Telescope Reviews: T-Rex or Orion Atlas Pro AZ/EQ-G?

· Get a Cloudy Nights T-Shirt

· Submit a Review / Article

Click here if you are having trouble logging into the forums

Privacy Policy | Please read our Terms of Service | Signup and Troubleshooting FAQ | Problems? PM a Red or a Green Gu… uh, User

You are not logged in. [Login]

Entrance · Main Index · Search · New user · Who's Online
FAQ · Calendar

Equipment Discussions >> Mounts

Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | (show all)

BKBrown
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 08/23/09

Loc: Northern Virginia, USA

Re: T-Rex or Orion Atlas Pro AZ/EQ-G? new

[Re: SteveE]
#5715649 - 03/05/13 11:58 PM

Thanks Steve! The DSV-3 looks great and I might consider a lighter version in the future for my grab-and-go, but my quest took an unanticipated turn last week. The folks at Hands On Optics e-mailed to tell me that they would (unexpectedly in view of the earlier Orion announcement) be getting an Atlas Pro AZ/EQ-G by the weekend. So, despite having a T-Rex on order (due here on Friday) I ended up trading in my field Atlas for the new model. Soon I should be able to do some comparison testing of these two mounts which I will share here. Thanks again for the info

Clear Skies,
Brian

Post Extras:

Lane
Post Laureate

Reged: 11/19/07

Loc: Frisco, Texas

Re: T-Rex or Orion Atlas Pro AZ/EQ-G? new

[Re: BKBrown]
#5715745 - 03/06/13 01:48 AM Attachment (24 downloads)

Here is a picture I took of my homemade T-Rex motor mount bracket with a JMI motor attached. I replaced the M5-30mm bolts that hold the bracket to the mount with M5-35mm bolts. I also use several washers to keep the bracket from scratching the mount. The mount bracket contains slots not holes so to remove it or install it only takes about 1 minute. Just loosen the shaft collar with a hex wrench then loosen the two bolts on top about one full turn each and it slides off or on easily. I tested it and it will fit into the carrying case without removing the motors.

Post Extras:

BKBrown
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 08/23/09

Loc: Northern Virginia, USA

Re: T-Rex or Orion Atlas Pro AZ/EQ-G? new

[Re: Lane]
#5716428 - 03/06/13 01:42 PM

Looks like a very straightforward Mk I mounting plate Lane, shouldn't be too hard for folks to get their hands around the concept. Thanks for the pix

Clear Skies,
Brian

Post Extras:

Lane
Post Laureate

Reged: 11/19/07

Loc: Frisco, Texas

Re: T-Rex or Orion Atlas Pro AZ/EQ-G? new

[Re: BKBrown]
#5716692 - 03/06/13 03:44 PM

I sent this picture and several others to JMI along with the exact dimensions they will need. They might make the mounting plates for us, but I have not heard back from them yet. I will let you know if and when I do.

Post Extras:

Lane
Post Laureate

Reged: 11/19/07

Loc: Frisco, Texas

Re: T-Rex or Orion Atlas Pro AZ/EQ-G? new

[Re: Lane]
#5726617 - 03/11/13 07:03 PM

I know a couple of you are interested so I thought I would post an update:

I have had no response to the emails and pictures I sent to JMI early last week, so I am not sure it they are just too busy right now or if they changed their minds again and aren't interested in making the motor mounts for the T-Rex.

Post Extras:

EFT
Vendor - Deep Space Products

Reged: 05/07/07

Loc: Phoenix, AZ

Re: T-Rex or Orion Atlas Pro AZ/EQ-G? new

[Re: Lane]
#5726814 - 03/11/13 08:38 PM

Quote:

I know a couple of you are interested so I thought I would post an update:

I have had no response to the emails and pictures I sent to JMI early last week, so I am not sure it they are just too busy right now or if they changed their minds again and aren't interested in making the motor mounts for the T-Rex.

They may be waiting for me at this point. I'm hoping to get a TNT in here soon and see what we can come up with for a retrofit and/or a system for new mounts.

Post Extras:

Lane
Post Laureate

Reged: 11/19/07

Loc: Frisco, Texas

Re: T-Rex or Orion Atlas Pro AZ/EQ-G? new

[Re: EFT]
#5727147 - 03/11/13 11:40 PM

That sounds great. Maybe you can come up with something much better than mine.

