EQ6 Upgrade Kit for GOTO Operation

Kit contains: Motor assemblies for RA and DEC Housing Plate, matt black to match mount Microstep Drive box with CCD interface Intelligent Handset, Database, with 3m lead Handbook, screws and Fitting instructions Easy installation by the User KIT FROM £850.00 inc VAT for UK and EUROPE (+post) [Advanced options available at extra cost].

This kit allows operation of the EQ6 up to 1.8 deg/sec for fast slewing. The original Motor assemblies are replaced by our microstepping motor assemblies (64 per step), offering considerably improved torque and smoothness in operation. Adjustable acceleration / deceleration to cater for large telescope inertia. GOTO features on the handset include telescope co-ordinate readout (RA and DEC), entry of new co-ordinates, backlash correction, periodic error calibration, etc. Autoguiding through the Drivebox. The capabilities are far in excess of the original equipment manufacturer. The kit is supplied with an on-board database so computer connection is optional but connects with standard planetarium programmes offering SYNC, GOTO etc. Motors, brackets, gears etc have been designed and selected by ourselves to get a quality system that will last. It is substantial enough to withstand (mis)use and the major components can be transferred to your next mount. The metalwork is laser cut out of 6mm Aluminium for robustness and accuracy. The motor assemblies are available separately as is a Polar Illumination kit.

The other specifications, features, capabilities and connectivity of the Intelligent Handset and the Microstep Drive Box is given fully or shortform. For further information contact Alan Buckman tel 01304 365918.

EQ6 MOUNT IMPROVEMENTS

We have refurbished several earlier mounts by fitting of Gerlinger gear set and our own modifications to improve the tracking ability of this heavy duty mount. Maximum payload we suggest less than 20kg - the large casting at the heart of the system is rather soft diecast material. The early examples have been plagued by average periodic error and small jumps when it should be following a star quite smoothly. The upgrades we would reccommend are

• Replacement of slow motion shaft and worm by a steel component. The brass of the original manufacture can wear badly with the heavy loads usually added to the mount. The gear tooth size (modulus) is small making a precision adjustment essential.
• Thrust washers. The slow motion axles are in roller bearings which are not designed for sideways thrust. There must be no endfloat in these shafts (sideways movement) as it adds in to the backlash amount. To get the required tightness the sideways force needs to be contained by washers acting directly on the centre of the roller bearuings (and hence on the shaft) rather than through the ball bearings. So we have a component at each end of the shaft. The bright plated locking ring can now be adjusted to within a few degrees of rotation to get the correct setting. Once in place it is superglued into position. Have a look at a drawing AWR have done showing the slow motion axis and the thrust washer in situ. We can supply a pair of thrust washers and a pair of bearings (NSK or SKF) to do the RA slow motion axle which is the important one
• There is some evidence that replacing the roller bearings in the RA slow motion axis can reduce the unexplained jumps. This could also extend to the main axle roller and taper bearings.
• Illumination for the polarscope. How can you see the crosshairs without shining a torch into the top? You need one of these. It is a LED operating at very low current and a connector onto the circuit board, alternatively out to a connector and a battery box. The later versions of telescope are fitted with an illuminator.