[ATM] 22" binocular telescope upgrades

["Bruce Sayre" <sayre@foothill.net>]

I've made some upgrades to my 22" binocular:

1. Replaced Alucobond composite top ring with steel hexagon with lots of  holes; got rid
of two pounds and acquired a little more stiffness

2. Now using a wire spider "web" strung from a single strand of 0.02" spring temper
stainless steel wire, effectively attached at 8 points around the secondary and three at
the hexagon; it eliminated all vibration around the secondary axis (a la offset spider,
but then some).
 
3. Upgraded the stepper motor drive to NEMA 17 servos and the wonderful new Sidereal
Technology dual servo controller. Getting 6+ degrees/second slewing with my muscular
Dynetic servos.

I'm making a few more changes to reduce setup time and add some mirror edge protection.
Almost done, and it's getting easier and easier to use.

I've updated my Web site (below) with new pictures and descriptions of most of these
changes.

I can't say enough about the new servo controller, developed by Mel Bartels and Dan Gray
and sold by Mel at BBAstroDesigns. It works with or without a PC and Scope II, with or
without clutches, with or without digital setting circles (like Sky Commander or Argo
Navis), and with or without PC planetarium software like Earth Centered Universe. Bravo,
gentlemen -- a masterstroke! 

Since practically all of my ATM digests for the last several months have been bounced
(probably because my ISP's mail server has black-listed the atmlist.net domain as a
spammer or something), I don't know what's going on in the ATM world. One of these days I
hope to get back in touch.

Bruce Sayre
P. O. Box 544
Applegate, CA 95703 USA
mailto:sayre@foothill.net
http://www.foothill.net/~sayre 

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