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Re: Info Mount Losmandy height adjustment

 

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Ah, glowing tape is a good idea for a late in the dark setup. I wear a headlight so even in a dark setup glowing pointers never occurred to me. If I had thought of it I would have used a glow in the dark paint to illuminate the bubble level vials too. Is it paper or some kind of a plastic sheet? I like to cut arrows so they can point at each other.?
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--

Chip Louie Chief Daydreamer Imagination Hardware?

? ?Astrospheric - South Pasadena?
Re: Info Mount Losmandy height adjustment

 

"CWD Painter Tape Trick" - What a great little surprise to always end up so close to my alignment targets!? I one-upped your trick by using fluorescent tape so I can easily see the marks in the dark.

Paul

On Tue, Sep 3, 2024 at 11:31?AM Chip Louie via <chiplouie=[email protected]> wrote:

[Edited Message Follows]
[Reason: photo added back in]

On Mon, Sep 2, 2024 at 02:40 PM, Paul Buckley wrote:
Tom,

I've never tried 2 washers so I'm not sure what the effect would be.? Recognize that you're trying to obtain a balance between wanting two surfaces to hold tight (so that telescope motion is not perturbed by any mount instability) while also simultaneously having the freedom to freely adjust Az/El.? If anything, I would probably want to use washers with as much surface area as possible to do this.? Stainless might be a little smoother than steel washers so I would expect that to help in this regard.? Nylon is generally even smoother.? However, I think that slightly changing the torque on those bolts might have more impact than a second washer.??
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It took me a while to get a feel for the right amount of adjustment on those bolts and in this regard, I replaced the Elevation hex bolts with some push-button adjustable handled bolts to make that step easier.
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mount.jpg

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Paul
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Paul I see you are using the easy CWD painter tape trick I have been posting for people to use for the last decade or so.??
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--

Chip Louie Chief Daydreamer Imagination Hardware?

? ?Astrospheric - South Pasadena?
Re: Info Mount Losmandy height adjustment

 
Edited

On Mon, Sep 2, 2024 at 02:40 PM, Paul Buckley wrote:
Tom,

I've never tried 2 washers so I'm not sure what the effect would be.? Recognize that you're trying to obtain a balance between wanting two surfaces to hold tight (so that telescope motion is not perturbed by any mount instability) while also simultaneously having the freedom to freely adjust Az/El.? If anything, I would probably want to use washers with as much surface area as possible to do this.? Stainless might be a little smoother than steel washers so I would expect that to help in this regard.? Nylon is generally even smoother.? However, I think that slightly changing the torque on those bolts might have more impact than a second washer.??
?
It took me a while to get a feel for the right amount of adjustment on those bolts and in this regard, I replaced the Elevation hex bolts with some push-button adjustable handled bolts to make that step easier.
?
mount.jpg

?
Paul
?
?
Paul I see you are using the easy CWD painter tape trick I have been posting for people to use for the last decade or so.??
?
--

Chip Louie Chief Daydreamer Imagination Hardware?

? ?Astrospheric - South Pasadena?
Re: Info Mount Losmandy height adjustment

 

Tom,

I've never tried 2 washers so I'm not sure what the effect would be.? Recognize that you're trying to obtain a balance between wanting two surfaces to hold tight (so that telescope motion is not perturbed by any mount instability) while also simultaneously having the freedom to freely adjust Az/El.? If anything, I would probably want to use washers with as much surface area as possible to do this.? Stainless might be a little smoother than steel washers so I would expect that to help in this regard.? Nylon is generally even smoother.? However, I think that slightly changing the torque on those bolts might have more impact than a second washer.??

It took me a while to get a feel for the right amount of adjustment on those bolts and in this regard, I replaced the Elevation hex bolts with some push-button adjustable handled bolts to make that step easier.

