[ATM] Concept Review - Dob Mounted Roller Drive / Feedback

["Peter" <peter@kitgear.com>]

Hi,

I'm working out the design of my next big Dob and I wanted to get some
feedback about an idea to have the Alt drive and encoder feedback friction
fed. The obvious reason for doing this is to make a simple plop and go scope
which does not require encoder or drive installation.

The idea is to replace the glass laminate on the Alt bearing with hard
rubber running on 4 knurled rollers. One roller will drive the Alt encoder
through friction and a second roller would be connected to the drive motor.
Please see the simple sketch: www.kitgear.com/atm/roller.jpg

One concern I have is if the scope sat for a few weeks or months would the
rubber deform on the 4 roller lines of contact and cause a problem? I'd also
like to know if you think the friction would be sufficient to adequately
drive the encoder? I live near the Great Lakes so summer time humidity / dew
is high, hence the high friction rubber.

If the consensus if that the idea would work then I'd like to do the same
with the Azimuth drive and encoder so I can use a low profile flex rocker.
The encoder count would have to be reduced by the drive ratio.

All other ideas are also welcome.

Thanks,


Peter

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