--- In ap-gto@..., "Robert Gillette" <tekic545@...> wrote:

Well,in fact I did correct an earlier Dec gear mesh problem with the
prescribed rubber mallet, following a nasty cable snag that seemed to
have unmeshed the gears. (I did buy the mount used, but it was handed
off, not shipped.)

Perhaps the onset of cold weather has caused some additional
contraction in the RA mesh. But if so, why would this rear its head
so consistently when using the MaxIm "nudge" buttons and so rarely
with the keypad?

Bob

Well, it was probably there all along, and that's why the last person
sold it (since he probably never understood what was happening). The
reason the keypad didn't do it is because it probably has some RA
backlash dialed in, which compensates when you use the keypad, but
Maxim is not that smart.

Lastly, don't use a mallet. Simply loosen the screws that hold the
motor assembly, push gently into mesh using one finger pressure,
tighten the screws and check by gently pressing back and forth on the
end of the counterweight shaft. this is something you can do
occasionally - it is not difficult, and yes, we need to revise the
website to get rid of the rubber mallet method. Howard, please note ;^))

Just because the mount was handed to you, it does not mean that it did
not get some harsh treatment before your time. Cold weather has no
effect on worm mesh. Everything expands and contracts together since
everything is made from the same material - aluminum.

Rolando

Hi All,

Just had to post a couple of pictures of this conjunction. The first
one was shot during sunset, with the cloudes presenting some really
wimsical images. The second one occured later in the evening, and I
swear that it looked like Santa peering down on us.
http://www.astromart.com/common/image_popup.asp?
image=/images/forums/638000-638999/638582.jpg
http://www.astromart.com/common/image_popup.asp?
image=/images/forums/638000-638999/638583.jpg

Aloha,
Rolando

Well,in fact I did correct an earlier Dec gear mesh problem with the
prescribed rubber mallet, following a nasty cable snag that seemed to
have unmeshed the gears. (I did buy the mount used, but it was handed
off, not shipped.)

Perhaps the onset of cold weather has caused some additional
contraction in the RA mesh. But if so, why would this rear its head
so consistently when using the MaxIm "nudge" buttons and so rarely
with the keypad?

Bob

--- In ap-gto@..., chris1011@... wrote:

About once a month, when using the NSEW keypad buttons to center a
star, the mount takes off on a slow excursion in RA after I release

a

button. The excursion stops and tracking resumes when I press a
button in the opposite direction of the excursion.


This is a very common occurence, and it is caused by?lack of?worm

mesh (let me guess, you bought this mount used from someone and he
shipped it to you). What happens is that the mount stops tracking
when you command it to go east (it must switch from sidereal to a
higher speed centering mode and the motor + gearbox gears +?worm/worm
wheel?must reverse) The reversal occurs very rapidly because you are
at 12x or 64x or at one of the higher slewing speeds. Therefore you
don't notice any delay in that direction. However, once you let go of
the East button, the servo goes immediately back into sidereal
tracking mode, which is the slow east-to-west motion that follows the
stars. However, if your driving worm is backed off the worm wheel,
there can be a delay?before the?driving worm has fully engaged the
worm wheel teeth and begins drivign nthe mount in the western
direction. During this time the mount is standing still, even though
the motor is turning and all the little gears are turning. This, of
course means that during this delay time the stars are slowly
drifting west until the worm has re-established contact with the
leading edge of the worm wheel teeth and begins to actually turn the
axis again.?When the worm teeth are fully in mesh, the delay is?mush
less than 1 second, so you don't notice any westward drift of the
star during reversal. However, it is quite common to have the worm
not in mesh (normally happens when a mount is sold to a new owner,
and the original owner does not know how to pack it properly, and the
resultant?pounding the mount gets during shipping causes the worm?to
back off the worm wheel). Therefore I recommend that you read the
section on meshing the worm in the technical section of the website.

By the way, when you npress the opposite button, the slow drift

stops because you are rewinding the gears and taking up the gear mesh
slack at 12 or 64 times the sidereal speed. You can set your keypad
to do that automatically by setting the RA Backlash to a number
between 1 and 10 (10 being a large amount).?Read your manual.

Rolando



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

About once a month, when using the NSEW keypad buttons to center a
star, the mount takes off on a slow excursion in RA after I release a
button. The excursion stops and tracking resumes when I press a
button in the opposite direction of the excursion.


