Re: Spring loaded worm modification G11
Thanks Chuck. I wouldn't imagine Scott would want to take a "trade-in" on used, old-style motors, so yes, mine would be worthless, except as a used sale to recoup some of the massive cost of the upgrade. I suspect my medium-term plan will be to just stay the course, use the Gemini system as is, and if any part of it fails, I'll probably implement an OnStep system instead (I've already built a few systems on the bench for fun). Wide choice of powerful motors which can be easily "tucked-in" and at very low cost, though I'd still be missing the SLW capability. I'd love to see some hi-res photos of how it is done, to get an idea of what would be involved in DIYing it.
Jeff
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Re: Mechanical Stop to Prevent OTA Slipping Off from Saddle
Sonny!
Yes that¡¯s a great product! I agree there are ¡°Lottsa way to skin the cat¡±! As long you don¡¯t give me a stinkin¡¯ cat! LOL.
I don¡¯t have a luxury to own an observatory and have a limited sky area. This make my scope portable which I have to constantly setup it up at night and break it down at dawn. I¡¯m constantly finding the most efficient way of setting it up or breaking it down in a short time. Your idea of using a device as a stop to allow to counter balance your scope in a minimum amount time is a great idea.
I love my mount so much that I have to take a really good care of it like a baby and make the most use out of it.
Thanks Sonny for the feedback!
Cheer!
Paul
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Re: Spring loaded worm modification G11
JP
If you get the new high torque motors, there's no trade in for the old motors. So they don't want to take old motors for future repairs.
Chuck
-----Original Message----- From: jp071848 <lx200gps@...> To: Losmandy_users < [email protected]> Sent: Thu, Sep 17, 2020 08:01 AM Subject: Re: [Losmandy_users_io] Spring loaded worm modification G11 Thanks for the summary Keith. I have a 2005-vintage G11, also with the new OPW on RA but not DEC, though I do have the RAEXS? extension. I'd been contemplating the upgrade, but one question remains for me. Can you shed any light on the comment on the Losmandy site that says this mod requires the hi-torque motors? My motors are the original non hi-torque, and if they have to be replaced, that would add another $US450 to the total, bringing the cost of the full upgrade to about $US1600, or about $C2100 BEFORE the inevitable import taxes into Canada. That's more than I paid for the entire mount a few years ago.? I'd have to consider selling the old mount and buying new or a recent pre-owned version, as the upgrade would make no sense for me.
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Wonderful, Marc!
I love Space objects in motion. So much more fun to look at.
During the glare of the Moon and before the smokey skies started I manage to get an interesting image of Jupiter and all 4 moons. A first for me, as I do not often hunt planets.
--
SonnyE
(I suggest viewed in full screen)
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Re: Mechanical Stop to Prevent OTA Slipping Off from Saddle
Hi guys!
Thank you guys for the replies. I appreciate your feedbacks.
Thank you Chip for answering about a mysterious screw with plastic knob that came with Losmandy plate, also several 1/4-20 bolts were included. I couldn¡¯t figured this out until you mentioned about it.
Normally, I set a plate at center as the stop is 1/2 inch away from top part of saddle. My ota is in modular form weighs 25-30 pounds which I slip on and off the saddle instead of sliding in or out because of my back.
I need to have a stop that has a larger surface area to contact against the saddle in case of impact without point impact so this is how I came up with.
I did tried loosen the saddle clamps to watch the plate with rings only to slammed against the saddle. The stop went flatly and squarely against without marking the saddle which I felt securely that it did the job well.
I felt that using a bolt or plastic knob is fine for small lighter scope but is inadequate for me.
In the future, I would like to upgrade to bigger scope and I feel confident enough to use the stop that I made.
Make one like mine to see for yourself.
Do whatever you want to your mount as a cheap insurance but don¡¯t make it too cheap. <G>
Cheer
Paul
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Re: Mechanical Stop to Prevent OTA Slipping Off from Saddle
When I picked up my GM811G, I also got a DUP14 to remount my telescope and focuser, and a because I thought I might one day want to undermount my DSLR.
I have yet to venture with the camera mounting as planned, but do use the as my stop.
I like it because it allows me to balance my Telescope Et Al, and when I remove it and put it back, the DVA relocates the telescope in perfect balance time after time. And it clears my DEC motor fine.
Recently I remounted my guide telescope in a piggy-back configuration. During balancing, I simply relocated the DVA to the new stop point.
