Just to put this up front. I really like this mount. I'm keeping it. This response of their's...well...it just sort of hits me the wrong way.
Anyway, twice now I had this minor problem in the RA axis. It's not a big deal other than I have to I release and readjust the release knob then the pain of going back...re-zeroing and a star align again. The tactile feel is just not there for it to be repetitive on the RA.
I e-mail them... being 'warranty careful' and not pulling the cover off without talking to them first. Did I not not give them the right details? You tell me.
I told the tech I ran into a problem last night on my new CEM60. Pole and a one star aligned during the move from M13 to Mars I realized the mount was not going toward the planet in the RA axis. It was way behind were it should have been (moving East). The Dec looked to be correct if the RA had been in the right position and the Target and Dec positions on the pendant confirmed so.
I did hear a very light on and off buzzing during part of the travel from the RA axis during the move and thought that was odd. Going through and checking things I found that the RA axis had lost position apparently slipping steps during the move. Once that stepper had lost steps the zero position is of course also now wrong and this was confirmed by having the mount go to zero position. It swung past were zero should have been to near 6 hrs more west.
The cause I believe was I had not released the adjustment to worm enough for it to magnetically float freely on the gear and it bound slightly during the east slewing. (I did very lightly rock the RA it as I engaged it).
That axis knob ends up very tight during the worm release requiring more than normal torque CW to get the axis gear to float past the worm for balancing as the worm is at times bumping on the top of the gear in some places so I'm thinking it is affecting my ability to get a proper release CCW back to the worm engagement position.
I see there are what appear to be adjustment screws left and right of the gear switches. Can I get some instructions on how to do this adjustment if that will solve the problem? Not having a schematic I cannot problem solve it myself without removing the cover to look
.
I love the mount and I'm sure I'll get these little issues solved as I understand the mount in more detail.
Here is their response today:
The tech said I could back off the gear tension a little more to see whether the motor still skips steps and that a re-balancing might be necessary.
Then offered me a service modifying the RA and Dec boards to increase the motors torque by 30% to gain more power and avoid motor stall. they wanted about 60 bucks with shipping to do this.
Well, Well. I have brand new, two week old mount and they want me to pay them about $60 to fix a torque problem?
First, I don't see torque as being my minor little issue here and second, if some are having a torque issue I would think that would come under a warranty/defect fix...assuming proper leveling, balance and using the mount within the weight specifications not to mention in the warranty period.. ( Just so you know... I only have about 16 pounds of gear on the mount)
All they had to do was send me a little drawing verifying those two screws I reference to... are the adjustment screws... and do I move them out more... or in more (there does appear to be a little travel available inward) Or if it is something else what to do about it.
But now I'm wondering about this possible torque issue popping up later.
Sooo...I guess the next step is to call them in the morning. I'll keep you posted.
Edited by scadvice, 22 August 2018 - 11:31 AM.