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Post by ChrisV on Mar 11, 2018 0:58:07 GMT
In another thread mentioned that I got an EQ5 mount and was modding it to GOTO using stepper motors and the onstep system by Howard Dutton. Finally got it together (except for stepper housing and connectors on the motors). So gave it a test run last night. Its a bit low spec the steppers and gear ratios I used gives a resolution of only 0.5 arcsec. But good goto speed (4.9 deg/sec). I'm waiting for some more gears to improve this. The goto accuracy was great. And with the stepper mode I'm using it makes no sound at all during GOTOs - which is a bit scary after my coffee grinder celestron mount Here's a pic of the setup. And some live sharpcap stacking I did on my 80mm refractor with ASI174MM - no darks/flats/guiding so excuse the dust bunnies. These are about 3min of 10-20sec subs - a bit quick and dirty. But just wanted to check the mount/GOTO can cope with a scope and produce reasonably stable images
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Post by davy on Mar 11, 2018 9:51:18 GMT
Looking great mate
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Post by howie1 on Mar 12, 2018 0:03:42 GMT
Great job Chris.
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Post by Dragon Man on Mar 12, 2018 4:53:56 GMT
Well done Chris. Belt drives are so much better than gear drives.
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Post by ChrisV on Mar 12, 2018 5:34:22 GMT
I'm actually quite blown away how good the belt drive is.
The sound = none, but that's also because I'm using steppers (and a TMC2130 driver that also makes them pretty silent) And it seems to give really nice tracking - but I'll try and test out a bit more tonight (hopefully). Gonna whack my ASI071 onto it !!!
If all it works out well I might even modify my CGEM mount to steppers and a belt drive
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Post by ChrisV on Mar 19, 2018 0:53:25 GMT
Quick Centaurus A with ASI071 on same refractor to show that its tracking nicely - full FOV of 31x15sec subs (stacked in sharpcap) and zoom to shows stars nice and round.
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Post by howie1 on Mar 19, 2018 2:42:13 GMT
Very nice round stars ... top shot and top job Chris! New income stream for you mate ... sell it as a kit.
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Post by Dragon Man on Mar 19, 2018 5:41:12 GMT
Nice detail!!!
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Post by ChrisV on Mar 19, 2018 12:39:22 GMT
It was fun. But I wouldn't want to make a production line out of it
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