ok now my next problem - maxdome 2 encoder problems.
I connected up the mount and the dome to the computer today. not what i expected.
connection to the titan was ok but the connection to the dome is through a RS232 keyspan usb connection, its set to com3. it does connect it does move the dome but when i went to calibrate it its all over the shop. 107,137, 147, 187. previously it was set to 227. anyhow the connection dropped out so i wiggled the connections and reset them all. initially that seemed to fix the connection issues but i still have encoder count issues?
I managed to get some time today and pulled the motor drive off the dome. i cleaned it and used some of my white Subaru forester touchup paint to paint the white bit on the shaft. it worked a treat the dome rotated and counted off 227 ticks twice - happy with that!!
now i have to redo all the calibration dome figures to get the pointing aligning with the mount......
That plus the insight that in the Southern Hemisphere folk the East / West dome / mount axis offset must the the opposite sign of what is documented! Once that was done for me the dome slit perfectly tracks the OTAs. For me my parameters are (note using inches):
Offset East 4.25" (later discovered this was the error - East should be entered -4.25 for the Southern hemisphere)
Offset South -8.25"
Dome radius 44.9"
Height of mount pivot point below dome -26.5"
Height of mount pivot point to scope Optical axis 13.25"
Home position sensor Az bearing 130 degrees.
As per my note for users in the Southern Hemisphere for MaxDome II users on the Cyangen forums:
1. After kit fit out - ensure you blow all the dust out, especially around your sensor
2. There are plenty of dome / mount alignment schematics on the web, look one up if you are unsure or the terms used
3. Realise the Az bearings for East / West, North / South offsets, Home and Park positions all refer to Celestial, not Geographic or Magnetic compass bearings
4. Use suspended plumb lines lines plus rotate the dome to ensure the line doesn't move is a great way of checking you have the dome's rotational centre identified, and the big one
5. Reverse the documented sign of the East / West offset if you are in the Southern hemisphere! East is Negative when you are Down Under!
That plus the insight that in the Southern Hemisphere folk the East / West dome / mount axis offset must the the opposite sign of what is documented! Once that was done for me the dome slit perfectly tracks the OTAs. For me my parameters are (note using inches):
Offset East 4.25" (later discovered this was the error - East should be entered -4.25 for the Southern hemisphere)
Offset South -8.25"
Dome radius 44.9"
Height of mount pivot point below dome -26.5"
Height of mount pivot point to scope Optical axis 13.25"
Home position sensor Az bearing 130 degrees.
As per my note for users in the Southern Hemisphere for MaxDome II users on the Cyangen forums:
1. After kit fit out - ensure you blow all the dust out, especially around your sensor
2. There are plenty of dome / mount alignment schematics on the web, look one up if you are unsure or the terms used
3. Realise the Az bearings for East / West, North / South offsets, Home and Park positions all refer to Celestial, not Geographic or Magnetic compass bearings
4. Use suspended plumb lines lines plus rotate the dome to ensure the line doesn't move is a great way of checking you have the dome's rotational centre identified, and the big one
5. Reverse the documented sign of the East / West offset if you are in the Southern hemisphere! East is Negative when you are Down Under!
EUREKA!!!!!!!!! thanks that's exactly the help i need (well i need other help but that's my wife's point of view )
ok need to get things better resolved. i have cut and joined to bits of timber in the middle exactly 225mm so i can fit it within the interior of the dome. i have it now compass n/s, e/w
That looks a pretty nice set-up! I am sure you have done it but for others reading it might help to state:
1. rotate your dome 90 - 360 degrees and ensure your marked centre - the bolt between your two beams doesn't move on the horizontal plan - meaning you have the exact centre.
2. in your case - then align those beams to Celestial North and South and East and West - those are the offset vector directions you need - so measure your offsets at the same angle as those beams point!
3. If there is a large offset vertically - drop a plumb line from the centre.
4. Measure in mm or inches - but keep it consistent - the offset N/S and E/W from the plumb line to the mounts pivot point - which is the point inside the mount where the RA and Dec axes intersect
5. If you are using TSX - and using a simulator driver vs a native driver (e.g. I use a Meade LX200 - as they don't have a working Vixen SkySensor2000-PC driver) - look under the Display tab and right at the bottom there may be a Driver tab - with a German Equatorial tick box - if there is set it or your offsets will be wrong when you do a Meridan flip.
If you do have The SkyX with Camera, Dome and Tpoint add-on - try Closed Loop Slewing - it is simply amazing!
well i fixed the camera array from hitting the monitor - bought a vertical monitor stand, and for some creature comfort i got a chair from Aldi which was on special, put that together watching bathurst.
I also got a plumb bob - i managed to get the last one "ever" from bunnings as i was told they wont be stocking these any more with the advent of laser levels and the like.
I am finding it hard t get things done with other issues going on and the weather, i am sick of Mr sidonio sending me all his high cloud
I also got a plumb bob - i managed to get the last one "ever" from bunnings as i was told they wont be stocking these any more with the advent of laser levels and the like.
Sounds to me that they're running out all the stock in lieu of the new DA they put into council.
I wonder where they're moving to?