Always lands in balance every time I mount my imaging rig. ;^)
Lottsa ways to skin a cat... ;^)
--
SonnyE
(I suggest viewed in full screen)
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really amazing mark
especially since I just got my visual scope finally collimated and aligned and looked at jupiter, and i'm pretty sure my version of jupiter is broken. it's just a bit white dot lol
Taken with CN-212 / ASI 12OMC-S on G11
-- Brian?
Brian Valente portfolio
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Re: Spring loaded worm modification G11
I didn't ask Losmandy as I already have the hi-torque motors, but yes according to their website they are required (at $225 per motor as you mentioned).? So yes, makes even less sense in your case to upgrade.
Keith
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Re: Spring loaded worm modification G11
Thanks for the summary Keith. I have a 2005-vintage G11, also with the new OPW on RA but not DEC, though I do have the RAEXS? extension. I'd been contemplating the upgrade, but one question remains for me. Can you shed any light on the comment on the Losmandy site that says this mod requires the hi-torque motors? My motors are the original non hi-torque, and if they have to be replaced, that would add another $US450 to the total, bringing the cost of the full upgrade to about $US1600, or about $C2100 BEFORE the inevitable import taxes into Canada. That's more than I paid for the entire mount a few years ago.? I'd have to consider selling the old mount and buying new or a recent pre-owned version, as the upgrade would make no sense for me.
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Re: Spring loaded worm modification G11
I've been inquiring with Losmandy on this upgrade to the SLW as well (don't need tucked motors), and there's a few things I hadn't appreciated that may or may not be useful to anyone:
- Tucked motor upgrade is required for the SLW upgrade
- None of the existing drive train is re-purposed and all is new (e.g. even if you have a newer OPW you have to purchase another since the SLW is different)
For my older G11, I have a newer OPW on RA, 2-block configuration on DEC, and no RA extension.? So for me a complete upgrade would be (USD): $400 - tucked motors $225 - SLW for RA (note a new OPW with worm is $275, plus gearbox is another $35) $225 - SLW for DEC $100 - RAEXS Plus for me at least $200 for shipping from Canada, so let's call it $1200.? I could probably make up a bit of that by parting out my existing drive train.? Given that a new off-the-shelf G11G (mount only) is $2900, and it sounds now like turnaround time is indeterminate, one at least has to ponder the option of selling the mount as-is and just purchasing new. Keith
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Well done indeed Marc I love the gif ?
--
Brendan
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Re: ZWO ASIair pro on an explore-scientific-G11?
I have used the ASIAir Pro with Gemini 1. ZWO ship a suitable USB to serial cable with the Pro if required for the Explore Scientific controller. If not, a straight USB connection should work fine.
I¡¯d check out the ZWO ASIAir Pro group on Facebook or on the ZWO support page.
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Taken with CN-212 / ASI 12OMC-S on G11
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Re: Spring loaded worm modification G11
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Wed, Sep 16, 2020 at 9:23 PM Brian Valente < bvalente@...> wrote: Hi James
you would need to coordinate that with Tanya, just drop her a line.?
Thanks Brian,
It is fine with me that the?mod needs to be done inhouse. However, is there a way to get in the que without shipping my mount and being without it for a significant?time period? I live fairly close by and can drop off the mount at any convenient time for you guys. I can pay upfront and as my turn comes up I can swing it by and maybe get an email or call from you when it is completed. A?two week window is good with me, and I don`t mind paying two or three months in advance of the?modification. I am easy to work with.?
Anyway, take care.
James
On Wed, Sep 16, 2020 at 7:09 PM Brian Valente < bvalente@...> wrote: [Edited Message Follows]
Hi James
?
right now there's a significant lead time for all modifications. For better and worse, astronomy has really exploded in popularity, and the gear that goes along with it.?
?
The spring-loaded worms is a factory mod. We did try to come up with a DIY mod we could ship out, but we couldn't design one that checked all the boxes and ensured success when installing at home.
?
If you can part with your mount for an extended period of time, you can send it in an get in the queue, or you might consider holding off until the backlog is cleared out?
>>One more thing, I can do the spring loaded worm mod to both axis?
yes you can do it on both axis. i recommend that.?
>>> if I can and choose to have the have the tucked in motor modification latter, will that be an issue?
I'd have to check. I think the spring-loaded worm requires the tucked in motors (or vice versa, i'm focused on something else at the moment)?
personally i'd do them both at the same time if you could. it will save time and I also think the service to clean and relube everything is a bargain once they have it apart.?
