Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter Ward
Chinese mounts will remind you time and again why they didn't cost that much.
Brands like Losmandy, Takahishi and Astro-Physics don't cost the $ simply because of some weird status or branding. They are simply built to much higher tolerances, and, work well....for years....
It's like comparing a Hyuandai to a BMW M5....why be shocked when the beemer leaves you in its wake?
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Can't agree with that at all, Peter. Although my first EQ6 was a dog. The exchange one was, as you would say a chinese mount. Maybe I have some advantage as my background is engineering and I am not a bad handyman, even if I say so myself, but I would put my present EQ6 up against any of your Losmandys etc. for smoothness and steadyness of operation.
Your weakest part on any of your modern EQ mounts is the point where your scope is attached to the EQ head, dovetail and tube rings .
Precision machining and high quality bearings do very little, accept increase the manufactures bank balance, to the smooth running of the EQ mount. Smooth running, average tolerance, is only required in RA.
To make my point. My EQ6 carries about 45kg total weight. 250mm F6 newtonian, in cardboard forma tube, plus 80mm guidescope and counterweights for DEC. and RA.
By offsetting one counterweight in RA by 6mm, with locks undone, the scope will slowly swing around the RA axis. Much less required to do the same thing in DEC.
To achieve that I took the mount appart, totally. Cleaned, removed burrs, casting sand etc. Used good quality grease, reassembled and adjusted parts as they should be. Surprised with the machining tolerances, more than adequate, even the bearings. We are not running at 1000RPM.
Didn't use the standard tube rings. Made myself a wooden saddle, like a cradle. Tube is sitting on 2 radiuses, lined with carpet, 400mm apart, held down with 2 straps. Dove tail is bolted to the bottom of the cradle. Vibration reduced by at least 60%.
EQ head is pier mounted, on a concrete block, which makes it more than twice as solid as tripod mounted.
My setup for DSI is as good as any other, except GOto, although my home made setting circles are more then adequate to locate most objects in the night sky, costing more than twice that much.
With a bit of thought and knowledge even a, as you say "chinese mount", can take award winning astronomical images with the right camera and experienced hands.