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dob slomo.....
Go for it sammas - I've been thinking of something along these lines for when my Round Table EQ platform arrives: have an HEQ5 for my refractor but thought slomo controls for the 10" dob could make the outfit suitable for some imaging experiments. I could see it starting out as something along the lines you're proposing; to just manually keep objects in view in a more sophisticated way than "push-pulling" the scope around - and then growing/evolving into a motorized auto-guide controlled affair for imaging for the 40min or so duration of an EQ platform! (factoring in set-up etc)
However, I digress (or fantasize completely over the top) but: I did think about the basic idea and considered looking for some material to create large rack and pinion gear bands - the one for altitude would not be as challenging but a large gear band around the revolving dob azimuth base is a challenge.
I wondered whether long nylon strips (if you could get such) similar to that on cable ties could be utilized as the rack gear: in fact it needn't encompass the entire base but just a portion, as long as it could be re-set for when you manually slew do a different section of the sky.
Anyways, I've thrown my 2 bob's worth in - glad you've kick-started this idea sammas - hope some others add their views/ideas!
Cheers, Darryl.
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