Advanced Imaging Conference 2008

[jase (Jason)]

Originally Posted by jase

Here's the ASA 12" with their new ASA Direct Drive mount. More info can be found here - http://www.astrosysteme.at/eng/monts.html

Further information on this after speaking with a few.
Two more mounts are scheduled from ASA.
ASA DDM60 (lightweight direct drive mount) - 25kg capacity - Est. EUR 7,500
ASA DDM150 (observatory class) - 150kg capacity - Est. EUR 24,000

Both mounts are expected to be available second quarter 2009.

I don't think the pics I took show the in mount cabling, but there DEC housing has three USB ports and one large din power. Details probably on the website. Also the picture shows the DDM85 - 65kg capacity. Don't have the pricing for this one - sorry.

[AlexN]

The DDM85 is on Opt for USD $17,999

[Bassnut (Fred)]

Wow, oh to be there Jase. Ask ASA if they have flexure problem sorted on OTAs right up to 16" with heavy cam/focusers, and does their smick direct drive mount have a guide input despite the claim its not needed.

[gary]

Originally Posted by AlexN

Jase. Could you do me a favor while you're there.. if there is any info brochures on the Chronos mount, could you grab one for me and post it to me when u get home? Im rather interested, also if you could have a look at it, see how steady it feels with that kind of weight on it and no counter weights etc.. It definitely looks like a new era in Astroimaging mounts..

Hi Alex,

The Chronos is indeed an interesting mount and the guy behind it is Timothy Cann.
Tim had been thinking about this mount for a long time, but started working on the
design in earnest early in 2006 and it saw 'first light' in late 2006 and was tested
through 2007.

Tim was showcasing the mount when we were at the Riverside Telescope
Makers Conference last year.

One of the key technologies of the Chronos is its Harmonic Drive Gearing.
This supersedes the standard worm drives found in many mounts. With a harmonic
drive, up to 30% of the teeth are in contact at all times, resulting in what is
claimed to be effectively zero backlash. These drives also have high torque
and other highly desirable characteristics.

These mounts have no counterweights and no clutches and are claimed to eliminate
the need for PEC.

If you are interested, I highly recommend Tim's article on the Chronos that
appeared in the Nov 2007 edition of Astronomy Technology Today.
You can subscribe to the online version which then also gives you
access to back issues at http://www.astronomytechnologytoday.com
This article describes the Harmonic Drive in some detail.

The Chronos web site is here -
http://www.chronosmount.com/

Best regards

Gary Kopff
Wildcard Innovations Pty Ltd.

[jase (Jason)]

Originally Posted by Bassnut

Wow, oh to be there Jase. Ask ASA if they have flexure problem sorted on OTAs right up to 16" with heavy cam/focusers, and does their smick direct drive mount have a guide input despite the claim its not needed.

Fred, Did some questioning this morning... No more flexure issues with heavy cameras I'm told. They had a few sample images taken with the new rig with an FLI camera. Have to say it looks pretty good, but lacks details...as the flexure occurred at different altitudes of pointing. The new ASA has the twin, four vane spider configuration instead of single. This can be seen in the second photo I posted. This produces much tighter looking star patterns. I was asked to compare two photos and I have to say I was impressed at how improved the stars looked - tight with controlled difraction spikes. Stars certainly didn't appear square.

OK, now a note on the guiding. You're correct in that the direct drive mounts dont have a autoguide port. However, they still guide. This is achieved through the regular mount to PC USB connection instead of a dedicated port from camera to mount. So for example, on a dual chip configuration such as an SBIG camera, the camera to PC USB cable downloads the guider image (as it does today) and their AutoSlew software (developed by Philipp Keller) analyses the difference. Any adjustments that maybe required are then sent via the mount to PC USB connection. There is no requirement for relays etc.

[avandonk]

I must not look I must not look I must not look

Too late I looked! Thanks for the great info Jase.

Bert

[jase (Jason)]

Only two sessions today, but enjoyable ones - conference now closed heading back tomorrow armed with copious amounts of reading material.

Advanced Image Combine Techniques, Ray Gralak
Getting the Best Out of Your Site, Wolfgang Promper
===
A few more photos...
24" RCOS on the AP 3600 GTO - I include this image as it shows the true scale of this instrument. Its about 11 foot tall.
Software Bisque display - 12" Planewave on a PME. SkyX Professional is flagged for mid next year.
16" Military Spec RCOS - all white.
20" Planewave on MI-750 eq fork (2 photos).
Ceravolo 300 astrograph (3 photos).

[jase (Jason)]

Just a couple more...

6" F/8 A&M APO (TMB/LZOS optics) - AIC2008 show price US$7,990.00 (regular US$9,950.00) - bargain! (Master of Ha in background).
10" F/12.5 Maksutov Cassegrain - AIC2008 show price US$8,890.00 (regular US$11,130.00) - yet another bargain!

OK. That's all folks. Hope you enjoyed the updates. Will provide some processing updates in respective forum areas once I've tested them myself.

[iceman (Mike)]

Fantastic reports and pictures, thanks Jase!

[gary]

Originally Posted by jase

A few more photos...
24" RCOS on the AP 3600 GTO - I include this image as it shows the true scale of this instrument. Its about 11 foot tall.

Thanks for the reports.

The gentleman in the background of the first photograph resembles David Malin.
Is it by chance David or just someone that looks like him?

Best regards

Gary

[Bassnut (Fred)]

Excellent Jase, thanks very much.

[jase (Jason)]

Originally Posted by gary

Is it by chance David or just someone that looks like him?

No, its a mistaken identity - I didn't see David there, though he was present at AIC2006 as he took out the Hubble award.

[Ric]

Great thread Jase, I enjoyed reading your report and the scopes are awesome. I reckon you must have been like a kid in a lolly shop.

I can only imagine how great it must be to chat with some of the big names in the business.

My favourite has to be the 24" RCOS with a 12.5" guidescope. Now if I could just win Lotto.

[Terry B]

It's amazing that there is a market for these very expensive items. All are research grade instruments that you would expect to find in a professional establishment. There must be some wealthy people out there. Hopefully not all just to take pretty pics with.

[jase (Jason)]

For those interested, the below link will take you to some of this years AIC presentations. Excellent information for the avid imager!

http://www.aicccd.com/archive/2008_p...n_archive.html

Enjoy!

[multiweb (Marc)]

Very cool! Thanks heaps for sharing Jase.