?
mount.jpg

Paul



On Mon, Sep 2, 2024 at 3:41?PM Thomas Bianchi via <thomas.bianchi81=[email protected]> wrote:
Thanks Paul,
but if I put stainless washers the resistance is the same or it also depends on the material, i.e. in this case the original ones seem not to be stainless steel. If I wanted to replace them with stainless washers would the results change?
So from what I cpaired anyway better to use two washers, do you confirm?

Thank you.
Regards,
Thomas Bianchi

Il giorno dom 1 set 2024 alle ore 12:05 Thomas Bianchi via <thomas.bianchi81=[email protected]> ha scritto:
Hi, I wanted to ask a question but more of a curiosity....
I noticed that Losmandy mounts up to about 2005/2008 had one of the two screws with two washers, which in current mounts for example are no longer present i.e. there is only one for each screw. What was the purpose of the two washers, just to identify it from the top adjusting one or as a special shim and if so, what were they used for over the years?
?I enclose a photo of a not recent Losmandy G11 taken from the Internet for better understanding.
Re: Info Mount Losmandy height adjustment

 

Thanks Paul,
but if I put stainless washers the resistance is the same or it also depends on the material, i.e. in this case the original ones seem not to be stainless steel. If I wanted to replace them with stainless washers would the results change?
So from what I cpaired anyway better to use two washers, do you confirm?

Thank you.
Regards,
Thomas Bianchi

Il giorno dom 1 set 2024 alle ore 12:05 Thomas Bianchi via <thomas.bianchi81=[email protected]> ha scritto:

Hi, I wanted to ask a question but more of a curiosity....
I noticed that Losmandy mounts up to about 2005/2008 had one of the two screws with two washers, which in current mounts for example are no longer present i.e. there is only one for each screw. What was the purpose of the two washers, just to identify it from the top adjusting one or as a special shim and if so, what were they used for over the years?
?I enclose a photo of a not recent Losmandy G11 taken from the Internet for better understanding.
Re: Info Mount Losmandy height adjustment

 

I believe that the goal of the washers was to be able to add tightness yet still allow the unit to slide, so that it was not necessary to loosen the bolts when doing a polar alignment.? I certainly?found this to be the case with Elevation, but not so much with Azimuth.? I replaced the metal Azimuth washers with nylon ones, and that seems to work much better for Azimuth adjustments.

Paul


On Sun, Sep 1, 2024 at 6:05?AM Thomas Bianchi via <thomas.bianchi81=[email protected]> wrote:
Hi, I wanted to ask a question but more of a curiosity....
I noticed that Losmandy mounts up to about 2005/2008 had one of the two screws with two washers, which in current mounts for example are no longer present i.e. there is only one for each screw. What was the purpose of the two washers, just to identify it from the top adjusting one or as a special shim and if so, what were they used for over the years?
?I enclose a photo of a not recent Losmandy G11 taken from the Internet for better understanding.
Info Mount Losmandy height adjustment

 

Hi, I wanted to ask a question but more of a curiosity....
I noticed that Losmandy mounts up to about 2005/2008 had one of the two screws with two washers, which in current mounts for example are no longer present i.e. there is only one for each screw. What was the purpose of the two washers, just to identify it from the top adjusting one or as a special shim and if so, what were they used for over the years?
?I enclose a photo of a not recent Losmandy G11 taken from the Internet for better understanding.

IMG_4692.jpg

Re: G11 upgrades (bought 2019)

 

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Hi Ron.?
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As an imager you want the new L6 firmware and PIC chip 4x code! The new code resolves the few weirdnesses some folks encountered using ASCOM based apps like NINA and SGP.? I can also say from personal experience that ASIAIR users also benefited from the full L6 updates.?
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It is much better taking the Gemini 2 to someone with a current Windows 11 system to do the full update to L6 firmware and PIC chip code which is also on the Gemini 2 mainboard. You really want to use the latest GFU program to get the Gemini 2 mainboard firmware and hand controller firmware updated to the current versions.
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A current W11 laptop with a type 2 USB port will work fine for the PIC programmer. Don't forget to take your power supply and hand controller if you have to go to a W11 PC.?
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There is no need to do anything with your servos and there is also no later version servo motors if your Gemini 2 was purchased new in 2019 with the then current Gemini 2 system.?
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--

Chip Louie Chief Daydreamer Imagination Hardware?

