Date
1 - 10 of 10
#Mach2GTO C14Edge HD rig #Mach2GTO
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EmP <padhye.mihir@...>
Hi Roland,
Can the Mach2GTO (with AP 16" EAsy balace dovetail on Eagle 6 mount) comfortably handle the below OTA and image train - C14 Edge HD OTA Additional Losmandy Dovetail bar on top of OTA C14 edge HD focal reducer Astrodon/Farpoint AStro MOAG with mini guide camera QHYCFW3l filter wheel QHY268M camera Pegasus UPBv2 Regards, Mihir |
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Roland Christen
You are going to guide a C14 with a mini-guide camera? It will not work well because the C14 and guide scope will not be in sync for very long (differential flex, mirror shift, etc etc). Bad idea unfortunately.
Roland
-----Original Message-----
From: EmP <padhye.mihir@...> To: main@ap-gto.groups.io Sent: Sun, May 23, 2021 7:12 am Subject: [ap-gto] #Mach2GTO C14Edge HD rig Hi Roland,
Can the Mach2GTO (with AP 16" EAsy balace dovetail on Eagle 6 mount) comfortably handle the below OTA and image train - C14 Edge HD OTA Additional Losmandy Dovetail bar on top of OTA C14 edge HD focal reducer Astrodon/Farpoint AStro MOAG with mini guide camera QHYCFW3l filter wheel QHY268M camera Pegasus UPBv2 Regards, Mihir -- Roland Christen Astro-Physics |
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Worsel
I cannot comment on the weight capacity, but you should be OK with your OAG
Bryan |
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EmP <padhye.mihir@...>
Hi Roland,
Thanks for the reply. I will be using ZWOASI 174MC camera (not the mini version. Sorry for the typo) for OAG. Will this be ok or do you recommend any different camera? I will also add Moonlight motorized focuser (Nitecrawler provided I manage the backfocus or the 2.5" CHL). Can Mach2 handle this rig comfortably? Regards, Mihir |
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Just my personal opinion, the biggest SCT and cam setup I would put on a Mach2 would be a C11. My C14 rides on my 1100GTO, which is a very good match for it. "My advice is always free and worth every penny!" Observatory Engineer Summit Kinetics Waikoloa, Hawaii On Mon, May 24, 2021 at 7:38 PM EmP <padhye.mihir@...> wrote: Hi Roland, |
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deonb
I have this setup - even heavier than yours since I have to add 7-lbs of counter-balance to the front of my OTA. (I can't push the OTA up forward enough since it will bump up against my observatory dome).
I also have a 3 motorized focusers on mine - mirror, image train and OAG - as well as a rotator, so add another 5 lbs. I did removed my dovetail bar at the top and mounted my UPBv2 underneath. This reduces the weight and the moment arm. Mounting items at the top requires significantly more counterweight than mounting them at the bottom. In general the mount is a lot happier with everything pulled in closer, so I would say try to avoid the top dovetail bar (and accessories) if you can. Roland also had to help me with a configuration specific to this weight class, but it's flawless now. It's certainly on the edge of the graph, but it's not over, and it works very very well. I don't generally do unguided since APPM is painful with a dome, and it currently doesn't support NINA or ASTAP. However, I have set that up as well to try out. I was able to get 10 minutes at 2800mm and 5 minutes at 3910mm with a so-so APPM map. I was impressed, but I'll wait for ASTAP integration before trying that again. Nothing to do with the weight though - it's obviously able to handle unguided at that weight. I wouldn't call my configuration "comfortable". You have to really think about where you want to mount stuff, and you have to balance everything perfectly. I would imagine with an EdgeHD 1100 on there you can probably just throw things on wherever they will stick, and it will work. But in the end it does work with the heavier scope. I find it hard to imagine a 1100GTO would give you any better results, but it will likely give you a bit more breathing room. |
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Jeffc
