Wow Nice one mark, amazing video, you made it very easy to understand. I was researching on how to design an astrophotographic equatorial mount and i came across this video of yours and i was amazed at the design and explanation you gave. I am a final year student of Bsc PHYSICS and my project topic is DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF AN ASTROPHOTOGRAPHIC EQUATORIAL MOUNT and this video was very helpful and i was hoping if you could guide me through my project and assist my with more explanation on how to go about it. I really hope you see my massage and get back to me. Best regards Thank you.
Thank for your reply sir I have been trying to balance my mounting plate on the tripod but it keep tilting when ever I place the camera. I have considered adding a counter weight to balance the system but I am a bit skeptical because I think it might stress the work. How did you construct your ? The mounting plate is totally balance on the tripod even when the camera is in place. Any instruction from you as of this point will be very helpful and also if it not too much to ask, can I get the video of you tracking the moon ?
Love your clear explanation of the threads and timing. Using my Xiaomi Black Shark 3 phone gives me sharper but dimmer Milky Way at 8 seconds and bright but slightly smudged at 16 seconds. 32 seconds is brilliant but starting to smear. Any version of your hinge setup should fix my 32 second exposures and large stacks of exposures wonderfully. I have stepper motors and controllers I can sub for the 1 RPM motor in a jiffy. Just need to pick up the threaded rod and bolts.
Hi come across Ur video whilst researching barn door trackers. I prefer the idea of using a DC motor over stepper motor/driver/microcontroller (although not adverse to the programming etc as I've worked in IT for over 35 years). Just wondered what you use as the 12v power supply? Must admit my head is spinning on the route to take at the mo. Just think the commercial offerings are a bit pricey, and having rekindled my astronomy and electronic s interest am happy to follow a DIY path.
I use one of these. It's 12V with USB output so can run a dew heater as well. UK link but they sell them everywhere! www.amazon.co.uk/TalentCell-Rechargeable-11000mAh-20000mAh-Portable/dp/B06Y5G3C8Z/ref=asc_df_B06Y5G3C8Z/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=309785494452&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=11791206585230427036&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1007044&hvtargid=pla-555508973253&psc=1
Hi Mark, sorry it's taken so long to reply, but thanks for the link. Much appreciated. Another qq: do you have any plans/diagrams available? I'm particularly interested to know if the ball head position is specific or can it be placed anywhere? And lastly, just for info, I'm Yorkshire based so any UK links are great 😁
Thanks for the video. I'm planning to do this for an upcoming solar eclipse. I'm very interested in how you aligned the tracker without having a view of Polaris. I think you said you used a compass and level. Can you elaborate, please?
@@RefreshingViews Thank you! I was afraid it would be more complicated than that. Thanks also for coming back to answer that question many months after your initial post. I was just looking at your printed tracker, too. I like it, but it won't fit on my Ender 3 unless I really shorten the radius and slow down the motor to .5 rpm. On the subject of motors, it seems like supply voltage must be maintained to keep the motor turning at a constant 1 RPM. If using battery power, do you need to adjust the PWM regulator as the batteries are depleted? Did you get a voltage meter incorporated into your design? I'm trying to decide if it makes sense to use a stepper AND Arduino AND driver AND shield AND multiple input voltages rather than your simpler approach.
Yeah you will get far better results with stepper and controller. I was constantly tweaking the analogue speed controller as battery voltage and temperature changed. I got it good enough for say 50mm DSLR or making a timelapse but not sure it would be good enough for long focal length imaging.
Reading the eBay description it states Load torque: 10KG.CM www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12V-High-Torque-Turbo-Worm-Gear-Motor-1-250RPM-GW370-1RPM-For-Robot-Model-Drive-/274659476030?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49286&mkrid=710-127635-2958-0
I can’t seem to find your question re the distance from the hinge to the threaded rod. I don’t have my notes with me but can look it up when I’m next in front of my computer.
Amazing Video Mark! I didn't know these things were possible with simple equipments!!!
Thanks, Tulga. I think they were first invented (or at least published) in 1970s by Haig - I can't take any credit for them!
Wow
Nice one mark, amazing video, you made it very easy to understand. I was researching on how to design an astrophotographic equatorial mount and i came across this video of yours and i was amazed at the design and explanation you gave.
I am a final year student of Bsc PHYSICS and my project topic is DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF AN ASTROPHOTOGRAPHIC EQUATORIAL MOUNT and this video was very helpful and i was hoping if you could guide me through my project and assist my with more explanation on how to go about it.
I really hope you see my massage and get back to me.
Best regards
Thank you.
Good luck with your BSc project Graham and feel free to ask any questions - whether or not I can answer them or not is another matter!
Thank for your reply sir
I have been trying to balance my mounting plate on the tripod but it keep tilting when ever I place the camera.