Brian
Hey Brian, I am interested in the spring loaded worm mod for the G11. I called in and asked about the tucked in motor mod, as well. There is a significant lead time for the tucked in motor upgrade. I was wondering if the spring loaded worm mod needs any fabrication, or can I just bolt it on and go. Also, if I can and choose to have the have the tucked in motor modification latter, will that be an issue? Is there any particular order to these changes that are optimal?
One more thing, I can do the spring loaded worm mod to both axis?
Thanks and take care,
James
?
?
?
--
Brian?
?
?
?
Brian Valente
portfolio
--
Brian?
Brian Valente portfolio
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Re: Spring loaded worm modification G11
It's so long, we aren't accepting new modifications at this time. I would have to guess but i'd say at least several months
It's really just crazy how many people are either getting into it, dusting off their equipment, or want a tune up
Brian
What is the lead time now if you wanted to do the spring loaded worm, tucked motors & extension/ ra extension?
Chuck -----Original Message----- From: Brian Valente < bvalente@...> To: Losmandy_users < [email protected]> Sent: Wed, Sep 16, 2020 07:06 PM Subject: Re: [Losmandy_users_io] Spring loaded worm modification G11 Hi James
right now there's a significant lead time for all modifications. For better and worse, astronomy has really exploded in popularity, and the gear that goes along with it.?
The spring-loaded worms is a factory mod. We did try to come up with a DIY mod we could ship out, but we couldn't design one that checked all the boxes and ensured success when installing at home.
If you can part with your mount for an extended period of time, you can send it in an get in the queue, or you might consider holding off until the backlog is cleared out?
Brian Hey Brian, I am interested in the spring loaded worm mod for the G11. I called in and asked about the tucked in motor mod, as well. There is a significant lead time for the tucked in motor upgrade. I was wondering if the spring loaded worm mod needs any fabrication, or can I just bolt it on and go. Also, if I can and choose to have the have the tucked in motor modification latter, will that be an issue? Is there any particular order to these changes that are optimal?
One more thing, I can do the spring loaded worm mod to both axis?
Thanks and take care,
James
-- Brian?
Brian Valente portfolio
-- Brian?
Brian Valente portfolio
|
Re: Spring loaded worm modification G11
Hi James
you would need to coordinate that with Tanya, just drop her a line.?
Thanks Brian,
It is fine with me that the?mod needs to be done inhouse. However, is there a way to get in the que without shipping my mount and being without it for a significant?time period? I live fairly close by and can drop off the mount at any convenient time for you guys. I can pay upfront and as my turn comes up I can swing it by and maybe get an email or call from you when it is completed. A?two week window is good with me, and I don`t mind paying two or three months in advance of the?modification. I am easy to work with.?
Anyway, take care.
James
On Wed, Sep 16, 2020 at 7:09 PM Brian Valente < bvalente@...> wrote: [Edited Message Follows]
Hi James
?
right now there's a significant lead time for all modifications. For better and worse, astronomy has really exploded in popularity, and the gear that goes along with it.?
?
The spring-loaded worms is a factory mod. We did try to come up with a DIY mod we could ship out, but we couldn't design one that checked all the boxes and ensured success when installing at home.
?
If you can part with your mount for an extended period of time, you can send it in an get in the queue, or you might consider holding off until the backlog is cleared out?
>>One more thing, I can do the spring loaded worm mod to both axis?
yes you can do it on both axis. i recommend that.?
>>> if I can and choose to have the have the tucked in motor modification latter, will that be an issue?
I'd have to check. I think the spring-loaded worm requires the tucked in motors (or vice versa, i'm focused on something else at the moment)?
personally i'd do them both at the same time if you could. it will save time and I also think the service to clean and relube everything is a bargain once they have it apart.?
Brian
Hey Brian, I am interested in the spring loaded worm mod for the G11. I called in and asked about the tucked in motor mod, as well. There is a significant lead time for the tucked in motor upgrade. I was wondering if the spring loaded worm mod needs any fabrication, or can I just bolt it on and go. Also, if I can and choose to have the have the tucked in motor modification latter, will that be an issue? Is there any particular order to these changes that are optimal?
One more thing, I can do the spring loaded worm mod to both axis?
Thanks and take care,
James
?
?
?
--
Brian?
?
?
?
Brian Valente
portfolio
-- Brian?
Brian Valente portfolio
|
Re: Mechanical Stop to Prevent OTA Slipping Off from Saddle
A 1" long 1/4-20 screw at the end of the saddle would work too.
