Rowan AZ100 - Motor Drive System

[johninderby]

The slo-mo controls still work very well. Slight notchiness but still smooth. 👍🏻

[johninderby]

iPad / phone holder adjustable with ballhead mount and simply fits onto the saddle using a short vixen dovetail bar.

Edited November 27, 2021 by johninderby

[neil phillips]

30 minutes ago, johninderby said:

iPad / phone holder adjustable with ballhead mount and simply fits onto the saddle using a short vixen dovetail bar.

Very cool John. Congrats on it now running. Will be on the lookout for your first images 

[johninderby]

Hopefully running this aft. Got the software to set up yet but will get to that after lunch.🙂

Edited November 27, 2021 by johninderby

[Deadlake]

On 27/11/2021 at 10:08, Dek Rowan Astro said:

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

Here some competition then, the vixen half pillar is a lot lighter (1.8 kg) and easier to attach...

However it's cast I believe, Japanese like to use this approach... 

 

Edited November 28, 2021 by Deadlake

[Space Hopper]

@Dek Rowan Astro

Not sure if this has been asked before Derek, but once the motorisation is up and running 

will the mount have any imaging potential at all ??

And by that i mean 30 sec stacked images, nothing longer exposure wise.

Thanks.

[Alan White]

Great to see progress to being out in the wild and Beta testing now live, 

clearly lots of hard graft gone on behind  the hallowed doors of Rowan Towers, nice one chaps.

Great to see such a well made product again growing and evolving, shows the dedication to the project.

 

And @johninderby glad you decided to show that it’s as solidly built as a Panzer 😂

[johninderby]

Yes it is indeed a very solid bit of kit. 👍🏻

Will Stu be posting photos of his?

 

[Dek Rowan Astro]

13 hours ago, Space Hopper said:

@Dek Rowan Astro

Not sure if this has been asked before Derek, but once the motorisation is up and running 

will the mount have any imaging potential at all ??

And by that i mean 30 sec stacked images, nothing longer exposure wise.

Thanks.

Hi SH,

 

This is something we haven't tested but the mount should be capable of 30sec exposures and within the normal limits of field rotation and focal length etc.

What's the typical set up you use and we'll try to duplicate and run a quick test.

ATB

Derek.

 

[Stu]

1 hour ago, johninderby said:

Will Stu be posting photos of his?

I don’t have a tiger tank, so can’t post up any pictures I’m afraid…. Or am I getting confused? 🤪🤪

Will post some up soon, I promise!

[johninderby]

What I really want to see is an AZ100 posing with Hypno-Disc. 😁😁😁

Edited November 28, 2021 by johninderby

[Stu]

The beast lives! Got it connected and working, although obviously with a fake alignment. If the skies stay clear I’ll try it tonight, haven’t checked forecast yet but it’s clear currently.

Everything looks hugely professional and well made (as you would expect), very impressive.

[johninderby]

Heavy rain followed by clear skies forecast here tonight so it’s a maybe. 🙏🏼

[callisto]

Very nice John 

[Space Hopper]

11 hours ago, Dek Rowan Astro said:

Hi SH,

 

This is something we haven't tested but the mount should be capable of 30sec exposures and within the normal limits of field rotation and focal length etc.

What's the typical set up you use and we'll try to duplicate and run a quick test.

ATB

Derek.

 

Refractors with 980mm and 650mm focal lengths and a humble Canon EOS R mirrorless (full frame)

Currently saving towards a reducer / flattener.

[Deadlake]

Also what weight do the drives support, presume its 20 kg's on both sides?

How much do the drives weigh?

Edited November 29, 2021 by Deadlake

[johninderby]

One plus worth mentioning with the system is that it also includes GPS 👍🏻 

Will help with set up. 🙂

[Dek Rowan Astro]

17 hours ago, Space Hopper said:

Refractors with 980mm and 650mm focal lengths and a humble Canon EOS R mirrorless (full frame)

Currently saving towards a reducer / flattener.

Hello SH,

We have similar kit that will be able to provide a test bed for a few test images if Stu or John don't beat us to it  🙂

ATB

Derek

 

 

[johninderby]

When the weather permits intend to do some lunar imaging. Hopefully before Xmas. 😁😁😁

[Stu]

1 hour ago, Dek Rowan Astro said:

Hello SH,

We have similar kit that will be able to provide a test bed for a few test images if Stu or John don't beat us to it  🙂

ATB

Derek

 

 

Imaging? Wassat? 🤣🤣
Might try some smartphone images….

[Fedele]

On 27/11/2021 at 10:21, Dek Rowan Astro said:

"Qualcosa che John e Stu saranno in grado di testare per determinare quando, o se è necessario e quanto sia pratico la montatura utilizzando i controlli al rallentatore."

 

Just what we need instead: to have both at the same time and in a fluid way

[Fedele]

But will there be a manual keyboard, with direction keys, fine / fast speed variant in a fluid manner ? to allow corrections while driving? (for example for planetary shots)

[johninderby]

There should be a handset eventually. See below.

[johninderby]

First test of the Rowan AZ100 motor system.

Worked rather well with nice accurate slews to targets. So quiet I didn’t notice any noise at all while slewing. Not going to br any problems annoying neighbours with operating noise. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

Edited December 1, 2021 by johninderby

[Dek Rowan Astro]

On 28/11/2021 at 22:17, Space Hopper said:

Refractors with 980mm and 650mm focal lengths and a humble Canon EOS R mirrorless (full frame)

Currently saving towards a reducer / flattener.

Hello SH,

Here is a image of a very quick test we did the other night, bit of a rush job as the clouds were approaching.

30sec exposure using a Nikon DSLR.

The star to the top left looks a little elongated, could be a double or camera tilt?, the rest of the frame looks quite good.

Indications are promising, but more careful testing would be needed for before making a firm conclusion.

ATB

Derek.