the dome walls will in any way cause the shutter opening width to become smaller. In fact, it could become larger because the rotation wheels sit inside the diameter of the dome edge and will remove a small amount of force from the center of the dome that might push the edges of the shutter opening together.
I have loosened all connectors holding the dome panels together. I thought that that might possibly allow the dome panels to relax, allowing the edges of the shutter opening to move closer together. I have also adjusted the integrated shutter wheels to their maximum width. However, neither of those adjustments have had the slightest impact on shutter opening width.
Any suggestions?
I received the plastic shutter tracks today. My shutter now works; although there are still some relatively minor issues that will require some fine-tuning of things.
The plastic shutter tracks come in 4-parts with accompanying necessary hardware.
The plastic tracks are much less complicated than the CNC machined, aluminum tracks. E.g., the T-bolts for the aluminum tracks were a pain to install; and the connectors for the 2-piece aluminum tracks that installed on each side of the shutter were very difficult to put together.
The plastic tracks essentially met the criterium that I believe is crucial for the tracks (aluminum or plastic) to work: the tracks must fit into place with no pushing or effort or clamping required. Also, the plastic tracks have a bit of flexibility that the aluminum tracks don't. But these tracks seemed to have a pretty nearly correct radius of curvature, so the flexibility was not needed.
There are 4 equal sections of track, 2 for each side of the shutter. Each track section has a pre-drilled and countersunk hole on each end. The pre-drilled holes pretty much do not align with any of the pre-drilled holes on the shutter frame. So I had to drill and countersink about 7-holes (one hole aligned with a hole on the shutter frame). You have to countersink the holes so the bolt heads are flush with the inside of the track so the wheel hubs can pass by. CAUTION: The pre-drilled countersunk holes (even if they have a bolt in them) can trap the wheel hubs and stop shutter motion dead.
If you have problems with your wheel hubs catching in the unused, predrilled, countersunk holes at the ends of the track, I implemented a solution that worked for me. I will watch the forum for anyone with issues. I had to innovate with the stop-block also. The intended solution sent by NexDome didn't work so well for me.
I will post some pictures later when I've recovered from the 3+ hours of shutter track/shutter assembly.