Tim C
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 11/11/07
Loc: Marietta, GA
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Re: AT Voyager and JMI MicroSlew + Voyager remarks
[Re: mischief]
#2964321 - 03/04/09 10:16 PM
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I ordered the motors from JMI today for my voyager. I think it will make the mount much better (the cable is unusable in azimuth because of interference with the OTA in my case). Those knobs require a fair amount of torque to turn though - any issues with the motors not having enough juice to turn the knobs?
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David P
member
Reged: 01/21/09
Loc: Southern California
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Re: AT Voyager and JMI MicroSlew + Voyager remarks
[Re: Tim C]
#2967847 - 03/06/09 02:34 PM
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No issues. The motors are definitely up to the task. I have not had enough time using the setup to determine battery life though. Hand controller holds one 9v battery. When installing the motors follow the instructions as there are a couple of screws that mount the motors to the mounting plates. Start with these screws loosened up so that the motors align with the slow motion shaftes on the mount. The instructions advise to run the motors thru a couple of rotations after installation while listening for a change in the sound of the motor, which would indicate binding. It was very easy to attach them and get it all working. I highly recommend some strategically placed velcro dots on the tripod for easy attachment of the hand controller when not in use.
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Tim C
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 11/11/07
Loc: Marietta, GA
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Re: AT Voyager and JMI MicroSlew + Voyager remarks
[Re: David P]
#2967939 - 03/06/09 03:15 PM
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Thanks David. I love Velcro so I'll be taking your recommendation on that one for sure.
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mischief
super member
Reged: 04/26/08
Loc: Northern California
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Re: AT Voyager and JMI MicroSlew + Voyager remarks
[Re: Tim C]
#2968354 - 03/06/09 06:48 PM
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Hi, David, I am still thinking about the JMI MicroSlew motors. First do you think they are really worth the $189. I guess so since you bought them. Second, when using the motors, do you tighten the little knobs that regulate the tightness of the axes. I don't think I am explaining myself; I hope you know what I mean. When I wanted to slew the scope without the slomo, I loosened them so altitude and azimuth moved very easily. Should this be the way to set them or should they be as tight as I can make them? Silly question, but it just occurred to me.
Thanks
Dorothy
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TurboSE
member
Reged: 10/18/07
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Re: AT Voyager and JMI MicroSlew + Voyager remarks
[Re: mischief]
#2969516 - 03/07/09 11:51 AM
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Actually I took the dec head apart encouraged by astronomy boys dissection of the CG-5... Very sticky grease indeed, well it is now washed away as is the warranty :-). I lubricated it with a CRC product based on lithium-EP grease.
It moves much better now and the dec knob is very easily turned now! So, can someone give me a web address to the JMI MicroSlew drives... Please!
Brgds
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TurboSE
member
Reged: 10/18/07
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Re: AT Voyager and JMI MicroSlew + Voyager remarks
[Re: TurboSE]
#2969655 - 03/07/09 12:47 PM
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To those that chooses to end their waranties prematurely!
The backlash is fixed by releasing the 3 screws on the black logo part, move it towards the worm gear and it will tighten. Move it in the other direction will loosen it.
I found that my worm gear in alt. is not perfect, I can feel that it is jerky at some point in one revolution of the worm gear... I feel it hard to believe that it is the pinion part (is this the real name for it? Anyway the opposite part that the worm gear moves!) that has an periodic error. The tool that created the teeth would give the same error to every teeht not just every second.
I am considering to take it out again and see if I can pinpoint the loacation on the gear and maybe fix it...
Well, the JMI stuff is not really what I was looking for, it seems that is has one set of electronics to drive one axis at the time... I am looking for a more Mel Bartel kind of a solution, maybe the drives themself are usable connected to ones own circuits? I will dig into this!
Isn't there someting called setting circles to this mount that tells you where it is pointing at the moment? I believe Bartels program has support to that as well!
Forgot tho read this early in the tread... Sorry!
http://www.wildcard-innovations.com.au/kits/pn-atv-spec_describe.html
Ok, as I still can edit this post I'll put it here.
I have a few stepper motors as shown in the attachments (If I find out how to...).
The favourites are those named Astrosyn - nice name! The problem is how to remove the print head belt part? A hacksaw takes a long time, and might fill it with debris and maybe strain the ballbearings to much. The other, Matsushita model had a sprint that hold the printer stuff, you can see the holes.
Here comes the specs:
Astrosyn:
Drive1 Drive2
23LM-C349-01 23LM-351-03
6.8V 10V
0.75VA 5.0VA
1.8DEG/Step 1.8DEG/Step
Kyushu Matsushita:
Drive1 Drive2
CBA45-01102 HB5718AF
3V 3V
3.5ohm 2.5ohm
1.8DEG/Step 1.8DEG/Step
So, is there still DIY people around? Anyone who knowes something of the usability of these motors?
If these are usable I will fix the PCB´s and mount the electronics. As I understand Martells designs are for Dobsons but they are also AltAz mounts so only the sizes of some parameters should need to be changed! A drawback with my motors are that they are not geared...