? ?Astrospheric - South Pasadena?
Re: G11 upgrades (bought 2019)

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

Using Gemini-2 Level 6 with the old servo firmware is what¡¯s not (officially) supported.

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From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Ronon Dex via groups.io
Sent: 29 August 2024 13:02
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [Gemini_users_io] G11 upgrades (bought 2019)

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What is an unsupported combination? My mothors with the new firmware?
Re: G11 upgrades (bought 2019)

 

I see, now that I know that I can use my raspberry pi 4 to flash it I should be able to do it together
Re: G11 upgrades (bought 2019)

 

On Thu, Aug 29, 2024 at 08:01 AM, Ronon Dex wrote:
What is an unsupported combination? My mothors with the new firmware?
Unsupported but workable is the updating to L6 Gemini firmware without also updating the PIC controller firmware to v3. These updates were meant to go together. If you want to temporarily update to L6 leaving the old v1 PIC firmware in place, it'll work, just not recommended.
Re: G11 upgrades (bought 2019)

 

What is an unsupported combination? My mothors with the new firmware?
Re: G11 upgrades (bought 2019)

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

You can but technically that¡¯s an unsupported combination ¡­ it will however work

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From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Ronon Dex via groups.io
Sent: 29 August 2024 11:58
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [Gemini_users_io] G11 upgrades (bought 2019)

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Thanks, that makes sense.

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That means I can upgrade to L6 without the servo updates for now?

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Also my G11 (from 2019) should already have the latest motors?
Re: G11 upgrades (bought 2019)

 

I just found a way to use a Raspberry Pi as a PIC programmer:
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Since I am using one to control my telescope this seems pretty good :) Will have to test if it works
Re: G11 upgrades (bought 2019)

 

Thanks, that makes sense.
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That means I can upgrade to L6 without the servo updates for now?
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Also my G11 (from 2019) should already have the latest motors?
Re: G11 upgrades (bought 2019)

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

That is correct ¨C you only need the PIC programmer to update the servo firmware.?? It has to be said that this recommended even if you aren¡¯t proposing to exploit the x4 mode as it contains a number of fixes for long standing bugs.

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David

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From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Ronon Dex via groups.io
Sent: 29 August 2024 09:40
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [Gemini_users_io] G11 upgrades (bought 2019)

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Also it appears that for the L6 upgrade the PIC programmer is only needed to update the firmware of the motors, is that correct? All other components can be updated without a PIC programmer?
Re: G11 upgrades (bought 2019)

 

Also it appears that for the L6 upgrade the PIC programmer is only needed to update the firmware of the motors, is that correct? All other components can be updated without a PIC programmer?
G11 upgrades (bought 2019)

 

Hello everybody
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I am getting back into astrophotography and have been doing some research on available upgrades / updates to the Losmandy G11 Gemini 2 mount.
Since I bought mine in 2019 it appears there have been a few upgrades.
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What I could find:
  • Firmware upgrade to L6 (requires a PIC programmer?)
  • Motor upgrade to Servo motors?
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A few open questions for which I could not find an answer to:
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  1. Are there any more updates / upgrades?
  2. Is it possible to do the L6 upgrade on linux with a own PIC programmer? If yes how?
  3. How can I check which motors I have installed in my G11 and where could I buy a motor upgrade kit (central europe)?
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Thanks :)
Re: Catching up: Losmandy/ Gemini I and PEC

 

