Hello Everyone,
Twenty-odd years ago, I’ve used a DIY dual (side-by-side) manual guiding mount for wide field astrophotography. Returning to the hobby and to manual guiding, I’m trying to build one.
If memory serves, the guy who built it reverse-engineered it from a photo/article found in a DIY astro book. Unfortunately, he seems to be out of reach.
I’ve looked at many excellent DIY and mount threads here. Nothing came close to discussing this.
Here are some details that do come to memory (wish I could draw:)
General:
- This is an alt-az mount.
- It could carry up to two lightweight 4” scopes, and one SLR on a hollow aluminum rod.
- Manual tracking corrections were made by turning two knobs.
- Almost sure it had a clutch, but I cannot place it in the details below. I remember turning a knob in the counter direction of the step motor to slow it down and get the guide star back into the crosshair.
- Ran off my car battery.
- BASE:
- A flat rectangular plate, about 24 inches (~60cm) in length, 12 inches (~30cm) in width.
- ¾ inch thick plywood
- ¼ inch hole in the center of the base, to connect to a standard tripod shoe.
Arm:
- Arm length was about 12 inches (~30 cm)
- When deployed, arm was to be propped up on a threaded rod.
- Elevation lock was achieved by tightening two hex nuts on each side of the arm
- Elevation would equal Imager’s latitude (could serve imagers anywhere from Latitude 20N to 70N easily.)
- On top of the arm was a thick aluminum pole to which you would attach the gear (see following.)
Gear Rod (for lack of a better term:)
- The Arm (see above) carried a 2 inch (~5cm) aluminum rod, at 90 degrees to the arm.
- The rod was smooth and hollow.
- Inside the hollow aluminum rod there was a ¼ inch threaded rod, sticking out about ¾ of an inch.
- You would attach the imaging gear to one end of the rod, and your guiding scope with 12mm crosshair to the other end.
- You would swivel the rod as means of aiming the gear to your target, then lock it by turning a knob that would apply pressure on the arm.
Motors:
- Two NEMA step motors.
- voltage, speed unknown.
- Worm motors.
Polar Alignment:
- Achieved roughly through a hollow ¼ aluminum pipe to the left of the device.
Thank you all for reading.
I hope to begin building it soon.
Will update.
Be well in this crazy times.
