8 replies to this topic

[Blackhawk163]

Just completed my build of the 8 foot dome with two bays. If when buying new, and you can spare the extra cash, get the two bays. So much room in those two compartments!

But I digress

Has anyone tried a diy for the shutter kit or did you just bite the bullet and purchase a kit for your explora-dome from polydome? If you did a diy could you share your plans? I don’t mind going out to open the shutters, it’s in the morning, that I at times forget to close them and wind up with some feathered friends remains😛

 

Did I say I love me them bays?

 

pic below is the WIP just got done doing the measurements for the dome geometry. 

Attached Thumbnails

• 

[kathyastro]

I bought the kit back in the day when they sold the Foster system.  I ended up ripping out the controllers, but I kept most of the kit hardware, including the shutter hardware.  I then DIYed my own control system. 

 

So I use the shutter motors and pulleys from Exploradome, but I built my own shutter sequencer.  I also replaced the DC rotation motor with a stepper motor and use an Arduino to control the whole shebang.  It is actually quite reliable.

 

The Arduino has a connection to a rain detector, so it can do an emergency close autonomously, no matter what the PC controlling the session wants.

[Blackhawk163]

I bought the kit back in the day when they sold the Foster system. I ended up ripping out the controllers, but I kept most of the kit hardware, including the shutter hardware. I then DIYed my own control system.

So I use the shutter motors and pulleys from Exploradome, but I built my own shutter sequencer. I also replaced the DC rotation motor with a stepper motor and use an Arduino to control the whole shebang. It is actually quite reliable.

The Arduino has a connection to a rain detector, so it can do an emergency close autonomously, no matter what the PC controlling the session wants.

Thanks Kathy, but aside from the motor to retract the top portion of the dome, did you also replace the two struts/motor that open/retract the bottom door?

Edit: NVM you kept the hardware


I would also need the bracket to attach the motor as well don’t I?

Edited by Blackhawk163, 29 May 2023 - 07:41 PM.

[kathyastro]

I would also need the bracket to attach the motor as well don’t I?

Yes, you need the brackets, and they need to be strong.  You could DIY some brackets, but the real thing would be best.

[lovejaca]

I got the kit based on the MaxDome system from ExploraDome  Came with all of the hardware and connectors I needed to move from a manual system to fully automatic.  It installed easily and has worked great so far with no issues.  Worth every cent in my opinion.

[Blackhawk163]

Thanks Kathy. I think I’ll buy the hardware but skip the controller. What does your controller system comprise of? That way I can get a shopping list going.

[kathyastro]

Thanks Kathy. I think I’ll buy the hardware but skip the controller. What does your controller system comprise of? That way I can get a shopping list going.

I made a shutter sequencer that rides in the dome and ensures that the upper and lower doors are properly coordinated.  It is just dumb relays and diodes, so there is not much to malfunction.  That allows me to send power and control to the shutter over two wires, which means that I can use a simple two-contact wiper to get power from the static building to the rotating dome.  The limitation is that the shutters can only operate in the home position.

 

Rotation uses a large stepper motor, with a suitable stepper controller module.  An Arduino controls both the rotation and the shutters.  The Arduino also monitors a rain sensor for the emergency close function.

 

I wrote an ASCOM driver to communicate with the Arduino, so it can be used by any software.  However, I mostly use it with my own dome synchronization software.

 

I don't support the software.  You can download it, but it is very much as-is, use at your own risk.

[Blackhawk163]

Once again thanks Kathy, I do already have a controller for the rotation, I’m using the max dome II system for that, and so far it hasn’t let me down. I tried to get the measurements as accurate as I could in terms of geometry, and so far the dome slews have been accurate so that I set a target or two and go to sleep soundly 😌.

It’s the shutter that I’m trying to save a few pennies on, for full automation it would be another 3.5k vs just a little over 2k for the just equipment. The extra 1.5k saved could go to filters and other toys 😜

Do you think the two systems (maxD and your solution) would work together just fine?

I have a couple of arduino boards laying around to play with, and as far as use and risk I understand completely.

[kathyastro]

The hard part will be getting the MaxDome rotation controller to play nicely with a DIY shutter controller.  If there is some kind of shutter output from the MaxDome controller, you could have an Arduino detect that signal and drive the shutters.  Depending on the signal, you could possibly even have it run the shutters directly with no further intelligence required.

 

If you can't integrate the shutters into the MaxDome system, then you will have to go full stand-alone.  This means that there will be no integration of the two functions in any astro software.  You will be unable to have the shutters automatically open at the start of a session or close at the end of a session because the software will be unable to see your DIY shutter controller as part of the dome.  You can operate the shutters manually or by a timer, but not as part of an imaging session.