Quote:
Originally Posted by glend
Greg the PMX specs suggest 90lbs (or 40.90 kg) as the payload but make no distinction between visual and imaging payloads - which some mount manufacturers do specify. If you use 2/3 rds as imaging capacity that would take you down to 27kg, or 31kg at 3/4 capacity. So are the PMX numbers always listed as the imaging capacity?
Are you looking to reduce that load or your happy with it as is? What makes the dew shield so heavy, is it metal and an accessory to the OTA? I'd think you could get rid of at least 2kg on the front by going to a foam type dew shield. I use a piece of black marine carpet as my dew shield and it probably weighs less than 0.5kg for sure. Weight reduction is good for most scopes if it pushs you away from mount imaging limits.
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I just realised there were 2 other heavy parts, a 16 inch dovetail plate and a inch Losmandy one. So that makes it over 42.3kgs.
The PMX is doing pretty but this explains why I am having everything to be perfect and there is no leeway. So I think that 40kg figure is the absolute max and that I am overloaded. I get round stars when everything is perfect.
I plan to upgrade the mount as you mention 2/3rd capacity is probably a good approach. The Honders is a very solid scope which is great for F3.8 but its heavy.
Anyone interested in a perfect PMX that is freshly regreased and a perfect PEMPRo PEC curved entered into it? I've had it about 3 years and it got the replacement worm which is around 1 to 1.4 arc second after PEC.
The best guiding I have ever achieved was with this mount with an AP140 and FLI Proline and MMOAG STi guiding. Also with a TEC180 both fairly large and heavy scopes and imaging trains but not as heavy as the Honders. Plus all the software - TPoint, Camera add on, Sky X Pro serious, Precision PE (I prefer Pempro though and the PEMPRO curve is already loaded into the mount).
http://www.pbase.com/gregbradley/image/159562180
Greg.