--- In Gemini-II@..., "telescopepilot" <creativeimage48@> wrote:

--- In Gemini-II@..., "hilmi.kindy" <hilmi.kindy@> wrote:

How difficult would it be to program homing functionality via micro-switches or a simple magnetic or optical sensor to the Gemini 2?

I am 100% sure many people will be more than happy to pay for the cost of a couple of micro-switches plus mounting plates as an upgrade to the Losmandy line of mounts. The benefits in my opinion are great. Here are my guesses as to the possible benefits.

1) Remote operation
2) Saves time on lining up as accurately as possible on counter weight down position.
3) If anything goes wrong, tell mount to home on home position, it would home in on the position and reset itself. Then point to a bright star so that the user can synchronize the exact position. If space on the hand controller display is at a premium, functionality can be added via ASCOM drivers. Beside, I suspect visual users won't be impacted much by such a feature anyway.
4)By adding a couple of extra micro switches at the limits, it is possible to prevent pier crash accidents when you tell the mount to find home position (via the main micro-switch) after a cold start when the mount isn't 100% sure where it is physically pointed.


What do you all think?

I know I would pay for such an upgrade if it was fully supported by the Gemini II system.

Hilmi Al-Kindy

Open your desk top .net hand control...click on "PARK"....the features you are asking for are already there...and they work well.

Hilmi,

How difficult would it be to program homing functionality via
micro-switches or a simple magnetic or optical sensor to the Gemini 2?

The encoder port hardware has GND, +5V and 4 TTL channels that can
interrupt the processor, that means that the G2 hardware is already
prepared (if you don't want to use encoders). With the encoder port
pinout, you can even prepare your own wiring.

On the software side, I've already prepared quite a lot. Implementing
the functionality isn't the main problem - to put all these in the
communication interfaces, serial & HTTP protocols and
defining/implementing the logic takes much more time.

I am 100% sure many people will be more than happy to pay for the cost
of a couple of micro-switches plus mounting plates as an upgrade to
the Losmandy line of mounts. The benefits in my opinion are great.
Here are my guesses as to the possible benefits.

1) Remote operation
2) Saves time on lining up as accurately as possible on counter weight
down position.
3) If anything goes wrong, tell mount to home on home position, it
would home in on the position and reset itself. Then point to a bright
star so that the user can synchronize the exact position. If space on
the hand controller display is at a premium, functionality can be
added via ASCOM drivers. Beside, I suspect visual users won't be
impacted much by such a feature anyway.
4)By adding a couple of extra micro switches at the limits, it is
possible to prevent pier crash accidents when you tell the mount to
find home position (via the main micro-switch) after a cold start when
the mount isn't 100% sure where it is physically pointed.

What do you all think?

Fortunately, I just finished the winter semester work and can
concentrate on G2 again. Supporting switches will be one of the things
I'll work on. Nevertheless, there are many possible forms of
usage/reactions to the switches. Hard limits, position marks (with a
certain degree of precision). Also, the automation, how to use them and
what to do if one switch fires ... and all this has to show up in the
protocols and interfaces ...

I know I would pay for such an upgrade if it was fully supported by
the Gemini II system.

Oops, I should have read this before answering 8)

搁别苍é

Hilmi Al-Kindy

Rene' & Hilmi,
This was one of the prime reasons I insisted on keeping the encoders on my G11, despite SWMBO's strenuous objections, was reluctant to get a Titan, & very happy to get my HGM-200. The G11 & the HGM-200 have the external encoders, the Titan does not. I had planned on using the external encoders as a control for my dome. I currently have a SkyShed POD, which is serving me well but, there is no way to simply automate it for a variety of mechanical reasons. Mostly there is way too much torque required to open the dome. The next dome design is at present a Callotte. The neighbors have agreed that this design is far more palatable than the POD, and even though the footprint is bigger.
There is a control program for the Callotte that will work with the mount if I can read the external encoders. This I can do once I find out what the pinouts are. I've contacted Scott about this but haven't heard back from him yet. Work on the new dome should begin this summer.
The other major reason I want those encoders is that I do outreach with younger kids. Invariably one of them will put their hand on the OTA and give it a little nudge, & there goes the alignment. I know I can get the alignment back by resyncing on a star but, if G2 knew where it was pointing and where the mount was supposed to be pointing and they didn't agree, the G2 could read the encoder position, against the model position and realign itself. This would only work if G2 reads the external encoders.