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Hi,
?
G11's worm block issue is well known agony and my G11 is not an exception. I got it as second (or third...) hand and no idea when it's manufactured but I know enough that it's older than 10 years as I kept it that much in my garage.
?
I put some shim under worm one side of worm block to make motor and worm better aligned.?
As well known, this is impossible task as there is no reference plane to make this perfectly aligned, so I just tried my best but they're not and have no way to know which side to push if it shows wobble as there is no reference plane, again.
I measured worm wobble using dial indicator. In one worm rotation, total wobble is measured as 0.0005"pk-pk.?
But if I measure old-ham coupler, it's another story of wobbling like ~0.007" pk-pk and I'm not even sure whether coupler is really round enough.
And the way dial indicator move is similar to how PE looks like, so what it matters is alignment on old-ham coupler.
?
Do I understand correctly?
?
And how much accuracy do we need on old-ham coupler wobble??
?
Once I disconnect coupler, I can see motor shaft has less than measurable wobbling. So it's all coming from coupling alignment it seems.
Thanks for your advice!
Jinux
?
?
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Re: Spring loaded worm modification G11
Brian
What is the lead time now if you wanted to do the spring loaded worm, tucked motors & extension/ ra extension?
Chuck
-----Original Message----- From: Brian Valente <bvalente@...> To: Losmandy_users < [email protected]> Sent: Wed, Sep 16, 2020 07:06 PM Subject: Re: [Losmandy_users_io] Spring loaded worm modification G11 Hi James
right now there's a significant lead time for all modifications. For better and worse, astronomy has really exploded in popularity, and the gear that goes along with it.?
The spring-loaded worms is a factory mod. We did try to come up with a DIY mod we could ship out, but we couldn't design one that checked all the boxes and ensured success when installing at home.
If you can part with your mount for an extended period of time, you can send it in an get in the queue, or you might consider holding off until the backlog is cleared out?
Brian Hey Brian, I am interested in the spring loaded worm mod for the G11. I called in and asked about the tucked in motor mod, as well. There is a significant lead time for the tucked in motor upgrade. I was wondering if the spring loaded worm mod needs any fabrication, or can I just bolt it on and go. Also, if I can and choose to have the have the tucked in motor modification latter, will that be an issue? Is there any particular order to these changes that are optimal?
One more thing, I can do the spring loaded worm mod to both axis?
Thanks and take care,
James
-- Brian?
Brian Valente portfolio
|
Re: Spring loaded worm modification G11
Thanks Brian,
It is fine with me that the?mod needs to be done inhouse. However, is there a way to get in the que without shipping my mount and being without it for a significant?time period? I live fairly close by and can drop off the mount at any convenient time for you guys. I can pay upfront and as my turn comes up I can swing it by and maybe get an email or call from you when it is completed. A?two week window is good with me, and I don`t mind paying two or three months in advance of the?modification. I am easy to work with.?
Anyway, take care.
James
On Wed, Sep 16, 2020 at 7:09 PM Brian Valente < bvalente@...> wrote: [Edited Message Follows]
Hi James
?
right now there's a significant lead time for all modifications. For better and worse, astronomy has really exploded in popularity, and the gear that goes along with it.?
?
The spring-loaded worms is a factory mod. We did try to come up with a DIY mod we could ship out, but we couldn't design one that checked all the boxes and ensured success when installing at home.
?
If you can part with your mount for an extended period of time, you can send it in an get in the queue, or you might consider holding off until the backlog is cleared out?
>>One more thing, I can do the spring loaded worm mod to both axis?
yes you can do it on both axis. i recommend that.?
>>> if I can and choose to have the have the tucked in motor modification latter, will that be an issue?
I'd have to check. I think the spring-loaded worm requires the tucked in motors (or vice versa, i'm focused on something else at the moment)?
personally i'd do them both at the same time if you could. it will save time and I also think the service to clean and relube everything is a bargain once they have it apart.?
Brian
Hey Brian, I am interested in the spring loaded worm mod for the G11. I called in and asked about the tucked in motor mod, as well. There is a significant lead time for the tucked in motor upgrade. I was wondering if the spring loaded worm mod needs any fabrication, or can I just bolt it on and go. Also, if I can and choose to have the have the tucked in motor modification latter, will that be an issue? Is there any particular order to these changes that are optimal?
One more thing, I can do the spring loaded worm mod to both axis?
Thanks and take care,
James
?
?
?
--
Brian?
?
?
?
Brian Valente
portfolio
|
James B