Mihir -- Fwiw.. I've currently got a Meade12" ACF (labeled "RC" tho) on the Mach2: - 16" dovetail saddle, - Pegasus UPBv2, - QHY268M+FW, (2x2 bin) - Lumicon GEG (using the reducer only, unguided), - Clement Belepheron 3 focuser (rather massive), - Robofocus motor, - Dew strap and an orion flexishield, - and Polemaster on the polar axis hole. All sitting on an Eagle tripod with two 8" sections (max height). I'm using pretty all the counterweights I have and it fills up the CW shaft almost completely. Honestly I'm not sure I could put any more counterweight on the shaft. Fwiw, I'm currently figuring out the APPM thing -- my horizon is non trivial with trees sticking up all over the place. I did get a "medium size" model and was super impressed on how objects at about 1700mm FL (12" F/10 with reducer at 6.3) would land smack in the middle of the sensor after a goto. I think unguided imaging is working with this setup but unfortunately the moon has been hindering anything but short 2 minute exposures. The meade 12 on the mach2 is kind of an experiment until I get some focus motor issues worked out with the 130GT and Tak FS128 and nebula season returns. But I am also intrigued w/ running f/4 using the GEG reducer -- however I will need a custom adapter for the camera side of the GEG. I typically use the 12" for public outreach at an observatory on an AP1200 (or AP1100), but am planning on switching to the Mach2 when the season returns in 2022. The meade 12" weighs about 40 lbs without the focuser, camera, etc. -jeff On Mon, May 24, 2021 at 10:51 PM Christopher Erickson <christopher.k.erickson@...> wrote:
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dvjbaja
Wow, and I thought my Mak 10 was undermounted on the 1100. ??? J Sent via the Samsung Galaxy Note9, an AT&T 5G Evolution capable smartphone -------- Original message -------- From: deonb <deonb@...> Date: 5/24/21 11:49 PM (GMT-08:00) To: main@ap-gto.groups.io Subject: Re: [ap-gto] #Mach2GTO C14Edge HD rig I also have a 3 motorized focusers on mine - mirror, image train and OAG - as well as a rotator, so add another 5 lbs. I did removed my dovetail bar at the top and mounted my UPBv2 underneath. This reduces the weight and the moment arm. Mounting items at the top requires significantly more counterweight than mounting them at the bottom. In general the mount is a lot happier with everything pulled in closer, so I would say try to avoid the top dovetail bar (and accessories) if you can. Roland also had to help me with a configuration specific to this weight class, but it's flawless now. It's certainly on the edge of the graph, but it's not over, and it works very very well. I don't generally do unguided since APPM is painful with a dome, and it currently doesn't support NINA or ASTAP. However, I have set that up as well to try out. I was able to get 10 minutes at 2800mm and 5 minutes at 3910mm with a so-so APPM map. I was impressed, but I'll wait for ASTAP integration before trying that again. Nothing to do with the weight though - it's obviously able to handle unguided at that weight. I wouldn't call my configuration "comfortable". You have to really think about where you want to mount stuff, and you have to balance everything perfectly. I would imagine with an EdgeHD 1100 on there you can probably just throw things on wherever they will stick, and it will work. But in the end it does work with the heavier scope. I find it hard to imagine a 1100GTO would give you any better results, but it will likely give you a bit more breathing room. |
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Roland Christen
I think I will leave it up to others who have similar setups to comment about the feasibility of your setup. i have not tired a C14 myself and nobody around here has such a beastie.
Using off-axis guiders is definitely a requirement for guiding any SCT. Unguided imaging is iffy due to optical component flex.
Rolando
-----Original Message-----
From: EmP <padhye.mihir@...> To: main@ap-gto.groups.io Sent: Tue, May 25, 2021 12:38 am Subject: Re: [ap-gto] #Mach2GTO C14Edge HD rig Hi Roland,
Thanks for the reply. I will be using ZWOASI 174MC camera (not the mini version. Sorry for the typo) for OAG. Will this be ok or do you recommend any different camera? I will also add Moonlight motorized focuser (Nitecrawler provided I manage the backfocus or the 2.5" CHL). Can Mach2 handle this rig comfortably? Regards, Mihir -- Roland Christen Astro-Physics |
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Couple of people asked about photos of the C14 on the Mach2GTO.
I've put them on: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/k5zrsg54nwzqc04/AADNKSZGTSw021W4xV203eOVa?dl=0 The scope is in balance as shown - all the clutches are loose for all the pics. I have 10lbs in front right now since I didn't pay attention last time I mounted the scope and put it on too too far back. This drops too 7lbs when the scope is in the most forward position just clear of the dome roof. The main counter-weights are reversed (non-optimal) since it's easier that way to switch between a lighter and heavier load without taking off any weight. But it works fine like that. |
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