----- Original Message ----
> From: Sander Pool <[email protected]>
>
> Hi Ray,
>
> sounds like you have quite a project on your hands :) I recommend you
> try to develop an ASCOM interface for your scope so you are not bound to
> just CdC. Just keep in mind that the ASCOM telescope interace is rather
> high level. It depends on the receiving end to do translation from
> RA/DEC to stepper position for example. In other words the scope needs
> to be aligned.
Yes, I think ASCOM basically assumes that the scope already has its own
computer for basic pointing (and aligning), and ASCOM is for when you want to
connect it to other software (like CdC).
There are at least a few companies that make fairly "generic" computerized
motor drive systems for scopes ("generic" meaning you can use them on any
scope, as long as you can figure a way mechanically connect the drives to your
scope), so the computer (and, in many cases, ASCOM) part would be done and all
you have to do is worry about the mechanical part. Many of these are designed
for smaller professional scopes, or scopes that are almost custom built for
wealthy amateurs, but if you're on a lower budget, start with "Sidereal
Technologies" ("SiTech"), which developed out of Mel Bartels' home-brew system
(his was probably the very first goto dob). Mel is a hard-core tinkerer so the
system is now impressively developed. Mel sells kits, and SiTech sells
completed subsystems.
Mel's page: <http://www.bbastrodesigns.com/BBAstroDesigns.html>
SiTech: <http://www.siderealtechnology.com/>
There's also ServoCat, which is intended for dobs, but you can also buy
individual parts so you might be able to make that work.
-John
> This is not a trivial operation if you have to write it
> from scratch. Have a look at the ASCOM telescope interface definition
> and you'll see what you have to implement. A typical ASCOM driver is a
> shim that translates function calls from the ASCOM client into commands
> being sent to the hand controller. In other words, it's not *that*
> complicated.
>
> Depending on smartmotors (again) it's also an option to port the low
> level control dll from EQMOD. That would take care of alignment etc.
> There are several translation projects in the works but so far only
> SynScan (EQ6/EQ5) actually works. Join us at the EQMOD Yahoo group.
>
> Good luck,
>
> Sander
>
> Ray Shapp wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> > To All,
> >
> > Has anyone used CdC to control an equatorially mounted Cassegrain
> > powered by
> > Animatics SmartMotors via ASCOM drivers?
> >
> > Amateur Astronomers, Inc. operates Sperry Observatory on the campus of
> > Union
> > County College in Cranford, New Jersey ( www.asterism.org ). One of our
> > telescopes is an aging 24-inch reflector made by Group 128 (a defunct
> > company). The telescope is currently driven by a pair of stepper motors
> > running a train of two worm and worm gear combinations with an overall gear
> > reduction of around 13,000 to 1 on both RA and Dec axes. The final worm
> > gear
> > is clutched on both axes, but the clutches can be locked down tightly
> > with no
> > slippage. The original electronics drive for the stepper motors is shot.
> > Rather than try to rebuild the 35-year-old electronics, with some
> > re-design to
> > accommodate modern components replacing those no longer available, I am
> > thinking that it might be smarter for us to scrap the old drive and
> > steppers,
> > replace the steppers with Animatics "SmartMotor" synchronous motors, and
> > write
> > ASCOM drivers for the SmartMotors. This could give us a modern GOTO
> > drive for
> > the telescope. Trouble is, I have no idea how big an undertaking writing
> > the
> > ASCOM drivers for the SmartMotors would be. Animatics supplies a
> > programming
> > language for their motors. I assume that we would write the drivers in that
> > language.
> >
> > Here's the link to Animatics: (
> > http://www.msitec.com/Vendors/Animatics/main.shtml
> > ).
> >
> > Does anyone in the group have any advice for me on whether or not this is a
> > good idea. Has anyone done this for a SmartMotor based telescope drive
> > before?
> > There is some confusion to this question as a result of patented telescope
> > drives by Meade referred to as "Smart Motor Technology", but I believe this
> > has nothing to do with the Animatics SmartMotors that we are
> > considering. If
> > this is a good way to go, I would appreciate advice about how to get
> > started
> > with the programming and how to integrate the drivers with CdC.
> >
> > Thank you for your help.
> >
> > Ray Shapp
> >
> >
>
>
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