This is a very common occurence, and it is caused by?lack of?worm mesh (let me guess, you bought this mount used from someone and he shipped it to you). What happens is that the mount stops tracking when you command it to go east (it must switch from sidereal to a higher speed centering mode and the motor + gearbox gears +?worm/worm wheel?must reverse) The reversal occurs very rapidly because you are at 12x or 64x or at one of the higher slewing speeds. Therefore you don't notice any delay in that direction. However, once you let go of the East button, the servo goes immediately back into sidereal tracking mode, which is the slow east-to-west motion that follows the stars. However, if your driving worm is backed off the worm wheel, there can be a delay?before the?driving worm has fully engaged the worm wheel teeth and begins drivign nthe mount in the western direction. During this time the mount is standing still, even though the motor is turning and all the little gears are turning. This, of course means that during this delay time the stars are slowly drifting west until the worm has re-established contact with the leading edge of the worm wheel teeth and begins to actually turn the axis again.?When the worm teeth are fully in mesh, the delay is?mush less than 1 second, so you don't notice any westward drift of the star during reversal. However, it is quite common to have the worm not in mesh (normally happens when a mount is sold to a new owner, and the original owner does not know how to pack it properly, and the resultant?pounding the mount gets during shipping causes the worm?to back off the worm wheel). Therefore I recommend that you read the section on meshing the worm in the technical section of the website.

By the way, when you npress the opposite button, the slow drift stops because you are rewinding the gears and taking up the gear mesh slack at 12 or 64 times the sidereal speed. You can set your keypad to do that automatically by setting the RA Backlash to a number between 1 and 10 (10 being a large amount).?Read your manual.

Rolando

Hello, I'm not sure if this is a mount problem or a software problem,
but it sure is a problem.

About once a month, when using the NSEW keypad buttons to center a
star, the mount takes off on a slow excursion in RA after I release a
button. The excursion stops and tracking resumes when I press a
button in the opposite direction of the excursion.

That's an occasional, transient irritation that I wrote off, maybe
wrongly, to dirt in the keypad buttons.

But now that I'm trying to wean myself from the keypad by using
the "nudge" buttons in MaxIm's Telescope Control menu (so I can move
indoors), I find a nudge either way in RA often continues as one of
these excursions, and pressing another on-screen Nudge button doesn't
stop it. Only pressing one of the keypad buttons seems to wake up
the mount and tell it to revert to tracking speed.

(The keypad is set to EXT so the mount communicates with MaxIm and
Sky 6.)

This can't be a dirty button. Anyone have a diagnosis? Better yet, a
solution? It's getting cold outside these days in New Hampshire.

Bob Gillette

Hi Dick,

I did the same as Drew.

I have my AP-900 mounted on a Losmandy G11 tripod using the AP adapter for it. Since I needed a "repeatable setup spot" in the middle of my nice backyard lawn, I decide to survey the best spot. I tightened down the tripod extension legs to a precisely set height for the scope (so I can reach up to saddle it without back spasms). Then, I bought 3 of those do-it-yourself garden wall interlocking edge, concrete blocks (10" cubes), and after testing and marking the foot positions on the spot after polar alignment one night, I dug the three small cubic holes and levelled those blocks into the lawn, at the "grass root" level.

The lawn looks great in summer, can't see the blocks from an angle and they are below mower level. For winter, I am planning on using 3 ten inch ABS plastic flower pots to keep the snow off these blocks.

With the tripod leg positions marked in with a felt pen on each block, the entire setup and alignment takes only a few minutes.

So, the bricks down in the lawn, might be acceptable, even to SWMBO. The only down side is the lawn gets trampled down a bit overnight, at the new regular observing spot.

If you have trees, however, and have to have several such spots, this approach may require further "negotiations" :-)

Good luck,
Joe

That's good... Except for one site is essentially the yard in front
of a cabin and digging up their lawn may not be appreciated ;-).

-Dick


--- In ap-gto@..., kgkirkley@... wrote:

For any soft surface; ie. grass and dirt, I would suggest placing

the pier

legs on something to spread out their weight like thin bricks or

stepping

stones. You could also dig the bricks down into the surface to level

the pier.

I've done that many times at remote sites.

Kent Kirkley


In a message dated 11/26/2008 10:07:16 A.M. Central Standard Time,
dtlnew@... writes:

Thanks, I do that too, but a couple of the places I set up at are on
grass and very uneven.

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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Thanks, I do that too, but a couple of the places I set up at are on
grass and very uneven.

-Dick Locke

--- In ap-gto@..., "William R. Mattil" <wrmattil@...> wrote:

dtlnew wrote:

Has anyone found a commercial product that can be used or easily
adapted to help level an AP pier on an uneven surface? I'm
specifically referring to the AP portable pier, as used with a 900GTO
in this case.

Thanks for any thoughts or suggestions.

Hi Dick,

I use a very inexpensive small level purchased at a hardware store. I
lay that across the Rotating Pier Adapter while tightening up the
turnbuckles for minor adjustments, or manipulating the ground for

larger

adjustments.


Regards

Bill

dtlnew wrote:

Has anyone found a commercial product that can be used or easily
adapted to help level an AP pier on an uneven surface? I'm
specifically referring to the AP portable pier, as used with a 900GTO
in this case.

Thanks for any thoughts or suggestions.

Hi Dick,

I use a very inexpensive small level purchased at a hardware store. I lay that across the Rotating Pier Adapter while tightening up the turnbuckles for minor adjustments, or manipulating the ground for larger adjustments.


Regards

Bill

Has anyone found a commercial product that can be used or easily
adapted to help level an AP pier on an uneven surface? I'm
specifically referring to the AP portable pier, as used with a 900GTO
in this case.

