9 replies to this topic

[Feidb]

If you’ve got a light scope and don’t mind the gross lack of precision, this might be the platform for you, but I wouldn’t use anything larger than a 12, and that’s pushing it, if you can even get it undamaged right out of the box. I’ve heard other stories of it working fine especially if tweaked, but in my experience it was an expensive failed lesson.

Click here to view the article

[hamishbarker]

Sorry to hear that you suffered what appears to be a product which seems rather poorly engineered. There are many ways to build an EQ platform but many of the design and fabrication choices they made seem poor were it could have been much better at no additional cost.

Both EQ platforms I've made (one fits up to 12 inch dobs, the other takes my 22 inch circa 100kg dob) have worked most satisfactorily despite me starting with no experience, and with the larger one being a new design adapted from two existing but rather obscure concepts.

 

I think there are a few fundamentals which are key, including making as direct as possible gravity load path, making the platform have high stiffness where direct load paths are not possible, and that the centre of gravity must be on or quite close to the polar axis. And smooth bearing surfaces!

 

If you are at all handy in terms of telescope making, it would be a pleasure to assist you in reengineering your platform to fix its faults. It looks like it does have some good hardware which can be reused to make a much better platform, customized to your telescope.

 

Hope to see you soon over at the CN ATM forum!

[Claytoncramer]

My experience with the Crossbow plqatform has been wonderful.  Aluminum and well designed.  It handles my 17.5" Dob just fine.

[Feidb]

Thanks all but I think I'll stick with the Dob on the ground. Instead, I'm getting an SCT for not only the drives but the pointing accuracy.

 

All the best!

[DeanD]

Sorry to hear your experience. I concur with the comments above: a decent platform can work very well. It was a pity you missed his 30-day money-back guarantee- but I suspect you would still have a case for compensation if you pushed it: his images on his site show what looks like good quality plywood all around- which is not what you got! No excuse for shoddy cuts either...

 

All the best,

 

Dean

[hamishbarker]

Sorry to hear your experience. I concur with the comments above: a decent platform can work very well. It was a pity you missed his 30-day money-back guarantee- but I suspect you would still have a case for compensation if you pushed it: his images on his site show what looks like good quality plywood all around- which is not what you got! No excuse for shoddy cuts either...

 

All the best,

 

Dean

where is the website? I tried googling and couldn't find it.

[CharLakeAstro]

It's a very dated Tripod website with annoying ads covering important parts of the webpage. Free hosting and worth every penny.

 

https://supernorthstars.tripod.com/

 

 

 

where is the website? I tried googling and couldn't find it.

[RiderRoy]

What a  mess. I've had one of these platforms for a few months now. All four of the glued on wood feet were broken off in shipping so I replaced with adjustable feet from amazon. They help with leveling anyway. Like you I was concerned with the glued boards and bearings so I re-enforced with screws before I ever sat my XT10 on the platform. 

I've managed to get the tracking close enough for extended visual sessions but it's too wobbly to use for EAA with my dob which is what I purchased the platform for in the first place. 

If long exposure photography or EAA is what you're wanting a platform for then I would suggest someone go ahead and spend the extra on a higher quality platform. But if all one wants is visual without having to bump their dob to track an object then this platform is ... good enough. 

[azure1961p]

OK, I recognize this so-called platform.  I bought one from ALIEN PLATFORMS.  The most rank garbage construction ever.  Same Parts EXACTLY. Difference here?  ALIEN used plywood, this guy now just uses pine planks (oh it'll warp trust me, unless it's polyurethaned, epoxy coated or the best outdoor paints they make).  My scope was within the weight limit and after 15 minutes of trying to make it work, then another 15 minutes, it was clear it needed rework which I did. Worthless garbage still.

 

I'd bet big this is ALIEN PLATFORMS, cheapened (if you can believe it) and with the same bolt they ground off the threads with.  The guy who runs it, along with his obnoxious sin had this southern laconic drawl. The Dad I soon realized just wasn't up to the task mentally. 

 

Sorry you had the misfortune .

 

Pete

[Chucky]

So sorry about all this. What a piece of junk.. I don't know else to put it.