ServoCAT and GEMS

Let's try a different forum. Has anybody out there tried a ServoCAT on a German equatorial mount? I'm about to dive into this, but even Gary Myers at StellarCAT isn't sure how well it will work. Been building the mount (picture) since April. I would like to make contact with someone who might help me avoid reinventing the wheel.

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Hi Steve,
The Yahoo group for the ServoCat has more info on this than anywhere else that I know.
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/ServoCAT/msearch?query=servocat+installed+on+a+gem&submit=Search&charset=UTF-8

Nice looking mount Steve. You do the machinist art proud 8)

Keith

Back from powder coating. Still no feedback from anyone who has used ServoCAT ona GEM. I know I'm going to be pretenting I live on the equator, and I'll have to re-set the RA drive direction every time I "flip" over the meridian, but I can still get a smooth goto, right? Having just sent StellarCAT a large amount of money for this experiment, I'd like some reassurance from some ATM. Getting kinda nervous, you know?

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Hi Steve,

The Roboscope group on Yahoo have successfully integrated the Meade Autostar and motors to both homebrew and a wide range of manufactured Alt-Az and EQ style mounts. Paging through an Autostar 497 menu indicates that the software can be configured to operate either style mount.

As alluded to in earlier posts, the polar flip is a unique EQ issue. I did not see any mention however concerning mount crashes where there is tripod or pier interference with the OTA in certain orientations. In this context, telling the telescope driver software if it is driving an EQ mount indeed DOES matter.

If you are not dead set upon having a ServoCAT driving your GEM, one possible solution would be to have a look at what the RoboScope group is doing. They have already been down the road you are intending to travel. You may at least want to consider it before installing the ServoCAT motors. Especially if there is no money back guarantee.

Just a thought…

All best regards,
Jim Murray
Meade LX90
Meade 114EQ-DH4

Still looking for someone with experience in this matter. Now the mount is back from powder coating, and I'm waiting on some bronze bushings to mount the worms. Motor and worm mounts in progress -- should be done by April!!!

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