Hmm, cant find the attachment buttons... Ok, found them but my images are to big to attach...
Brgds
Edited by TurboSE (03/07/09 03:52 PM)
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Fred1
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 09/19/07
Loc: Somewhere in the Orion Spur
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Re: AT Voyager and JMI MicroSlew + Voyager remarks
[Re: TurboSE]
#2970793 - 03/07/09 11:36 PM
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Used my Nighthawk Aplanat on the AT Voyager mount with the Micro-Slew motors. It seemed the motors weren't strong enough to lift the Nighthawk decked out with binoviewers, filter wheel and barlow but maybe I needed to balance it, didn't think of that while I was out. It moved in azimuth both ways fine and up in altitude but not down when trying to lift the back of the scope. So I set up for single eyepiece viewing and it did great. It was very stable with the 9-10lb load. Mostly about 7-8 lbs after I removed the binos and filter wheel. Quasi-tracking is very easy with the hand control. An occasional tap of the AZ button, interspersed with a tap of the ALT button easily keeps targets centered. Near rock steady with my Nighthawk, too. 5 minute set up and take down. Nice rig for quick grab and go. I spent about an hour and a half outside including set up and getting use to the motors and then settled in at at around 170x with my 3.5mm Nagler on the Moon for about a half hour and then brief view of Rigel for a few minutes. Broke down and packed up everything in about 5 minutes. I think I'll be using this set up more often when the nights are clear and time is short or when it's too cold.
I give it a big definite keeper. 
The 8" pier extension is on my shortlist. Most of my viewing time was spent at zenith and seated slouched on the bottom rung of my Observing Chair.
Edited by Fred1 (03/07/09 11:42 PM)
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David P
member
Reged: 01/21/09
Loc: Southern California
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Re: AT Voyager and JMI MicroSlew + Voyager remarks
[Re: Fred1]
#2973648 - 03/09/09 12:57 PM
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To your question Mischief, in that timewarp between ordering the MicroSlews and receiving them I had a ting of buyers remorse as $200 is a bit of money. But after using them I am glad that I spend the $$. I have spend many years with a CG-3 GEM manipulating the slo-mo controls manually and did not want to spend more time with the Voyager with my arms extended all night grasping for slo-mo knobs. Although the hand contoller operates only one axis at a time, quickly becomes second nature switching between the two. That was my other concern, but not an issue in practice. I do make sure that the scope is balanced on the mount as best as possible and I do adjust the tension screws (little knobs) to strike a balance between easily moving the scope by hand and providing enough tension for the slo-mo to operate. Although the JMI instructions say to remove the large knobs attached to the slo-mo shafts, I did leave them on as it makes it easier to see that the motors are actually turning the shaft. If the shafts are turning but the scope isn't then I tighten the little knobs a bit. I just make sure I don't turn the large knobs as it could damage the motors. Seems like you would have to exert a good amount of force to turn the knobs as the motors put up significant resistence, so I don't think it will ever be an issue.
Fred, I would think your issue has more to do with proper balance of the scope on the mount than the motors being underpowered (but I could be wrong). I have found that if my scope isn't balanced properly, the motors will turn the shaft but the alt clutch in the mount head assembly slips not allowing the scope to move as intended. Just my 2 cents.
- David
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................
professor emeritus
Reged: 11/04/06
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Re: AT Voyager and JMI MicroSlew + Voyager remarks
[Re: David P]
#2974389 - 03/09/09 06:24 PM Attachment (46 downloads)
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Hi David,
You'd mentioned some time back that you'd like to see my mod's on the Voyager Microslew and how they work. I decided to buy a set to try, and am very happy with them - except for one annoyance, the lack of a 4-button hand unit.
I really like the Voyager mount, and prefer manual slow motion control most of the time. But when I'm at high power (200+ using UO Orthos) I wanted a way to reduce vibrations and allow smooth slewing.
My solution was to attach the motors to the shafts opposite the eyepiece. To allow fast switching, I picked up some 8-32 1/4" brass thumbscrews from Jim at Scopestuff to swap out in place of one allen screw on each shaft (see picture). I can now very conveniently switch from manual to motorized slow motion slews. The only downside, and one I'm going to ask JMI is if they'll come out with a 4-button hand control unit. Having to constantly flip the switch from ALT to AZ and back and forth...
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Fred1
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 09/19/07
Loc: Somewhere in the Orion Spur
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Re: AT Voyager and JMI MicroSlew + Voyager remarks
[Re: ................]
#2974475 - 03/09/09 06:58 PM
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To allow fast switching, I picked up some 8-32 1/4" brass thumbscrews from Jim at Scopestuff to swap out in place of one allen screw on each shaft (see picture).
Brilliant. 
Are you sure they are 1/4"? I see 3/8", 1/2" and 3/4" on the Scope Stuff site but no 1/4".
