Gina

Um... what colour camera? I'll colour the 3D printed parts and post a new screenshot.

I prefer the idea of a proper dome with shutter as that would be good to keep the wind off. I shall be looking at both that and a clamshell design. Clamshell may be more difficult to seal when closed.

Yes, the dome will be next. Probably be a clamshell design. Easier to operate. I did create a true dome a while back but it's too small and I had trouble working out how to motorise the shutter.

RA drive bearings modelled and added.

Came to the conclusion that putting the timing pulleys and belts in a closed box made things too complicated and too difficult to assemble so have changed to a skeleton approach. The bearings for the axles will be held by capping pieces, screwed on, as with the DEC main axle. I thought the plain parts were rather difficult to separate in the screenshot view so I've coloured them. Hope this makes it clearer.

Yes. This arrangement is frequently used for the Z axis of 3D printers where the loading is more.

A couple of ideas - idler wheels of move the bearings.

Next try at the design of the RA drive box. I don't want the small pulley too close to the big one otherwise the belt doesn't mesh with as many teeth on the small pulley. This is without the top cover on the box.

First attempt at RA drive box design. It sticks out too far for my liking. The casing can be combined with the RA axle bearing pillow block as shown but a bit differently. Overall view, closeup of RA drive and the insides of the RA drive box.

This shows a 450mm dome added to the model.

NEMA 11 and timing pulley added. That completes the DEC drive apart from timing belts. Intermediate shaft wants shortening, I know.

Just checked and found the NEMA 11 - size is 28mm x 28mm x 28mm. A lot smaller and lighter than the 17 size.

If I were to go for no guiding I don't need the pixel resolution in the DEC axis since this will only be used for initial image framing. So I could have one less reduction stage resulting in around a 6 pixel resolution. This will simplify the DEC drive. I can use a NEMA 11 stepper motor to reduce weight.

Single imaging rig.

Ah yes I know only too well what you mean. The imaging system will be housed in a micro observatory - either dome or clamshell - haven't decided yet. This will be something like 400mm diameter. I run imaging remotely from my living room. The pier is a Skywatcher Pier Mount sitting on three concrete blocks. Not far away but I don't want to take a laptop outdoors to see the effect of PA adjustment. And since I could arrange remote PA adjustment, I did.

Ooh I love cuckoo clocks and would love to restore one. I plan to build one, one day. Together with 10,000 other things I plan to build! 🤣

That is something I need to sort out.

My current WF imaging rig which fits on the EQ8 has provision for turning the camera for best framing. I've been looking at possibly doing this for the new rig but it's problematic. Also, unless I motorise it for remote control it violates the totally remote principle. In fact with the high resolution of the ASI1600MM, the image can be cropped a lot before too much data is lost so frame orientation is not that important. This means the camera and EFW can be orientated to suit the construction.

Right! Practical it is. Single imaging rig relying on accurate PA rather than guiding. This stands a chance of working with the shorter FL lenses if less so with 200mm. I do have the EQ8 as a more accurate mount anyway.

In what way do you think it starts to look like a Mesu? Mesu are GEM mine is a fork.

As a lover of everything different, I feel I need to go for this as a practical project. With the weather as it is, standard imaging does not produce much joy.

Been thinking... I've been designing in terms of having guiding yet I haven't arranged for a guide camera. OAG is not an option with lenses so it would need a guide scope/lens. This is getting bigger and bigger at this rate!! Also, I made a decision when I was looking into this project earlier to go for a single imaging rig as a starting point. I've been going for an "all singing, all dancing" imaging system lately and I'm wondering if this is such a good idea. I could start simple and refine things later if the project takes off. After all, it's only a matter of CAD followed by mainly 3D printing the parts. I might manage something relatively simple whereas a bigger project may never get off the drawing board. SO... Am I designing a complicated "fantasy" setup or shall I go for something more practical?

I think the off-balance weight of the EFW and filters may be balanced by the weight of the pulleys and stepper motor on the other side once I've added them.

This model reminds me of 5-Alive in that robot film... 🤣

I think the DEC drive pulleys and belts may fit on the side of the fork.