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Alan Buckman of AWR Technology UK has been busy designing a new Astromount. To be launched at Astrofest 2017, the PEM claims to be a compact, relatively light, English mounting with an OTA capacity of 50kg.[100lbs]It has a C-shaped, polar axis, bearing housing. With large 48mm [nearly 2"] stainless steel, tubular shafts for greater lightness compared with solid shafts. The opposed thrust bearings offer freedom of movement and rigidity in use.
Placing the load between the bearings has distinct advantages in a telescope mounting compared with a cantilevered design. An offset counterweight shaft is used to avoid needing a very deep polar axis housing. Large, 8.5" Beacon Hill wormwheels are used for accuracy of drive and the ability to control long and heavy OTAs.
The C of G of the PEM mounting is placed directly over the pier. To ensure no unwanted [out of balance] moments are applied to cause flexure of the pier.
Claimed to be able to handle large, classical refractors and even larger reflectors it uses AWR's own Intelligent drive system. This includes GOTO, an on-board database of objects, PEC [Periodic Error Correction] and drive anti-backlash control.
Since each mounting will be made to order a degree of adaptation to suit to suit customer's specific needs is offered. Three sizes of wormwheel are offered with the potential for a smaller mounting with the smallest [6"] wheels.
See links below for more details.
27th-Jan-poster.png2_.jpg (JPEG Image, 514 × 799 pixels)
Specifications.pdf
Pictures of the prototype can be found if you scroll down to the bottom in the following gallery.
http://www.rkdmachineshopservices.co.uk/index.php/4/
Hopefully, more pictures will follow.
A YT video has a 3 minute interview [from 4 mins 15 secs to 7mins in] with Alan Buckman of AWR at Astrofest 2017 discussing his new mounting:
Note: I have set the video to start when the interview begins.
https://youtu.be/Yynpp6Hx0w4?t=4m15s
Prices are expected to lie in the region of £6500 + VAT or around £8k retail.
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