Edited by Fred1 (03/09/09 07:16 PM)
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................
professor emeritus
Reged: 11/04/06
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Re: AT Voyager and JMI MicroSlew + Voyager remarks
[Re: Fred1]
#2974532 - 03/09/09 07:25 PM
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Yes, they're 1/4" Fred. I had the same problem when I first looked at the page. But if you look long enough at the brass thumbscrew list they'll pop out; perhaps averted vision is needed.  I wound up getting the 4-pack, finding it to be the best deal, and it gives me a couple spares.
BTW - the 3/8" might work, but I'm not sure they'll clear the motor bracket when engaged, so I'd stay with the 1/4".
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Fred1
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 09/19/07
Loc: Somewhere in the Orion Spur
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Re: AT Voyager and JMI MicroSlew + Voyager remarks
[Re: ................]
#2974635 - 03/09/09 08:20 PM
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Yes, they're 1/4" Fred. I had the same problem when I first looked at the page. But if you look long enough at the brass thumbscrew list they'll pop out; perhaps averted vision is needed.
Brilliant. 
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mischief
super member
Reged: 04/26/08
Loc: Northern California
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Re: AT Voyager and JMI MicroSlew + Voyager remarks
[Re: Fred1]
#2980057 - 03/12/09 05:34 PM
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David, thanks for your reply. It seems as tho the motors are definitely worth the money. Maybe after I get my taxes figured out, I'll be able to sort of afford to get them.
The weather seems to be clearing up here in N. California so hopefully I'll be able to use the Voyager, the Lunt during the day and my ST 80 at night.
Clear skies and sunny days. 
Dorothy
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Tim C
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 11/11/07
Loc: Marietta, GA
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Re: AT Voyager and JMI MicroSlew + Voyager remarks
[Re: mischief]
#2980447 - 03/12/09 09:12 PM
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I received mine yesterday and was able to test it under the stars some tonight. I give the JMI microslew kit two thumbs up. This is a big improvement for me. Not cheap - almost 2/3 again the cost of the mount but there is no vibration at all when slewing and it makes viewing and tracking an object much more comfortable without ruining the simplicity of the grab and go mount. I would vote for a 4 button control like others have said but it really is just a minor thing - you can easily control both knobs and flip back and forth with just one thumb.
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David P
member
Reged: 01/21/09
Loc: Southern California
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Re: AT Voyager and JMI MicroSlew + Voyager remarks
[Re: Tim C]
#2980684 - 03/12/09 11:35 PM
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I'm glad to hear that your experience is positive. I agree with everything you've said. Once you get past the $$ factor, using them certainly increases the enjoyment of the mount. The older I get the less tolerant I am of technology that gets in the way rather than enhances the experience of observing. These definitely enhance the experience for me. I quickly got over my buyers remorse.
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mischief
super member
Reged: 04/26/08
Loc: Northern California
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Re: AT Voyager and JMI MicroSlew + Voyager remarks
[Re: David P]
#2982178 - 03/13/09 06:39 PM
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Well, David and Tim, I think you have convinced me; so to h--- with taxes; I am going to get the motors. Do they add much weight to the mount? I do have a little trouble moving the mount around. Another question concerning the mount. I notice that JMI has some kind of "thing" (don't know what it is called) to put a tripod and mount on that has wheels and can therefore be moved more easily. I guess i could go to the JMI site, but I thought I'd ask if anyone knows of such a gadget whereby I could move everything more easily. Thanks in advance.
Dorothy 
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Fred1
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 09/19/07
Loc: Somewhere in the Orion Spur
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Re: AT Voyager and JMI MicroSlew + Voyager remarks
[Re: mischief]
#2982583 - 03/13/09 11:21 PM
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You mean something like this?
http://www.cloudynights.com/item.php?item_id=29
or
the JMI Wheely Bar: http://www.jimsmobile.com/buy_wheeley_bars.htm
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DNTash
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 09/02/07
Loc: Berlin, Germany
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Re: AT Voyager and JMI MicroSlew + Voyager remarks
[Re: Fred1]
#2982894 - 03/14/09 04:11 AM
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Well, just ordered the Voyager from Astronomics, thanks in great part to this thread. The JMI Microslew may be next. Thank you to the OP for asking the original question.
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Tim C
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 11/11/07
Loc: Marietta, GA
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Re: AT Voyager and JMI MicroSlew + Voyager remarks
[Re: mischief]
#2983111 - 03/14/09 09:15 AM
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I am going to get the motors. Do they add much weight to the mount?
I guess they weigh a pound or two but I didn't really notice any difference when lifting the entire mount. Adding the velcro keeps the HC from swinging around when you move the mount so you will want to do that.
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Fred1
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 09/19/07
Loc: Somewhere in the Orion Spur
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Re: AT Voyager and JMI MicroSlew + Voyager remarks
[Re: Tim C]
#2983936 - 03/14/09 05:38 PM
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Quote:
Quote:
I am going to get the motors. Do they add much weight to the mount?
I guess they weigh a pound or two but I didn't really notice any difference when lifting the entire mount. Adding the velcro keeps the HC from swinging around when you move the mount so you will want to do that.
I use an old cell phone holster that the HC fits in perfectly. Our local Dollar Store has tons of them. I might get two more, so they are on each leg, then there's no need to reach around the tripod to holster the HC.
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