[AnakChan (Sean)]

After 2 years from prototype to final production, I received my SS-One Traveler mount that leverages on harmonic drives rather than traditional stepper motors, etc.

The maker, SS-One is pretty much a one-man show who makes rather unique Astro products - usually modifying mounts, replacing standard controllers with his Raspberry Pi controllers, small autoguider cameras, etc.

In the current trend of Harmonic Drives (HD), he created this somewhat more affordable mount than the Korean HobyM Crux and RainbowAstro RST mounts. There’s another Japanese maker, K-Astec who’s making a Harmonic Drive mount but that’s more for solar.

Back to the SS-One Traveler HD mount, it’s approx 3.11kg and if he’s stuck to the same specs as his prototype, it should be using the Oriental Motor PKP262FD15AW-H100 HD. It’s capable of holding the the FSQ-85ED which is what I’ll be using it primarily with, but it will need a counterweight for better stability.

Whilst currently his AutoGuider Pro controller is external, the long term plan is that he’ll have a Raspberry Pi controller internal to the Traveler (in his blog, he stated he’ll swap with external AutoGuider Pro when the internal controller is ready in Autumn/Winter ‘19).

What’s nice about this is (like the Vixen Starbook Ten with Advanced Unit module), it’s a all-in-one that’ll take in the autoguider camera cable. Therefore, overall fewer components dangling around.

I’ve not even powered it on yet but hope to take it for a spin this weekend if weather is good.