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NEW PRODUCTS IN THE WORKS AT AEROQUEST MACHINING Aeroquest Machining is in the process of developing fully computerized go-to drive systems. These systems will be available as an option along with the current offerings of synchronous and stepper drive systems listed on this website and our brochure. These systems will incorporate all of the features of the drives listed on this website including clutching and worm sizes along with the added ability to slew from one object to another using a database included with the computer software. MOUNTS FROM AEROQUEST MACHINING Along with the addition of computer controlled drives, Aeroquest will be producing a line of mounts of both the fork type and German equatorial using our drives with the computer controlled option for state of the art tracking and periodic error correction. These mounts will be built to handle telescopes of all sizes from the very large to the smaller models. The mounts will be unique in that they will be able to be readily converted from fork to German equatorial type by unbolting modular attachments. These mounts will be produced from light weight aluminum alloy with welded construction producing a rock solid base that will be able to be folded up and transported to your favorite viewing site and assembled with a minimum of tools. Polar alignment will be made easy by controls which will allow fine tuning of the mount head angle in both azimuth and right ascension without having to move the mount on its legs. Testing of these systems is expected to be finished by the end of April. Work has been hectic and the prototype mount has been delayed from the original completion date due to the heavy workload of machining gears. Following the testing of mounts, Aeroquest Machining will begin work on whole telescope systems in the 20 inch and larger range for offer to the amateur and professional level. These telescopes will incorporate all of the features found on our mounts as well as off-axis guider built in with the focusing mechanism for ease of use in astro-imaging. Aeroquest Machining will be looking to use the Newtonian design for these telescopes, the mounts however will be able to handle all telescope designs. Photos of the prototype mounts and computer controls will be forthcoming at this web- site in the future. Click on refresh for updated information.
Above is pictured the new computer mount. This was custom built for Ken Levin who owns a 17 inch Ritchey Chretien reflector. It has full go-to capability with tracking accuracy allowing unguided exposures of several minutes. Ken programs this mount to take pictures as he sleeps all night in light polluted skies around the D.C.area. Periodic error is less than 3.5 arc seconds peak to peak without periodic error correction. The RA gear is 16.5 inches diameter. The computer controls in this case were supplied by Astrometric Instruments. Performance reports from the customer indicate unguided exposures at 128 inches focal length for up to 5 minutes yielding nearly perfectly round star images. The mount is constructed from all aluminum, stainless steel and brass components for maintenance free operation. It was powder coated to the customers choice of color. See more of Ken and his work at www.freewebs.com/klevin/index.htm.
The picture of M 63 below was taken by Ken Levin with the mount pictured above. |
