Rowan AZ100 - Motor Drive System

[johninderby]

Rowan AZ100 - Motor Drive System

Received the AZ100 motor drive system and my mount now with the encoders fitted this afternoon that I will be beta testing. While the hardware isn’t likely to change much if at all it’s the operating system that is in it’s early stages that will take time to develop and will take up most of the beta testing time. 

There won’t be any reviews of the system as it is in the beta testing stage and features and capabilities will be added as the testing goes along and would be unfair to Rowan to review a system that is under development.

However I will be posting photos and letting you know how testing is coming along generally even if I can’t be too specific but hopefully you will find some things of interest as the thread goes along.

Proper photos to follow in the morning in daylight but will add some taken in the workshop for now.

        John

Edited November 26, 2021 by johninderby

[Space Hopper]

They certainly sound nice and quiet when Rowan posted the slew test video.

Looking forward to following the progress.....

[johninderby]

Now to set it up. 🤔

[lifeonmars]

Looking forward to following this thread John,interested to see if you can still use the slo mos manually.

Interesting Black Friday delivery!

[Telescope40]

Hello John.  Great news. Any info you can divulge will be nicely received I’m sure by all the mount owners. My c card is cowering as I type. 
 

John. 

[johninderby]

Looks like I will be doing some test alignments in the conservatory this weekend judging from the weather but at least will be getting familiar with it. Limited features at the moment and a very simple user interface but at least it’s a start.

Do I recall someone saying the motor drive system was vapourware? 😁😁😁

Few pics taken in the workshop.

Edited November 26, 2021 by johninderby

[Telescope40]

John. Have to ask. Tank body behind the mount.  What model - WW2 or modern.  Panzer, Tiger, Abrams, Challenger ?? 
Turret still to be fitted. 
 

John 

[johninderby]

1/6 scale Tiger 1 tank. As winter is coming time to get back to the project. Costs a bit more than a Takahashi TOA-130NFB when finished. 🙀

[Telescope40]

33 minutes ago, johninderby said:

1/6 scale Tiger 1 tank. As winter is coming time to get back to the project. Costs a bit more than a Takahashi TOA-130NFB when finished. 🙀

Fantastic John. Anything WW2 is just up my street. My Dad was the instigator. He was well read on the subject. Rubbed off on me which was no bad thing. 👍👍👍
 

[chrispj]

51 minutes ago, Telescope40 said:

John. Have to ask. Tank body behind the mount. 

My first thought also 😆

[Stu]

My kit arrived today too so am looking forward to giving it a try out. As John says, forecast is pretty poor so might have to wait for some use under the stars!

[johninderby]

New gear arrives and it’s high winds and rain and sleet. So situation normal. 😢

 

[Deadlake]

Any news on the new half pillar Derek is putting together?

[Stu]

2 minutes ago, Deadlake said:

Any news on the new half pillar Derek is putting together?

That is in the queue behind some other stuff, including some AZ75 parts I think.

[Dek Rowan Astro]

20 minutes ago, Deadlake said:

Any news on the new half pillar Derek is putting together?

Hi DL,

Material is on the rack waiting for machine availability / Dave.

ATB

Derek.

[johninderby]

Hopefully the pillar extension will be lighter than the SW one. 🤔

[Dek Rowan Astro]

14 hours ago, lifeonmars said:

Looking forward to following this thread John,interested to see if you can still use the slo mos manually.

Interesting Black Friday delivery!

HI LOM,

The AZ100 interface can turn the motors on/off to enable the mount can be steered manually.

I do this on the initial alignment, push to and simultaneous GOTO with motor on  to chosen star, then motors off and  centre the star precisely using slow mo to  sync star1.  Repeat for star 2.

But, there is increased drag and you do feel the magnetic detents from the motors.

The mount can be moved manually, GOTO or a combination of both with the motors on by slipping on the clutches, nudged onto position and it immediately begins to track. Sky Safari does have the jog buttons too.

Ultimately with the motors fitted to the mount it is  no longer a 'truly manual mount' but it's a 5 min job to simply take the belts off and the mount is returned to fully manual if so desired.

Something John and Stu will be able to test to determine when, or if it's necessary and  how practical the mount is using slow motion controls.

ATB

Derek.

[Dek Rowan Astro]

20 minutes ago, johninderby said:

Hopefully the pillar extension will be lighter than the SW one. 🤔

Anyone know the weight or can weigh the SW extension?

Derek.

[johninderby]

11 minutes ago, Dek Rowan Astro said:

Anyone know the weight or can weigh the SW extension?

Derek.

2979g. 🙂

Edited November 27, 2021 by johninderby

[Dek Rowan Astro]

12 minutes ago, johninderby said:

2979g. 🙂

Thanks John, that's a good starting reference. 

[johninderby]

The SW part is what I call crude but effective. Just a length of steel pipe with cast pot metal end pieces. 😕

[lifeonmars]

26 minutes ago, Dek Rowan Astro said:

HI LOM,

The AZ100 interface can turn the motors on/off to enable the mount can be steered manually.

I do this on the initial alignment, push to and simultaneous GOTO with motor on  to chosen star, then motors off and  centre the star precisely using slow mo to  sync star1.  Repeat for star 2.

But, there is increased drag and you do feel the magnetic detents from the motors.

The mount can be moved manually, GOTO or a combination of both with the motors on by slipping on the clutches, nudged onto position and it immediately begins to track. Sky Safari does have the jog buttons too.

Ultimately with the motors fitted to the mount it is  no longer a 'truly manual mount' but it's a 5 min job to simply take the belts off and the mount is returned to fully manual if so desired.

Something John and Stu will be able to test to determine when, or if it's necessary and  how practical the mount is using slow motion controls.

ATB

Derek.

Hello Derek

Thanks very much for your detailed explanation about the slo motion aspect of the driven mount ,looking forward too see it develop and ultimately go on general sale.

 Many thanks Frank

[Dek Rowan Astro]

18 minutes ago, johninderby said:

The SW part is what I call crude but effective. Just a length of steel pipe with cast pot metal end pieces. 😕

We'll be using alumium for the tube so there's 1/2 a ton saved already 🙂

[neil phillips]

Good to see it coming along. Any lunar imaging is looking more likely for next time around. Such is the curse of the new gear. Think that tank behind is the perfect backdrop. 

[johninderby]

Few photos taken in daylight. This afternoons project to set up the system. 🙂

I’ll be powering it with a Tracer LiFeP04 battery and using a Lynx power cable.

Edited November 27, 2021 by johninderby