I have considered adding a counter weight to balance the system but I am a bit skeptical because I think it might stress the work.
How did you construct your ? The mounting plate is totally balance on the tripod even when the camera is in place.
Any instruction from you as of this point will be very helpful and also if it not too much to ask, can I get the video of you tracking the moon ?
Love your clear explanation of the threads and timing. Using my Xiaomi Black Shark 3 phone gives me sharper but dimmer Milky Way at 8 seconds and bright but slightly smudged at 16 seconds. 32 seconds is brilliant but starting to smear. Any version of your hinge setup should fix my 32 second exposures and large stacks of exposures wonderfully. I have stepper motors and controllers I can sub for the 1 RPM motor in a jiffy. Just need to pick up the threaded rod and bolts.
Ah, cheers Matt. Glad it was useful. I look forward to seeing your efforts. Stay safe!
Really interesting, love your videos
Thank you!
Fantastic video again mate!
Thanks again!
Hi come across Ur video whilst researching barn door trackers. I prefer the idea of using a DC motor over stepper motor/driver/microcontroller (although not adverse to the programming etc as I've worked in IT for over 35 years). Just wondered what you use as the 12v power supply? Must admit my head is spinning on the route to take at the mo. Just think the commercial offerings are a bit pricey, and having rekindled my astronomy and electronic s interest am happy to follow a DIY path.
I use one of these. It's 12V with USB output so can run a dew heater as well. UK link but they sell them everywhere!
www.amazon.co.uk/TalentCell-Rechargeable-11000mAh-20000mAh-Portable/dp/B06Y5G3C8Z/ref=asc_df_B06Y5G3C8Z/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=309785494452&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=11791206585230427036&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1007044&hvtargid=pla-555508973253&psc=1
Hi Mark, sorry it's taken so long to reply, but thanks for the link. Much appreciated.
Another qq: do you have any plans/diagrams available? I'm particularly interested to know if the ball head position is specific or can it be placed anywhere? And lastly, just for info, I'm Yorkshire based so any UK links are great 😁
Thanks for the video. I'm planning to do this for an upcoming solar eclipse. I'm very interested in how you aligned the tracker without having a view of Polaris. I think you said you used a compass and level. Can you elaborate, please?
Simply point the polar axis due north using compass on your phone; then set altitude using spirit level. I’m at 51N so need to set it to 51 degrees.
@@RefreshingViews Thank you! I was afraid it would be more complicated than that. Thanks also for coming back to answer that question many months after your initial post.
I was just looking at your printed tracker, too. I like it, but it won't fit on my Ender 3 unless I really shorten the radius and slow down the motor to .5 rpm. On the subject of motors, it seems like supply voltage must be maintained to keep the motor turning at a constant 1 RPM. If using battery power, do you need to adjust the PWM regulator as the batteries are depleted? Did you get a voltage meter incorporated into your design? I'm trying to decide if it makes sense to use a stepper AND Arduino AND driver AND shield AND multiple input voltages rather than your simpler approach.
Yeah you will get far better results with stepper and controller. I was constantly tweaking the analogue speed controller as battery voltage and temperature changed. I got it good enough for say 50mm DSLR or making a timelapse but not sure it would be good enough for long focal length imaging.
Nice one Mark, will this be going in Astronomy Now later on?
Hi Peter - I hope all is well over there. Good idea! I'll see if they are interested in a draft later this month.
Hi, very nice. What is the torque of that motor?
Reading the eBay description it states Load torque: 10KG.CM
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12V-High-Torque-Turbo-Worm-Gear-Motor-1-250RPM-GW370-1RPM-For-Robot-Model-Drive-/274659476030?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49286&mkrid=710-127635-2958-0
Does the ball heal placement makes any difference??
I kept mine close to the hinge to minimise the load and bending.
Hi. Very interesting video. Do you have a schematic of your electronic circuit?
And do you know how many amps the motor is drawing?
No Niels I don’t - just what is in the video. I keep on meaning to write it up as an article on my website but never quite get round to it.!
Not many I imagine. The camera is heavy but the torque / moment around the hinge is pretty low.
Hello you mind telling how did you make a template of how much you need to bend the rod?
With an engineering compass. I literally draw a circle and bent the rod to the curve.
@@RefreshingViews so your radius should be the length from the hinge center?
@@RefreshingViews thanks for the super fast reply btw
@@saisaketh23 you're welcome! From the centre of the hinge to the centre of the rod
What size of tee nut do you use?
To mount on the tripod? It’s a 1/4-20 flanged nut.
I can’t seem to find your question re the distance from the hinge to the threaded rod. I don’t have my notes with me but can look it up when I’m next in front of my computer.
Sir
Can you please give us a mesurement of plys in detail please
Thanks sir.
Hi Kirit - I will put together a sketch for you. I am away at the moment so give me a few days!