My prototype barn door star tracker, with pivot bolts. About to head out and give it a trial run.
I have some black machinable plastic I am going to use but I decided to perfect my timber prototype before I start drilling holes in it. The timber was free, the plastic I paid for.
Continuation of thread I posted in wrong category Click this Link
Very nice!
I have a Trott double arm design I built almost 20 years ago. Aluminium sections and a small stepper motor drive.
Used to work well - I need to set it up again.....
My prototype barn door star tracker, with pivot bolts. About to head out and give it a trial run.
I have some black machinable plastic I am going to use but I decided to perfect my timber prototype before I start drilling holes in it. The timber was free, the plastic I paid for.
Continuation of thread I posted in wrong category Click this Link
Well that didn't work too well! lol The stars were doing little wobbles, I think the thread I tapped through the brass bolt was a little wonky.
So I went back to basics and built another (in 15mins lol).
Photos: Barn door tracker prototype #3 & a 2min exposure from trial run last night.
Once I get more confident I'll take a drive out into the darkness, try and get away from this light pollution!
I've been using my Android Compass App and Protractor app to align the tracker.
The fog was very thick in lower areas, once above it though, it was crystal clear!
I saw a big bright white meteor (possibly space junk?) that broke up into a couple of pieces at the end, just before I turned my camera on
I can't wait to go out again! I want to motorise the tracker soon, as I find myself staring at the timer instead of enjoying the sky.
Some time ago, I made a controller for this motor, using microprocessor, that generates the necessary sequence to drive this motor with minimal current consumption (see here)... the firmware is very simple, just a program loop with specific number of passes to keep exact timing (it does't have to be 1rpm, it could be anything)
If you are handy with this kind of stuff, there are very cheap options available - for example, you can get Microchip controller from Jaycar and program it to drive the above mentioned motor.
Then again, if you are handy, you already know about this anyway..
Then again, if you are handy, you already know about this anyway..
Thanks Bojan,
I am quite handy, I do get a bit lost when it comes to the complicated side of motor controls, wiring schematics and definitely programming lol. I can nut out all basic stuff though!
I'm making another tracker now, so far it is coming along pretty well, I am spending allot more time on this one, hopefully it will look and perform better! Tossing up between, Isosceles mount or curved rod mount.
I'll upload a progress photo later tonight if I get the opportunity.
And, be aware that SoundStepper corrects for NPE (Non Periodic Error) introduced by straight screw and single arm .. ..
However, curved screw rod is very easy to make.
I have seen the double arms in my internet browsing before, they look a little bit more complicated to make, I am a newbie so I thought I'd stick to the basics. I'll continue making my single arm for now, I'll make a double arm for my next project when I'm a little more experienced.
Any idea on what the radius of my M6 all thread needs to be shaped into? I have 229mm from the center of the hinge pin to the center of my drive bolt. Am I right to just divide that by 2 to get my radius?
Found some images of the Trott - aluminium sections, double arm Barndoor mount....may be of interest.
Awesome! They'll come in handy in my designing. I'm starting to get a good collection of plastic off cut, in some good lengths, I'll see what I can do with those soon!
I got it now!
