|
After looking around on Internet, I desided that it should be possible to make my own equatorial mounting for my new telescope ( 15 cm, F = 180 cm) Oké, it won't be easy, but I'm sure that it is possible. The basic materials I want to use, are MDF wood (18 and 22 mm), aluminium, teflon, messing and RVS. The idea (the design) is based on the Paramount GT-1100 ME from Software Bisque. After gathering a lot of information, pictures, sketches and so on, I was able to make some calculations and drawings, so the building could start. I have planned to use the great software "SCOPE" from Mel Bartels. Maybe autoguiding with a webcam, I'm not sure yet. Offcourse steppermotors will be used, also for focussing. All the cables will go inside the mounting, the axes are hollow (5 cm diameter), so big bearings are used.
|
||
|
 |
 |
My improvised setup, to test the bearings. |
Looking from another side | My basement isn't high enough ! |
|
|
 |
 |
| The hinges for the adjustment of the height | Messing 6 mm as thread for the drive, gear = 1 : 780 |
The adjustment for the height. Some parts are missing in this picture, like the fine adjustment. |
|
|
|
|
| Doesn't it look great ? It's big..... I think I'm giving it the same colour as the Paramount has: red. |
The fine adjustment for finding the exact North, not ready yet. | |
| The counterweight made from bronze will be made on my lathe. At the moment I'm working on the electronics, based on using bipolar steppermotors. Still a lot of work to do, but it is fun, and it gives me allready a great feeling that I'm building it myself. Offcoarse, the original GT 1000 ME has more possibilitys and will be more accurate, but hey, it is also very,very expensive ! My head target will be the observation of the sun, and I've planned to use my MEADE telescope as a prominence telescope. |
||
| If I only had more time............................. |
||
Equatorial
mount
