Quote:
Originally Posted by MattT
Hi Gav,
First.....I know very little about steppers and drivers.
The 2" pillow block mount I'm still building has a Byers 359 tooth 10" gear. I ordered it with a stepper motor. I sent details of gear and stepper (which is a Hurst and the same as the Losmandy G 11) to AWR Tech in the UK.
Alan Buckman from AWR built the controller to work with the stepper I had.
The hand control is a stand alone box that has RA and Dec leads. The Dec works with a G 11 Hurst Stepper, same as the RA motor.
Alan has been around for a long time and has vast amounts of know how about telescope drives. The AWR controller I bought does what it's meant to do, and cost 190 UK Pounds. Send an email with details of what you have and want to do. I rang Alan too....very helpful gentleman 
The Losmandy drives are for 360 teeth gears and are a 1:1...direct coupling thing.
Here is the AWR tech link http://www.awrtech.co.uk/
Hope this is of some help to you...It was my solution to much the same problem you have. Electronics is another world to me 
Matt |
G'day Matt
Thanks mate
Will contact AWR see if they have any advice.
Yeah, I know what you mean by another world!
I guess for me, the system works fine when using the Mel Bartels 'Scope' solution (shown in the image below) from what I can see. It's just a lot to setup and take down when working outside, especially if you want to image as I have to set up another computer because the old laptop has to be running to DOS with no other applications to control the mount. Also the Scope program by Mel Bartels will take some getting use to!
My ultimate aim would be to have the mount setup in a obs (when I can get one made) for use with Mel Bartels software, and the Losmandy DDS 492 to use with field tripod away from the obs (a lot less to transport, power, setup and simplier to use).
I am starting to lean towards just plugging the stepper motors in and just see what happens. I am just scared of burning them out or damaging them someway.
I have been very impressed with your mount build, and have been keeping track on it.
Cheers
Gav