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STEPPER MOTOR DRIVES AeroQuest Machining offers a wide variety of stepper motor drive options. We are constantly working with new systems in order to keep up with a rapidly changing market.AeroQuest Machining has stepper motor drive systems ranging from the simple 7.5 degrees per step to the .9 degrees micro-stepping systems offering fine degree of motor control and the option of computerization. Prices vary depending on the type of system the customer desires ranging from simple installation of the motor with no controls to fully computerized systems in the $6000.00 range. There are options in between such as the Sky Sensor 2000 which is an economic system with a database containing almost14,000 objects as well as periodic error correction, tracking and drive correction. The Sky Sensor 2000 when installed gives the user a go-to system that is highly accurate and convenient. AeroQuest Machining will install all such systems for the customer or the customer can do the installation.
Computer systems from Scopecraft are offered as well giving the observer the ability to drive large and heavy scopes with an even broader data base than the Sky Sensor 2000. Such systems are already in operation providing fully robotic capability for virtually hands off operation doing pre-programmed astrophotography in the search for asteroids with ccd cameras. Powerful motors and driver systems from Scopecraft power our drives providing smooth tracking and correction resulting in pinpoint star images. These are complete systems providing all tracking and guiding rates along with the ability to interface with The Sky from Software Bisque and Meade's Autostar as well as function with auto guiders for serious work in ccd or film photography. See www.scopecraft.com for more information on their product.
AeroQuest also offers computer systems from Astrometric Instruments which have been proven to be a great system for go-to and tracking accuracy. Check out Astrometric Instruments line of computer controls at www.astrometric.com.
AeroQuest Machining will supply stepper drives with fully manual controls for simplicity of operation as well as accuracy.
SYNCHRONOUS DRIVES
A switch is supplied with the drive to allow tracking in the northern or southern hemispheres. It also works to turn the motor on and off. The motor is synchronous using only 5 watts of power, an easy load to maintain for any drive corrector. Synchronous drives do not come with a drive corrector.
DC MOTOR DRIVES WITH CONTROLS
AeroQuest Machining offers drives powered by dc
motors complete with controls giving a rapid slew rate as well as correction
rates for ease of astrophotography. These systems are very high torque for use
with all telescope and mount masses. The stepper DC motor comes with optional
hand paddle control that controls speed with a potentiometer and has instant
speed up and slow down buttons for correction purposes.
OPTIONS Slip Ring RA Setting Circles - For an additional charge of $145 - $180 you can have an RA slip ring fitted to your drive for ease in locating faint objects. These rings need only be indexed once, as long as the drive is left on, removing the need for re-indexing each time the scope is slued to a new object. They are graduated in increments of 10 minutes of an arc. With the vernier scale etched on the clutch assembly, readings are made accurate to 1 arch minute or better. The slip ring is neat because it's purely mechanical and not dependent on any type of digital readouts or electronics. When you wish to locate a faint object, merely look up the coordinates in a good atlas, slue the scope until the coordinates read the same on the slip ring, look in the eyepiece at low power, and there it should be close to center. Astrophotography is made much faster and simpler using the slip ring. These fit on the clutch assembly and are able to be locked down on the worm gear for indexing. The cost is $145 for the 7.6, 8.8, and 11.5 inch drives, and $180 for the 12.8, 14.5, and 16.5 inch drives. They can be fitted with a vernier scale giving accurate RA readings to one arc minute. They add a nice touch to the gear system and are not dependent on any electronics. Setting Circles - Both RA and dec - The cost is $145 for either the disk or drum type setting circle. The drum type circles have numbers scribed on the edge of a 6" disk. The disk type circles have numbers scribed on the face of a 6" disk near the edge. |