16 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.

[careysub]

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

Unfortunately these are no longer available:

 

https://www.faintfuz...m/CrossBow.html

[nevada-jason]

Based on my own experience with this platform, I'm not too surprised it had a hard time with a larger scope.  

 

My Apertura 10" dobsonian worked well on the platform, but special care needed to be taken to maneuver it in some unstable positions.  I did have to make some additions of my own. I do wish it were possible to put the motor to lunar or star rates..  All trial and error while starting to observe.  I did get the hang of it after awhile. 

 

I was able to get some great images of the moon and planets with it.  But that was really pushing the limits and I wouldn't say that's a selling point. Visually, it would be ideal in my opinion.  To get a start with lunar & planetary, it isn't a bad option considering the cost comparing to other solutions if you already have a dobsonian.  

[SieglindeFestkochend]

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

When constructing with glued boards in solid wood, serious errors can be seen:

Wood expands when moist and contracts when dry. The original design shown here does not take this into account. Since the greatest effect of expansion occurs in the width and the smallest in the length, glued solid wood panels must not be glued crosswise to solid wood. Otherwise there will inevitably be cracks in the plate.

 

This is basic knowledge for carpenters. The carpenters invented the frame.

 

The manufacturer of the platform has no idea what he is doing...

[wjgrover1956]

I also bought one of these EQ platforms for my 10" Dob, figuring the low cost was worth taking a risk. The platform drive (a crudely ground-down bolt), as mentioned above, was completely inadequate to the task. It slipped regularly and randomly, and failed to even drive as it got towards the endpoint. And, I found bits of sawdust from the shaft grinding down the  wooden platform. The short time it did work, it worked reasonably well. I felt it was too poorly designed to make it worth using, so I decided to do some modifications: moving the drive motor to the inside of the frame (to avoid knocking it off); putting the potentiometer in an easily accessible spot; creating a belt-drive system to move platform; increasing the battery capacity (7 AA cells); improving the lift & return system; adding adjustable footers; and a few other tweaks (photos attached).  I now get consistent drive with no slippage, in a sturdier package. Would I do this again? Pretty sure I would not; I spent way too much time on this mod. I would instead recommend just spending the extra money and find better-desiigned/ better-built unit that actually works. Or do without. Or buy a GoTo system. My two cents.

 

Will

 

 

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Edited by wjgrover1956, 04 January 2024 - 10:39 AM.

[spins120]

I was in the same boat as everyone else with this mount.  I thought $375 was a great deal, and the pictures of it looked promising. Unfortunately, mine looked like it was assembled by a 12 year old's first year in wood shop. I returned it immediately ( MY COST $100) As above, it got sent to the wrong address, then returned to me. I was just about to give up, and they offered a free return label, and I got my initial purchase cost refunded. I feel bad for whoever made it, they are trying to run a business, but just cant see that the product is horribly inferior. 

[ratnamaravind]

I use an Ed Jones platform that was custom made for my 11" f/5.1 Teeter STS and it is wonderful.

[yong ho jang]

I built a DIY 2-axis equatorial platform for my 12-inch GSO Dobsonian.
I’m not an expert in electronics or programming.
I studied various resources, including YouTube, and went through many failures during the process.
It is made with standard 18T birch plywood, and I connected three stepper motors using OnStep. It operates through the OnStep app.

Deep sky imaging is possible, with single exposures of up to 300 seconds. It works similarly to an equatorial mount.
However, it requires polar alignment using the SharpCap Pro software.
Additionally, a lot of extra equipment is needed.

If you understand the principles and avoid any mistakes,
you could probably build it for around $600.
Currently, the exchange rate in Korea has risen a lot, so the estimate may not be entirely accurate.
It’s because our president has gone crazy.