Hi John,
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>> For the "non-integer gear reduction" I referred to, I meant the non-integer reductions between the individual gears, as Mark Crossley mentions in his webpage. As I understand it, the MI-250 was built with Losmandy motors and gear boxes.? I know my MI-250 has a current Losmandy motor for RA, and the gear boxes look very Losmandy-like.
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As I said, the non-integer gear reduction has no direct effect on PEC. What does have an effect is that the error has a period that is an integer multiple of the worm cycle.
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Your MI-250 appears to have a fully aligned, one piece worm assembly. It's unlikely that you'll experience the 76sec error that is reported on G11 mounts.
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Before you start worrying 76s error or other uncorrectable ones, the simple test is to record 30-60 minutes of unguided star positions using short exposures with PEMPro or PHD2. That can be analyzed in software, so you can easily see which errors are most dominant and which can or cannot be corrected with Gemini PEC.
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>> Since you bring up linear drift: I've seen a few posts about that.? None of the posts I've read mentioned if the drift manifested itself over several sub-frames or during a single frame; and in either case, how long it took for the drift to become noticeable.? Does the linear drift manifest itself as oblong stars, or does it take long enough it manifests itself as the target object slowly drifting off-center?? Something else?
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The drift was not huge. It could be measured as the change in star position over a period of multiple worm cycles. Software tools make it easy to determine the amount of drift. From my experience with Gemini-1 and PEMPro, the drift was sometimes introduced after programming the curve and turning on PEC. It didn't happen every time, and Ray provided an option to remove the drift in PEMPro many years ago. This drift doesn't seem to occur with Gemini-II and PEMPro, in my experience.
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Regards,
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? ?-Paul
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On Mon, Aug 19, 2024 at 10:27 PM, macdonjh wrote:

Thank you for your reply, Paul.? Also, I appreciate the link to Mark Crossley's webpage.
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For the "non-integer gear reduction" I referred to, I meant the non-integer reductions between the individual gears, as Mark Crossley mentions in his webpage. As I understand it, the MI-250 was built with Losmandy motors and gear boxes.? I know my MI-250 has a current Losmandy motor for RA, and the gear boxes look very Losmandy-like.
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I've read various accounts of misaligned worm blocks in Losmandy mounts built prior to the the OPW (my G11 is from 1999 and has separate worm blocks).? The worm bearing housing in my MI-250 is "in between" the original Losmandy design and the OPW design: the in-board and out-board beaning housings are bolted to a common piece of stock.? Variation in alignment of the worm bearings when everything is disassembled and reassembled should be minimal.? However, there is the possibility the three pieces aren't machined exactly square and parallel, thus introducing misalignment and the "pinch" Mark Crossley refers to.? Perhaps another similarity between the G11 and MI-250.? I understand your comment about PEC not being able to correct for the "76 second error".
I also remember all the discussions about the "76 second error", that was long before I was interested in photography and if my G11 has it, it didn't bother me at the eye piece.
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Thank you for confirming the "2x worm cycle" is a feature in Gemini II.??
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I understand that worm phase shifting between sessions is a separate issue from gear boxes, worm bearing block alignment and linear drift.
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Since you bring up linear drift: I've seen a few posts about that.? None of the posts I've read mentioned if the drift manifested itself over several sub-frames or during a single frame; and in either case, how long it took for the drift to become noticeable.? Does the linear drift manifest itself as oblong stars, or does it take long enough it manifests itself as the target object slowly drifting off-center?? Something else?
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Re: RS-232 interface IC and RS-232 port replacement part numbers?

 

I just crossed 26 hours of imaging since I fixed my Gemini serial port. To recap the repair, here are the parts I used:
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  • (I needed 1, but I ordered 2) is closer to the original part.
  • 0.047¦ÌF 5% 0805 capacitor (I didn¡¯t need any, but I ordered 10)
  • 0.33¦ÌF 5% 0805 capacitor (I needed 2, I ordered 10)
  • 0.1¦ÌF 5% 0805 capacitor (I needed 1, I ordered 10)
  • RJ22 connector (I needed 1, I ordered 2)
  • 5.5V varistors (these are for RV1 through RV4. I needed 0, but ordered 10)
I can't thank Brendan & Michael enough for the help with this!
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I have more details & lots of pictures of the process here:
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Cheers!
Bryan
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