Re: AP1200 GTO and backlash in its brass gear?
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Roland Christen
In this case backlash has no effect whatsoever on RA. The gears never reverse, so any reversing delay is not applicable.
Rolando
-----Original Message----- From: 'Tony Benjamin' tonybenjamin@... [ap-gto] To: ap-gto Sent: Fri, Oct 14, 2016 4:25 pm Subject: RE: [ap-gto] Re: AP1200 GTO and backlash in its brass gear? Wouldn’t you want to send both the DEC and the RA at the same time. Then they are both starting from a known baseline. Would suck to do only the Dec and then 6 months later have an issue with the RA from age/use?
From: ap-gto@... [mailto:ap-gto@...]
Sent: Friday, October 14, 2016 11:31 AM To: ap-gto@... Subject: [ap-gto] Re: AP1200 GTO and backlash in its brass gear? Hi George (and Rolando in previous message)
Rolando>>It's a very old mount, probably has been slewed around the sky for many many years. Eventually the teeth on a metal gear will wear. The solution is to send the gearbox back and we will fit new gears that have less backlash. George>>The best thing is to send the motor box to us and we can check the gears and mix and match gears for the best mesh. Repair is very quick once we have it. Ok, thanks for the info. I will send that DEC gearbox back to AP service on the next week.
I think this particular mount has been in rare amateur usage only. Here in Finland winter weather is not that great (frequent cloudiness not allowing frequent mount usage), but it will also put the mount in freezing cold weather when it gets clear. This mount was in a mint condition from the outlook, when I purchased it (and it still is). So I think it has not been in heavy usage, but otherwise I cannot tell you anything more. Thanks for confiming me that this problem can be fixed by you. I really appreciate that! Br, Timo ---In ap-gto@..., <george@...> wrote : Timo,
It is hard to say how the previous owner used the mount. Yes, wear can occur at different rates. We have customers doing supernova searches which require hundreds of slews nightly. Heavy, out-of-balance payloads will cause more wear. Normally, there is not a problem. It is very hard to say.
The best thing is to send the motor box to us and we can check the gears and mix and match gears for the best mesh. Repair is very quick once we have it.
Regards,
George
George Whitney
Astro-Physics, Inc.
Phone: 815-282-1513
Email: george@...
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