Mach1 mount and Pier under test

Hi All,

Here is a first picture of the Mach1 production version with the new folding pier (preproduction version) undergoing PE testing using a 10" SCT. The pier is brand new, we have no pricing on it at this time. We are working feverishly to have these piers available in time to ship with the first mounts as they become available for sale. The piers are adjustable in height as well as uneven ground. There are extensions available which attach to the top to bring the height from around 30" to 52" for various scopes. The mount/pier combination is meant for advanced astrophotography for refractors in the 130/140mm size or light weight 6"ers, SCTs from 8" to 10"-11" size, Newtonians in the 8"f4-f6 size, depending on weight.

Preliminary testing of random production samples is ongoing right now with results that are very encouraging. This particular mount has a very smooth periodic error of +1.6 -1.5 arc seconds (3.1 P-P) with no PEM compensation. I suspect that with PEM on, it will track to under 1 arc sec. When I get some more data as soon as weather permits, I will post some PEMPro results so you can see how smooth the error is.

The mount and pier is very easy to set up. It takes less than 8 minutes to set up the pier, attach the equatorial head, slide the telescope tube assembly into place and adjust it for preliminary polar alignment. There is a built-in compass and level to get you close to the pole.

For daytime polar alignment the keypad has a quick routine which, along with a simple Carpenter's level, sets the altitude axis to the proper angle for your latitude. Then it's simply a matter of sending the mount to a known star (our sun), and adjusting the azimuth until it's in the crosshairs of the finder (using solar projection or Baader Solar Film on the objective). This routine takes only about 10 minutes. Once that is achieved, you will be quite close to the pole and can then pick up planets or bright stars in your main scope and begin fine drift alignment.

Rolando

Attached Image:

Wow that is one sexy pier! Look at that machining! It looks like the lunar lander. Are the fold-out legs with the AP name solid metal or hollow boxes?

Ivan

Here's one more picture showing the scope under the mount in a situation where you might want to track and image through the zenith, past the meridian all the way to the opposite horizon. This would be of interest only to astrophotographers, of course.

Rolando

Attached Image:

This shows the PE of the mount. Data was taken over a period of 20 minutes. Note how each run has almost exactly the same shape within a very small range. The curves lie smack on top of each other and show little variation from tooth to tooth (except for the inevitable atmospheric disturbances).

I also want to point out what a powerful program PEMPro is for analysis and compensation of periodic error.

Rolando

Attached Image:

Would the Mach1 mount be overkill for someone like me who is a purely-visual observer? Would I do as well sticking with the less-expensive G-11? Maybe the Mach1's servo motors (?), as opposed to the G-11's stepper motors, would allow me better high-power views of the planets?

Thank you.

Bill G.

Are handset hooks going to be built onto the pier?

This mount is too much for me to resist,I am signed up for one The cable channels are a very nice touch.
Any idea on the cost of the pier yet?