Steve, great stuff. Loving it. You've got my creative mind ticking.!
Bit of a rant here, sorry
, but I need to voice my opinion of a certain industry.
I've got to the point of frustration, in searching for somewhat of a Worm Setup.
I have tirelessly looked on the web and around Melbourne for someone who has knowledge of a good setup.
Tried everything from a commerical sense to a hobby sense of gears.
Tried a few local bearing joints, gave up on that one. Only 1 place had sort of what I wanted, but I knew cost was the problem.
Many many hobby shops, no good.
Tried a mob up in QLD that sells hobby stuff, they have the best worm gear setup, I've came across, but the problem is, none of their distributors here in Vic, stocks any of their parts. They have basic pictures of what it would look like, but not spending $$ until I can see what it's going to do. I have to order it first (to see it), just to hope that it will do what I want it to do.
I wanted to keep costs (as you do) low, but it's the functionality of the setup, is what counts.
I haven't tried a proper gear supplier yet (ronson), as I know cost would be into oblivion, last resort.
So, in my midst, my thoughts are Australian industries don't cater for us Astronomers. Because, we are (in their eyes) a minority. That frustrates me. I had this feeling 20 odd years ago, but thought 2009 would have produced better results.
It's getting to the point, like your self Steve, to make your own.
Or the alternative, is the wife is organising a trip back to the USA (her home), and I know I could probably find 6 suppliers of this type of setup, in NY, all of which have stock and a better price than we can do in Aus.
That's sad. Probably 4 of them closed by now due to the global slowdown...figures. But I know what I want, I know someone makes it, but it's finding that person.
It's very frustrating to talk to a person in the know, who basically says "not a chance mate, you wont get that low" and they look at you stupid as if you are trying to re-invent the wheel. It's not like I'm asking for 10,000:1, just what ever I can get, which looks like 360 teeth.
I'm even up for making it myself, but the process with a lathe, is a little beyond me. (Haven't used a lathe for a very long time)
This is the website and concept I have thought about, but would this gear be suitable enough for tracking?
http://www.smallparts.com.au/store/i...ries3metallic/
It's a gear with 360 teeth on it. I think it's around the 6" in Diameter, but that doesn't phase me. Everyone (retailers) think size is an issue, I said, bigger is better......Yeah I suppose what women want to hey...!
Bigger = better reduction values, but not too big.
Other than that, spare parts from a scope mount manufacturer?
Can anyone else shed some light on why it's so hard to even find a good worm setup from a local supplier?