Equatorial Platform

Has anyone here ever made an equatorial platform for their dob?

The commercially available ones cost more than a good telescope, which is more than I can pay. I have read quite a bit on the net and was wondering if anyone has made one and might have some sage advice.

At $1000 for a platform made from $100 in materials, a person could start a business doing this.

I just purchased an Astrosystems Equatorial Platform for my Dobs. It is a very nice looking unit, but not made anymore. They are reported to work well and be low profile. The price was a reasonable $350 plus shipping and it is set up for my Starmaster 14.5" and should work fine for the new 10" StarStructure as well. Just for visual it is single axis. It is a 32° set up with a bit of adjustment in the legs. Astrosystems told me that at 34-35° I should have no problems but might raise the north legs just a little to compensate. It also has the battery and a set of shims for 36° so I should be set. Round feet that take the place or the original Starmaster feet, fit into holes in the top plate for secure mounting.
I will post a review when it come in and I get the chance to use it.

Hello Garrick,

I have made one for about $300CDN. There is a group dedicated to building EQP:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/eqplatforms

Besides the lumber, you'll need to get a motor capable of slow speed. Steppers motor are usually used. If so, a good micro-stepping driving circuit can be found here: http://home.att.net/~wzmicro/prod01.htm
look for the MD-5 circuit.

Another substitute is the following gearhead DC motor found at Herbach & Rademan:
http://www.herbach.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=HAR&Product_Code=TM02MTR4569&Category_Code=DCGEARHEAD
You can use this simple circuit to control the speed:
http://store.qkits.com/moreinfo.cfm/FK804

Also, Tom Osypowski, of EQ Platforms:
http://www201.pair.com/resource/astro.html/regular/products/eq_platforms/
will sell you all hardware and electronics. They are more expensive but are guaranteed to work without any fussing.

As you may have read on the net, there are different models of EQP than can be built, some simpler than others. I chose to build a VNS (Vertical North Sector) for it's fast reset time and because it's what Tom Osypowski builds and they are truly beautiful. Johnsonnians are another type of VNS: http://www.johnsonian.com/

For a start, I strongly recommend that you check out the EQP group.

Good luck,

Luc

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Here is a picure of the Starmaster on the platform I just bought. It is fairly low profile and nicely made.

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Garrick,
If you are good at woodworking you can make it quite inexpensively. I used two 1/15 RPM clock motors to drive mine and I bet I don't have $20 in it. It's not as pretty as some but tracks really well.

Ed Jones

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