Rene',
If you need a different mount type to to beta on, let me know. I'm running the HGM-200 with Gemini-2.

Clear Dark Skies
John
39.138274 -77.168898


--- In Gemini-II@..., Rene Goerlich <Rene@> wrote:

Hilmi,

How difficult would it be to program homing functionality via
micro-switches or a simple magnetic or optical sensor to the Gemini 2?

The encoder port hardware has GND, +5V and 4 TTL channels that can
interrupt the processor, that means that the G2 hardware is already
prepared (if you don't want to use encoders). With the encoder port
pinout, you can even prepare your own wiring.

On the software side, I've already prepared quite a lot. Implementing
the functionality isn't the main problem - to put all these in the
communication interfaces, serial & HTTP protocols and
defining/implementing the logic takes much more time.

I am 100% sure many people will be more than happy to pay for the cost
of a couple of micro-switches plus mounting plates as an upgrade to
the Losmandy line of mounts. The benefits in my opinion are great.
Here are my guesses as to the possible benefits.

1) Remote operation
2) Saves time on lining up as accurately as possible on counter weight
down position.
3) If anything goes wrong, tell mount to home on home position, it
would home in on the position and reset itself. Then point to a bright
star so that the user can synchronize the exact position. If space on
the hand controller display is at a premium, functionality can be
added via ASCOM drivers. Beside, I suspect visual users won't be
impacted much by such a feature anyway.
4)By adding a couple of extra micro switches at the limits, it is
possible to prevent pier crash accidents when you tell the mount to
find home position (via the main micro-switch) after a cold start when
the mount isn't 100% sure where it is physically pointed.

What do you all think?

Fortunately, I just finished the winter semester work and can
concentrate on G2 again. Supporting switches will be one of the things
I'll work on. Nevertheless, there are many possible forms of
usage/reactions to the switches. Hard limits, position marks (with a
certain degree of precision). Also, the automation, how to use them and
what to do if one switch fires ... and all this has to show up in the
protocols and interfaces ...

I know I would pay for such an upgrade if it was fully supported by
the Gemini II system.

Oops, I should have read this before answering 8)

搁别苍é

Hilmi Al-Kindy

I also kept my Losmandy DSCs on my G-11 when I switched to Gemini II in expectation of having this functionality. As newbie I seem always to move the mount when fitting my scope cover. Perhaps I need to tighten the clutches more. At any rate, I look forward to the new functionality.

Cheers, Ed
(Another Pod user)

Hi,

Interesting topic. I am using for this purpose a reed switch with a magnet but the range is to big but implementing 2 or 3 of them in series could give a more precise homing feature.



This type of reed switches I also use them for the roof position in order to know if it is open or closed.



On another hardware I use microswitches for homing but also this have a certain range. IN or der to get the correct homing I read the switch when it closes and then go back until it opens again adn then I return one step (I use stepper motors for this function on my focusers) and there for me is home. I guess using 2 microswitches in series would increase the accuracy of the homing switch.



Just an idea of the possibilities.

regards Rainer

--- In Gemini-II@..., "Ed Wiley" <edwiley@> wrote:

I also kept my Losmandy DSCs on my G-11 when I switched to Gemini II in expectation of having this functionality. As newbie I seem always to move the mount when fitting my scope cover. Perhaps I need to tighten the clutches more. At any rate, I look forward to the new functionality.

Cheers, Ed
(Another Pod user)

Thanks Rene for the response, I look forward to this feature being implemented.

:)

Hilmi

--- In Gemini-II@..., "Rainer" <rsbfoto@> wrote:

Hi,

Interesting topic. I am using for this purpose a reed switch with a magnet but the range is to big but implementing 2 or 3 of them in series could give a more precise homing feature.



This type of reed switches I also use them for the roof position in order to know if it is open or closed.



On another hardware I use microswitches for homing but also this have a certain range. IN or der to get the correct homing I read the switch when it closes and then go back until it opens again adn then I return one step (I use stepper motors for this function on my focusers) and there for me is home. I guess using 2 microswitches in series would increase the accuracy of the homing switch.



Just an idea of the possibilities.

regards Rainer

--- In Gemini-II@..., "Ed Wiley" <edwiley@> wrote:

I also kept my Losmandy DSCs on my G-11 when I switched to Gemini II in expectation of having this functionality. As newbie I seem always to move the mount when fitting my scope cover. Perhaps I need to tighten the clutches more. At any rate, I look forward to the new functionality.

Cheers, Ed
(Another Pod user)