motorizing my telescope custom stand

[kipstar]

My new project need some help motorizeing it now does anyone on here now anything about stepper motors or will they even work on a scope this big

[ronin]

Part of the problem is that stepper motors are in effect run by software. The software tells the motor to perform a step. So telling it how many steps top perform per second/minute sets the rotation rate.

So it ends up a  case of writing, compiling and downloading the software onto the chip, then having the box of electronics to select the rate programmed in.

There has to be alternatives just no idea what.

Try this link for an idea of what is required:

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/telescope/Projects/PICcontroller.htm

The person reworked it all for the EQ5 motors.

Suspect not applicable directly to yours but it gives an idea.

Looks like you are intending to drive a dobsonian type mount, this will mean the need to convert the cartesian movements of the mount to the polar movements of the sky. The location of any object is in the sky determines the ratio of Alt and Az that needs to be applied so the balance is in effect changing all the time.

[kipstar]

Thanks mate yer ive been reading about this projecthttp://www.codeproject.com/Articles/657252/Motorizing-a-Telescope-Part

[weareborg]

There are a few options for motorising a Dob mount. 

Firstly, there is the legendary Mel Bartel's goto drive system that uses stepper motors and a pc to control it. Information can be found at: http://www.bbastrodesigns.com/StepperSystem.html

The design is totally free, and there are many version of Mel's basic stepper driver board from the simpliest to a more advanced board. There is also the Yahoo group which has a wealth of information. 

Secondly, there is PicGoto here: https://sites.google.com/site/picgoto/Home which also has a Yahoo group. 

This is mainly built for driving EQ mounts but it can drive dobs too. 

Hope this info helps

Andy

[Peter Drew]

How about considering an equatorial platform, the larger the telescope the more appropriate they become.