I personally wish telescope makers would think about these things in advance. If the worm gear housing just had some kind of short post sticking out next to the shaft. Then the motor mounting could be nothing but a small adapter around the front of the motor shaft with a socket for that post. Then you could push on and pull off the motor and only have to tighten one shaft screw in the process. The post in socket would keep the motor from rotating and that is all the mount needs to do because the shaft collar holds the motor in place. It would look much cleaner and make switching from the motor to the handles a lot easier.

Post Extras:

Kunama
super member

Reged: 10/22/12

Loc: Australia

Re: T-Rex or Orion Atlas Pro AZ/EQ-G? new

[Re: Lane]
#5749101 - 03/22/13 06:24 AM

Any news on the JMI motor kits, will 'Train & Track' come to fruition?

I just ordered a T-Rex today which will carry my Tak TSA120/SV F50W2 combo with Argo Navis DTC to come a little later.

Post Extras:

EFT
Vendor - Deep Space Products

Reged: 05/07/07

Loc: Phoenix, AZ

Re: T-Rex or Orion Atlas Pro AZ/EQ-G? new

[Re: Kunama]
#5749427 - 03/22/13 10:40 AM

Quote:

Any news on the JMI motor kits, will 'Train & Track' come to fruition?

I have the TNT system now and will try to get to designing an appropriate attaching system as soon as possible.

Post Extras:

Lane
Post Laureate

Reged: 11/19/07

Loc: Frisco, Texas

Re: T-Rex or Orion Atlas Pro AZ/EQ-G? new

[Re: EFT]
#5749747 - 03/22/13 01:39 PM

Thanks Ed, it would be nice if you can make it more compact than mine so it isn't as much of an eyesore on a beautiful mount.

The key thing in my mind is to make it easy to attach and remove. It would be nice if we could have some small socket plate that was permanently mounted to the bolts on the worm housing and then the motor mount would just click into the socket. This would also solve the problem of the motor being in the way of the saddle bolt, because you could mount the scope first and then attach the motor. That would also mean the motor could attach closer to the mount since it does not matter if it gets in the way of the saddle bolt. I only mounted it at the end of that shaft adapter (that comes with the flexicable) to keep the motor out of the way of the saddle bolt.

Whatever you come up with I will be buying it since I am sure it will look better than mine.

Thanks for taking an interest in this project.

Post Extras:

EFT
Vendor - Deep Space Products

Reged: 05/07/07

Loc: Phoenix, AZ

Re: T-Rex or Orion Atlas Pro AZ/EQ-G? new

[Re: Lane]
#5749826 - 03/22/13 02:16 PM

Quote:

Thanks Ed, it would be nice if you can make it more compact than mine so it isn't as much of an eyesore on a beautiful mount.

The key thing in my mind is to make it easy to attach and remove. It would be nice if we could have some small socket plate that was permanently mounted to the bolts on the worm housing and then the motor mount would just click into the socket. This would also solve the problem of the motor being in the way of the saddle bolt, because you could mount the scope first and then attach the motor. That would also mean the motor could attach closer to the mount since it does not matter if it gets in the way of the saddle bolt. I only mounted it at the end of that shaft adapter (that comes with the flexicable) to keep the motor out of the way of the saddle bolt.

Whatever you come up with I will be buying it since I am sure it will look better than mine.

Thanks for taking an interest in this project.

I'm going to do my best to see what we can do to make it look good. That will probably be the toughest part.

Post Extras:

BKBrown
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 08/23/09

Loc: Northern Virginia, USA

Re: T-Rex or Orion Atlas Pro AZ/EQ-G? new

[Re: EFT]
#5753447 - 03/24/13 09:29 AM Attachment (4 downloads)

Thanks for the effort Ed (and Lane!), I think it is worthwhile to take the time to make the mounting brackets blend in with the rest of the mount...it's a beautiful piece of gear. The slow motion controls are incredibly smooth and easy to use, but I think I will still need push button control for long hours in the cold so you can count me in for a set whenever they are ready.

Clear Skies,
Brian

Post Extras:

Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | (show all)

Extra information

23 registered and 41 anonymous users are browsing this forum.

Moderator: Bowmoreman, bilgebay, iceblaze

Print Thread

Forum Permissions
      You cannot start new topics
      You cannot reply to topics
      HTML is disabled
      UBBCode is enabled

Thread views: 3608

Jump to

CN Forums

Home

Cloudy Nights LLC
Cloudy Nights Sponsor: Astronomics