Anyone built or seen a working home made equatorial mount? There's one pictured in the July/Aug Sky&Space mag, but a search on the net turns up very little.
This is what I have done a long time ago for my 10" mirror (it does not exist any more, today it is on dobsom mount).
The drive mechanism used parts of the theodolite (Now I regret this decision because this theodolite may today be considered as very valuable historical item).
In first phase, hour angle motor was sinchronious (driven from sinusoidal generator with variable frequency) and Dec motor was DC.
Later I used DC motor for hour angle as well. The driver circuit used closed loop to lock the speed of the motor with precise frequency generator.
Bojan
Here is a picture of a home made equatorial I purchased about 2 mths ago. It was only motorised on one axis for tracking and I am now making the other axis motorised so that I can fit a bartels system to it. This is a heavy mount but it does work. I hope to fit a big scope on it some day
Iv'e built a number of equatorials over the years, including a couple of fork mounts, one horseshoe and several German types. I used to see a lot of homebrew equatorials back in the 70s and early 80s though the cheap and nasty Dobsonian type telescope has largely put pay to homebrew equatorials.
Here is a thread about my mount. Originally home made (well, at work) by Bert and his workmates, then 20 years later restored by me. It is a very simple mount to copy, works great and carries a Ton of gear! I motorised the RA with a stepper motor.
I sure would not mind geting an older mount like these, but not quiet so heavy so it can still me moved around. The problem is there dont seem to be made anymore. I have heard a lot of good things about the Astro Optical made Samson mounts, but alas they dont make them anymore. Lately i am not convinced that a motorised dob is not a better solution. Another solution is a Fork mount like t the one being disscused at Coudynights ATM thread. http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthrea.../o/all/fpart/1
It amazing what the ATM'ers do, i just dont have the skills.
Davo perhaps the mount you are refering to this one, it has been in the Asto mag's earlier this year as i recall. http://www4.tpgi.com.au/users/daveg/
The problem is there dont seem to be made anymore. I have heard a lot of good things about the Astro Optical made Samson mounts, but alas they dont make them anymore.
Well, if you want a sampson type mount, then i have a copy of one that was made bigger and beefier.
It has 2" stainless steel shafts, a 6 " pier and a huge steel plate to carry the sope. I also had and original drive motor bored out to fit the larger shafts. Plus a manual dec adjuster. Mind you its heavy, around 50 to 60 Kg.
If your interested, let me know.. I havent used it since i sold my 16" about 4 years ago.
Heres some pics, mind you its larger than it looks, rmember the shafts are 2", so that should help in sizing up a little..
This mount will support a very big scope. I had it made for a 16", and it had no problems, so i'd say it would support a larger scope again.. Or a load of around 100 to 150 lbs including scope.
Have a look at this one, it could carry a horse, and a Newt,
Built some 20 yeras ago, inch and a half shafts, and solid lead counter weight,
Ordinary self aligning bearings, works a treat.
How do you guys do it? These are beasts, i would love to own one of these one day. Set it up one day in my dream observatory on bit of land out bush. A freind of mine recently got a farm out near Parkes, so i have already begun discssuing with him for a bit of land for a small shed observatory. I cant wait to visit the place and take my scope with me.
Have a look at this one, it could carry a horse, and a Newt,
Built some 20 yeras ago, inch and a half shafts, and solid lead counter weight,
Ordinary self aligning bearings, works a treat.
Cheers Leon
thats an awesome mount, Leon. im looking at building an EQ mount for the 10" newt. thats a brilliant design. do you still own it?
Pays to have a mate who is a fitter and turner I guess.
Back in 1970s I met a guy who build a homebrew GEM that could hold a battleship and he put a 24" home brewed RFT Newtonian on top of it. Was not exactly portable and he needed a block and tackle and an A frame to lift the head into place onto of an old railway sleep that was firmly concreted into the ground , and to lift the OTA onto the craddle.
Wonder what happened to that scope and mount after he passed away ?
