Re: [ATM] Unique New Equatorial Platform Design

[Andy Saulietis <iss@pvtnetworks.net>]

>I can understand that you independently designed your drive, and I 
>applaud you
>for it, but I don't think your claims of uniqueness are warranted.

I second that opinion..the very first accurate clocks were
made circa 400 bc in Egypt, and used the principle of water
leaving a container of constant (overflowing) volume to
turn a time indicator mechanism, analoguos to a telescope
RA drive. Aristotle later elaborated on this mechanism to show
the positions of celestial objects etc. Not exactly a recently
invented principle IMHO..

Myself, I'm working on a telescope drive using hard knurled steel
drive roller pressing against a large dia HDPE plastic disk.
In principle, no backlash, continuous rotation, no periodic
error. A prototype on a medium sized equatorial mount is
being calibrated and tested. Looks promising, I'll report
quantitative results later.

There was another eq platform suggested..a hinged plate supported by a decaying
watermelon. No info on whether it worked, probably because no one could
stand being near the thing..<g>

      


_______________________________________________
ATM mailing list http://www.atmlist.net/