What makes a Nextstar mount tick

[+Graham]

Following on from the SW mounts.

If anyone owns a Celestron Next Star and wondered what is underneath the covers then this is for you.

 

The inside showing the ALT and AZI motors.

 

 

Close up of the AZI drive.

 

 

Close up of the ALT drive.

 

 

Close up of the 'Brains' behind the 'Go - To'.

 

[Guest peepshow]

Very interesting series you have going here, Graham.  Thanks for the effort.

So SMC IC's have now arrived I see on circuit boards.

Pity this series isn't a sticky for reference.

 

I now am look forward to what makes the  Hubble mount tick.

That is, if you get it in for repair.  

Edited July 12, 2014 by peepshow

[+RonC]

Thanks Graham, somthing of interest at this time of year!

[Guest peepshow]

These photos raise interesting questions for me......I cannot see any encoder discs, so how does the scope know how many revs of the stepper motors to give in order to  go to objects? 

Edited July 13, 2014 by peepshow

[Guest northernstar]

So that's what my mount looks like....thanks for posting!

[+Graham]

These photos raise interesting questions for me......I cannot see any encoder discs, so how does the scope know how many revs of the stepper motors to give in order to  go to objects? 

 

It does not need encoders.

You always start from a set (Home) position each time you use the mount.

This way the mount knows where it is and the goto knows how many revolutions of the motors to turn to get to a given point in the sky.

This position is verified by the user when doing a Star align.

It will then remember this point for the next goto command and so on unti the mount is powered down.

Or something like that but you get my drift.

[+Graham]

Thanks folks.

I will endevour to post up pics of all the different mounts that end up in my surgery as and when I do them.

Edited July 13, 2014 by Graham

[Guest peepshow]

It does not need encoders.

You always start from a set (Home) position each time you use the mount.

This way the mount knows where it is and the goto knows how many revolutions of the motors to turn to get to a given point in the sky.

This position is verified by the user when doing a Star align.

It will then remember this point for the next goto command and so on unti the mount is powered down.

Or something like that but you get my drift.

Yes I get your drift, Graham,  and thanks for that. 

[Guest Tweedledum]

Nice thread Graham, thanks for sharing.

[Toymaster]

I'm notorious for taking things to bits to see what is what......

 

Last thing was my grandaughters toy microphone last night when she had gone to bed. A repair was required for a dry joint....

 

Great to see these images....

 

Thanks

Adrian

[+TasKiNG]

Thanks Graham, Was wondering what my SE mount looked like on the inside