You are my hero. I would love to build one myself. I'm struggling with a 30 year old LX100 and am not one of those folks who can drop $2000 on a new mount. Great work friend.👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾
This looks great! If you ever make a version 2 you can probably get rid of the brake on the equatorial axis motor and save some complexity. Because of the way they work harmonic drives can't be back driven. The brake won't ever hold any load unless the teeth shear out of the gearbox.
Fascinating project, So I’ve been working on a project but seeing this got me excited, the problem is I cannot find the harmonic drives for less than £250 each, so £500 plus the dreaded kings tax @ 20% add the extra bits I’m into over half way into branded territory although It won’t be made by myself and the satisfaction, plus all the other bits would be available to replace individually when they wear out, looking forward to your next venture.
I usually find a big hammer makes things fit to which just about shows my engineering expertise, well done that's coming along great. I noticed while you were slewing from North East to North West it goes to the parking position stops then carries on so must be a quirk with Onstep as my old CGE pro does the same. Not that I'm complaining as it bought back to life what was a completely dead mount.
just checked out your GitHub and I have to say, Amazing work. I'm now considering building a mount of my own for an observatory and your design is amazing. I have a friend with a machine shop so I can machine some pieces to make a mount like Alan. Again, amazing workmanship, I'm very impressed. Do you have any advice for someone about to take on a similar project? (besides having fun LOL)
@@whyf16uy yeah it really opens up lots of doors. I cant speak for long term performance but there are lots of cheap chinese mini lathes and mills around. I'm about to buy a pair after a lot of people recommended then in their reviews. Its about 1200$ for both, might want to look into those.
@@whyf16uy yeah I understand, it's hard to make those types of purchases(especially if you have a spouse xd). If you are still on the fence I'd highly recommend buying them, I have worked with old soviet school machines(no Idea how they ended up here) which were basically scaled down versions of the big machines( lathe and mill), although they did lack power sometimes, they were still amazing around the shop. one benefit is that they are less dangerous due to the lack of power. If the chinese machines mimic those, which they seem to do, then they are amazing machines, especially at the price range.
Amazing work, I'm about to start building something like this. Just one question, even if the harmonic drives are rated for the weight, wouldn't it be a good idea to attach some counterweights? Maybe it could increase the lifespan of the harmonic drives? looking forward to seeing the first light video.
Probably. The AM5 is rated for 25 lbs before you need a weight, These are the same class of bearings I believe and my OTA comes in at 24 lbs so I am going to try without first.
Congratulations on getting it working!! Thats awesome! Can't wait to see the final product!!
You are my hero. I would love to build one myself. I'm struggling with a 30 year old LX100 and am not one of those folks who can drop $2000 on a new mount.
Great work friend.👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾
Hahaha thanks man. If I can do it anyone can.
Awesome!!! I am looking forward to see this mount working.
You and me both!
I'm very impressed. Gonna start rebuilding mine this summer. You inspire me.
Be sure to post a video
congratulations!
This looks great!
If you ever make a version 2 you can probably get rid of the brake on the equatorial axis motor and save some complexity. Because of the way they work harmonic drives can't be back driven. The brake won't ever hold any load unless the teeth shear out of the gearbox.
And if you put too much load on the drive the wave generator can pop out of the flex spline. Ask me how I know :)
@@whyf16uy ouch! Does this mean we get another video?
@@SpacePotatoFilmsUploading as we speak 😁
Fascinating project, So I’ve been working on a project but seeing this got me excited, the problem is I cannot find the harmonic drives for less than £250 each, so £500 plus the dreaded kings tax @ 20% add the extra bits I’m into over half way into branded territory although It won’t be made by myself and the satisfaction, plus all the other bits would be available to replace individually when they wear out, looking forward to your next venture.
Well I have information on new drives from China that are very cheap. Watch my next video coming out tonight.
I usually find a big hammer makes things fit to which just about shows my engineering expertise, well done that's coming along great. I noticed while you were slewing from North East to North West it goes to the parking position stops then carries on so must be a quirk with Onstep as my old CGE pro does the same. Not that I'm complaining as it bought back to life what was a completely dead mount.
Yes my other onstep mount does the same. I usually only slew to one target a night to image so it doesn't bother me.
Superb and impressive work. I made my own a few months ago, named DHEM, open source. Your videos are very interesting, thanks for sharing.
just checked out your GitHub and I have to say, Amazing work. I'm now considering building a mount of my own for an observatory and your design is amazing. I have a friend with a machine shop so I can machine some pieces to make a mount like Alan. Again, amazing workmanship, I'm very impressed. Do you have any advice for someone about to take on a similar project? (besides having fun LOL)
What I would give to have access to a mill and lathe. Would be less "redneck" 😏
@@whyf16uy yeah it really opens up lots of doors. I cant speak for long term performance but there are lots of cheap chinese mini lathes and mills around. I'm about to buy a pair after a lot of people recommended then in their reviews. Its about 1200$ for both, might want to look into those.
@@irakliveshapelo02-mb4mjO I have. Just can't pull the trigger on them yet
@@whyf16uy yeah I understand, it's hard to make those types of purchases(especially if you have a spouse xd). If you are still on the fence I'd highly recommend buying them, I have worked with old soviet school machines(no Idea how they ended up here) which were basically scaled down versions of the big machines( lathe and mill), although they did lack power sometimes, they were still amazing around the shop. one benefit is that they are less dangerous due to the lack of power. If the chinese machines mimic those, which they seem to do, then they are amazing machines, especially at the price range.
Fantastic work, looking forward to seeing your first light thanks for taking the time to make these video
Thanks for watching
Fantastic job!
Thank you very much!
That's amazing!!!
Thanks a bunch!
Amazing work, I'm about to start building something like this. Just one question, even if the harmonic drives are rated for the weight, wouldn't it be a good idea to attach some counterweights? Maybe it could increase the lifespan of the harmonic drives? looking forward to seeing the first light video.
Probably. The AM5 is rated for 25 lbs before you need a weight, These are the same class of bearings I believe and my OTA comes in at 24 lbs so I am going to try without first.
are high precision encoder discs and an ONAG coming next?
🤣Haha I'll be lucky if the stupid thing even works