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GOTO SYSTEMS for LARGE Telescopes

LARGE TELESCOPES are defined as 14 inch diameter mirrors and upwards and could be on FORK, GERMAN , ENGLISH or other Equatorial mounts with worm, friction or chain drives. AWR have advised on motorizing all types of telescopes and mounts with mirrors up to 36 inch diameter. Worm drives can be supplied with up to 14 inch dia wheels in machining quality ALUMINIUM or PHOSPHOR BRONZE from Beacon Hill Telescopes for new mounts under construction or to update existing mounts. If you are planning and designing a large telescope are then it is never too early to talk to Alan Buckman of AWR in order to get advice on good practises, torque requirements, reduction ratio's etc. Examples of our work and equipment can be seen at	Eamonn Ansbro 36 inch in Ireland

LARGE TELESCOPES are defined as 14 inch diameter mirrors and upwards and could be on FORK, GERMAN , ENGLISH or other Equatorial mounts with worm, friction or chain drives. AWR have advised on motorizing all types of telescopes and mounts with mirrors up to 36 inch diameter. Worm drives can be supplied with up to 14 inch dia wheels in machining quality ALUMINIUM or PHOSPHOR BRONZE from Beacon Hill Telescopes for new mounts under construction or to update existing mounts. If you are planning and designing a large telescope are then it is never too early to talk to Alan Buckman of AWR in order to get advice on good practises, torque requirements, reduction ratio's etc. Examples of our work and equipment can be seen at

Eamonn Ansbro 36 inch in Ireland

Sheffield University 24 inch Cassegrain, Bole Hill
Warren Rupp Observatory 31 inch Newtonian (USA)
A 36 inch reflector on a compact fork mount in Ireland (FRICTION DRIVE) by Eamonn Ansbro
Hampshire Astronomical Group 24 inch Newtonian and a 16 inch with a FRICTION DRIVE
Equatorial Group Yapp 36 inch Cassegrain, Science Centre, Herstmonceux
Nottingham Astronomical Society 24 inch Newtonian (FRICTION DRIVE)
Sussex University 'Isle of Thorns' 18 inch Newtonian
Marlborough College Blackett Observatory 10 inch Cooke Victorian refractor (the Barclay Telescope) dating from 1860. Thought to be the oldest telescope that has full GOTO equipment. Lovingly restored by Norman Walker with AWR control equipment.
Coats Observatory in Paisley, a 10 inch Grubb
Brayebrooke Observatory. Heavy Victorian 10 inch Calver with an extensive discussion of drive system design.
EXTERNAL ENCODERS fitted to a 36 inch with friction drive. AWR GOTO system at 24 Volts operation.
Some examples on our GALLERY page

The following dealers fit and supply our equipment on their own large mounts:

NETHERLANDS - ASTROFOX . . . PICTURE of 36 inch ----
USA - OPTIC-CRAFT MACHINING CO
UK - BEACON HILL TELESCOPES

AWR items suitable for the largest and heaviest telescopes are the Microstep systems using a Sanyo Denki rare earth stepper motor (AWR part number MOTOR/210) with slew performance normally 0.5 degree per second but extended to 3 degrees per second with the right power supply & design (expensive!). The equipment you will need includes two motors, motor brackets, mechanical motion components, Intelligent Handset or Simple handset and a power supply. Normal power supply requirements are 12V DC at 8.5 amps, but could be 12V at 4.5 amps, 24V at 8.5 amps etc. A computer with serial IH-PC lead provides point and click GOTO's if you do not want to rely on the Intelligent Handset. Typical system prices are in the range £1,000 to £1,800 depending on what is required.

Design of the correct solution is essential to get the best compromise of speed and power so we tailor each design to your specific requirements. This work continues through after sale service during the commissioning period. Deviations from the standard kit are possible - one system used a 40 Volt 350 Watt power supply with 3 amp per phase motors. We have the knowledge to know what works and what doesn't because of the experiences of many successful installations of telescopes in this category. Reduction ratio's at least 600:1 are recommended giving approx 100 microsteps per second for sidereal rate.

Large observatory domes are often host to large parties and an ideal addition to the Intelligent Drive System are readout devoces to display the coordinates that the telescope is currently pointing to. These can be displayed in a variety of configurations using the AWR ASTRO DISPLAY units.

Difficult telescopes of a Heritage nature can be upgraded discreetly using Professional Digital Setting Circles. See our work at the Science Centre, Herstmonceux on all the telescops of the Equatorial Group.

TYPICAL SYSTEM:

2 off MOTOR/210
Motor brackets and pulley reductions at least 2:1 ratio
Advanced Microstep Drivebox
Intelligent Handset with Database
IH-PC Serial lead
Power supply
No computer is needed but it will enhance your facility!

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