Thanks for any thoughts or suggestions.




Not that I know of.
You can drill a hole through each leg just before the 'loop' out almost to end and insert and weld a threaded 'connector' with a 1/2 inch bolt inside.
Spot welding this in place with the bolt inside will prevent the connector from warping too much.
Lubricate the threads and then you can screw the bolt up and down on each leg to level it.

Personally, I don't know why AP doesn't have leg levelers in the first place.
It would add little to the cost of the portable piers.

Kent Kirkley

Has anyone found a commercial product that can be used or easily
adapted to help level an AP pier on an uneven surface? I'm
specifically referring to the AP portable pier, as used with a 900GTO
in this case.

Thanks for any thoughts or suggestions.

-Dick Locke

For any soft surface; ie. grass and dirt, I would suggest placing the pier
legs on something to spread out their weight like thin bricks or stepping
stones. You could also dig the bricks down into the surface to level the pier.
I've done that many times at remote sites.

Kent Kirkley

--- In ap-gto@..., chris1011@... wrote:
I like ATS products. Are they making a F.I.A.? This would be a
desireable accessory. Joe

In a message dated 11/25/2008 5:14:34 PM Central Standard Time,
jbadal21169@... writes:

I think some 3600's are shipping soon, most I guess are destined

for

pier mounting in observatories. I am looking for tripod options

for

portable use. I see there is an ATS offering. I believe PWT made

a few

12 inch pinnacles,that could handle this mount. Meades tripod

for

their "Max" looked pretty robust (85lbs./wt.-$3000?!), but would
require fabricating a mounting plate.Are their other options, or

am I

the only one seeing this mount as portable? Joe

The ATS is superb. There is no other close competitor.

Rolando


**************
One site has it all. Your email accounts, your social
networks, and the things you love. Try the new AOL.com
today!

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LOL!! People laugh when I tell them my AP1200 is portable setup.
You can never have overkill on a mount I say! Guess you do too.
Good luck.
George H


--- In ap-gto@..., "jjbadal2003" <jbadal21169@...> wrote:

I think some 3600's are shipping soon, most I guess are destined for
pier mounting in observatories. I am looking for tripod options for
portable use. I see there is an ATS offering. I believe PWT made a

few

12 inch pinnacles,that could handle this mount. Meades tripod for
their "Max" looked pretty robust (85lbs./wt.-$3000?!), but would
require fabricating a mounting plate.Are their other options, or am I
the only one seeing this mount as portable? Joe

I think some 3600's are shipping soon, most I guess are destined for
pier mounting in observatories. I am looking for tripod options for
portable use. I see there is an ATS offering. I believe PWT made a few
12 inch pinnacles,that could handle this mount. Meades tripod for
their "Max" looked pretty robust (85lbs./wt.-$3000?!), but would
require fabricating a mounting plate.Are their other options, or am I
the only one seeing this mount as portable? Joe

Hi Stuart and Rolando !

It is very helpful for me, when I read your comments.
Thank you very much for your answers !

Werner

In a message dated 11/25/2008 5:14:34 PM Central Standard Time,
jbadal21169@... writes:

I think some 3600's are shipping soon, most I guess are destined for
pier mounting in observatories. I am looking for tripod options for
portable use. I see there is an ATS offering. I believe PWT made a few
12 inch pinnacles,that could handle this mount. Meades tripod for
their "Max" looked pretty robust (85lbs./wt.-$3000?!), but would
require fabricating a mounting plate.Are their other options, or am I
the only one seeing this mount as portable? Joe

The ATS is superb. There is no other close competitor.

Rolando


**************
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networks, and the things you love. Try the new AOL.com
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We have an opportunity to purchase a few more sets of the Zeiss Abbe ll
eyepieces. Is there any interest?

Tim Khan wrote a real nice commentary today on the TEC group. Here is
the link:
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/tec-scopes/message/15416


Marj Christen
Vice President
Astro-Physics, Inc
11250 Forest Hills Road
Machesney Park, IL 61115
Phone: 815-282-1513
Fax: 815-282-9847
www.astro-physics.com
Please include this e-mail with your response.

If you are interested, please call Astro-Physics during business hours
at the number below to place your order. Once they are gone, that's it!!
Last call........

Marj Christen
Vice President
Astro-Physics, Inc
11250 Forest Hills Road
Machesney Park, IL 61115
Phone: 815-282-1513
Fax: 815-282-9847



**************
One site has it all. Your email accounts, your social networks,
and the things you love. Try the new AOL.com
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In a message dated 11/23/2008 10:54:08 AM Central Standard Time,
werner.pribil@... writes:

Do you know how critical is the contact of little snow or water with
the AP 1200 (especially the gearbox housings, control box)?

Won't hurt the mount at all. You should see what these mounts look like in
Antarctica after a snowstorm. They are outside, not covered by anything and get
several inches of ice on them, but keep on going anyway.

Rolando