chemistorge

Hi,

I have built the AstroEq mega version and it works great, I use Astro berry on a pi 4, the software is kstars/ekos. It does everything in one package (cameras, alignment, tracking, go to, focus, guiding and sequencing). To make it easier to implement the mega AstroEq. I designed a custom shield for the mega. See here: 

Not sure if this is of help but I have designed a shield for the mega so that the AstroEq mega build is very simple. I have published full docs and Gerber files here: 

Hi, 

I have the ender v2 printer. To get it working perfectly I did a few things:

1) Turn down motor current a bit for y and x axis as the motors were getting very hot and also I was getting layer slips when the drivers overheated.

2) Open controller compartment and prop open a bit at top to allow better air flow, stops the drivers over heating.

3) Use captan tape with smaller builds to prevent the parts slipping off, also I rub down the bed with IPA after every print.

I agree there are lots of ways to do things. I was worried about vibrations using the DRV88xx and A4988 drivers. I like ekos as all tools for imaging are there unlike windows where you have to have a separate mount control program to imaging and alignment if you want to stay with low cost options. Maybe I am biased as a Linux user for 20 odd years.

One thing I will say is you don’t need to buy a fancy all singing mount with go to if you are willing to do a bit of research, go to is now open source!

Hi,

I built the AstroEq mega version, for pulleys I went with 60 and 15 tooth, the 60 tooth just fits on the eq5/old cg5 mount. This gives me a 0.7 arc secs per step using 1.8 deg 16 micro steps or 0.35 arc secs per step with 0.9 deg motor.

For motor drivers I stayed well away from drv882x and the a4988 drivers (too noisy). I initially went with tmc2100 drivers at 0.6 amps very smooth and quiet, they were pricy though at £10 per driver. I have recently built a second rig and used the more advanced tmc2208 drivers, much cheaper also (use A4988 16 micro steps in astroeq, they are pin compatible with a4988 in legacy mode). I have to put my ear near the motors when slewing to check they are running they are so quiet.

For software, I use a raspberry pi 4 with Astro berry using stars/Eros. It is excellent, the polar alignment routine in ekos gets me within 1 arc min of the pole in less than 5 mins. If you also include the guiding, focusing, cam control it is amazing. Also I can program a sequence and (if it is going to be dry all night) go to bed. 

Hi All, this is my first post on here. I have been in to astrophotography for a few years now and I am very much intro to DIY and not Buy if possible. This lead me to the excellent AstroEQ by Tom Carpenter (www.astroeq.co.uk). I made myself the Arduino Mega version which has worked great. The only issue was all the wires. To solve this I designed a custom shield. I had the 5 boards made by JCLPCB for £10 landed to UK (amazing). If anyone else could find this useful I have posed the gerber and kicad files, and pictures and videos of it working.  Note: I uses a DC-DC buck converter to power the arduino as in the past the onboard regulator has blown and taken out everything. 

Hope someone finds this useful.

AstroEQ Mega Shield.pdf Astroeq Mega Shield_kicad.zip Astroeq mega sheild_gerber.zip