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1
DIY AstroEQ / Re: Before first power up question
« on: July 27, 2019, 19:02:43 »
Your gear ratio setting needs to be the actual one 2:1 any other value will mean the mount slewing and tracking incorrectly.
2
DIY AstroEQ / Using TMC2130 with Astro EQ
« on: July 27, 2019, 18:59:40 »
I asked a question on this a while ago. And now I can answer my own question.
Reason is I wanted to use 2130 drivers is because they microstep at 200 micro steps per main step. This produces almost servo like performance. The way I got them working was as follows.
On the under side of the board is a bridge that needs to be soldered. This puts the driver in stand alone mode and it behaves like a 2100 but with the microsteps. I use 16 steps in the utility and the MKS L runs flawlessly with that setting with decent slew rates and superb tracking. I am using it on a CGE conversion with 0.9 degree steppers.
Reason is I wanted to use 2130 drivers is because they microstep at 200 micro steps per main step. This produces almost servo like performance. The way I got them working was as follows.
On the under side of the board is a bridge that needs to be soldered. This puts the driver in stand alone mode and it behaves like a 2100 but with the microsteps. I use 16 steps in the utility and the MKS L runs flawlessly with that setting with decent slew rates and superb tracking. I am using it on a CGE conversion with 0.9 degree steppers.
3
DIY AstroEQ / TMC2130 support.
« on: May 30, 2019, 14:31:20 »
Decided with my low geared setup on the CGE that unless I want to fit expensive geared motors I need to get the microsteps up for tracking. I want to use the TMC 2130 which has mode changes via software on the spi pins. Microstepping up to 256 is supported.
Is there any plan to support that driver in Astroeq?
Is there any plan to support that driver in Astroeq?
4
DIY AstroEQ / Re: Gear settings
« on: May 28, 2019, 14:38:51 »
Thanks Tom.
I found out that the mount is slewing and tracking at single steps and is not microstepping. Not sure how to get the MKS board to microstep with the 2100 drivers so I am going to go back to the 8825 drivers which I believe microstep at 32 with no modifications to the board.
Has anyone got the MKS board to work with the 2100 and if so how?
As to setting microstepping. If I want say 32 microsteps which is all links on the board set will Astroeq then do the gear change. Or do I need to set at 1 step all links off and Astroeq will set microstepping in software?
I think the PHD issue may be striction in the west direction that is stopping a full movement per step. I will loosen things up a bit on the worm and see how it goes. I am close but no cigar yet.
Regards
Terry
I found out that the mount is slewing and tracking at single steps and is not microstepping. Not sure how to get the MKS board to microstep with the 2100 drivers so I am going to go back to the 8825 drivers which I believe microstep at 32 with no modifications to the board.
Has anyone got the MKS board to work with the 2100 and if so how?
As to setting microstepping. If I want say 32 microsteps which is all links on the board set will Astroeq then do the gear change. Or do I need to set at 1 step all links off and Astroeq will set microstepping in software?
I think the PHD issue may be striction in the west direction that is stopping a full movement per step. I will loosen things up a bit on the worm and see how it goes. I am close but no cigar yet.
Regards
Terry
5
DIY AstroEQ / Re: Gear settings
« on: May 27, 2019, 20:19:58 »
Finally got the CGE out under the stars for a short session (clouds) and it slewed close to the target, close enough for plate solving. Tracking seemed OK. Had issues with PHD calibration with west movements small or even moving backwards! and all others way too big.
Quick question. Do I have to configure a custom mount in Eqmod for the mount putting in all the settings or can I just use the EQ6 settings.
Quick question. Do I have to configure a custom mount in Eqmod for the mount putting in all the settings or can I just use the EQ6 settings.
6
DIY AstroEQ / Re: Gear settings
« on: May 22, 2019, 14:59:25 »
Thanks Tom.
I am a few days from first light, At the moment I am just eyeballing it pointing toward the Sun. Thanks for the confirmation my settings seem right. I have 84 ounce steppers on the scope so there should be plenty of torque, though I am running them at 12 volts. Will see how it works under the stars and maybe up it to 24 Volts as the MK will take that.
I am a few days from first light, At the moment I am just eyeballing it pointing toward the Sun. Thanks for the confirmation my settings seem right. I have 84 ounce steppers on the scope so there should be plenty of torque, though I am running them at 12 volts. Will see how it works under the stars and maybe up it to 24 Volts as the MK will take that.
7
DIY AstroEQ / Gear settings
« on: May 20, 2019, 19:33:01 »
I have finished a conversion and need confirmation of my settings.
My mounts RA and DEC worm wheels have 180 teeth.
I have a driven pulley with 16 teeth and also a 16 teeth pulley on the worm gear.
My settings motor step angle 1.8
Motor gear ratio 1
Worm gear ratio 180
I am running a MKS gen L and amusing the Ramps 1.4 as the board as I can't find a firmware for the MKS. I am using TMC2100 drivers with all links closed, uStep gear change is disabled and Motor microstep level is set to 16..
Can anyone confirm these are the right settings, everything seems to be working fine though the mount does not seem to slew quite to the target. Am checking this the next clear night.
Running firmware v8.14
Thanks Terry
My mounts RA and DEC worm wheels have 180 teeth.
I have a driven pulley with 16 teeth and also a 16 teeth pulley on the worm gear.
My settings motor step angle 1.8
Motor gear ratio 1
Worm gear ratio 180
I am running a MKS gen L and amusing the Ramps 1.4 as the board as I can't find a firmware for the MKS. I am using TMC2100 drivers with all links closed, uStep gear change is disabled and Motor microstep level is set to 16..
Can anyone confirm these are the right settings, everything seems to be working fine though the mount does not seem to slew quite to the target. Am checking this the next clear night.
Running firmware v8.14
Thanks Terry
8
DIY AstroEQ / Re: finished build inc 3D printed housing.
« on: November 15, 2018, 19:49:39 »
Looks really neat.
9
DIY AstroEQ / CGE need confirmation of settings.
« on: November 15, 2018, 19:48:52 »
Have just finished a Belt drive CGE conversion which is working but I believe missing the target when slewing, not by much but enough. Here are my numbers from the config utility.
I am using Ramps with a TMC 2208 with all links in which should give 16 usteps interpolated to 256.
The Worm has 180 teeth
The stepper cog has 17 teeth
The Worm cog has 16 teeth.
The Stepper has 1.8 deg steps
My settings in the utility are
Motor steps 1.8
Motor gear 1.0625
Worm 180
Usteps disabled
16 Usteps
Results
Axis steps per rev 612000
Worm steps/rev 3400
Sidereal IRQ 6364
Siderial speed 896
Resoloution 2.118
Can you take a look and see if I am messing up somewhere. The mount slews fine and will track, not sure how good that is yet, but comparing it with my Atlas when slewed to the same object it's out about the same in both axis.
I am using Ramps with a TMC 2208 with all links in which should give 16 usteps interpolated to 256.
The Worm has 180 teeth
The stepper cog has 17 teeth
The Worm cog has 16 teeth.
The Stepper has 1.8 deg steps
My settings in the utility are
Motor steps 1.8
Motor gear 1.0625
Worm 180
Usteps disabled
16 Usteps
Results
Axis steps per rev 612000
Worm steps/rev 3400
Sidereal IRQ 6364
Siderial speed 896
Resoloution 2.118
Can you take a look and see if I am messing up somewhere. The mount slews fine and will track, not sure how good that is yet, but comparing it with my Atlas when slewed to the same object it's out about the same in both axis.
10
AstroEQ Support / Re: Those who are using TMC2100s
« on: November 07, 2018, 01:19:48 »
I switched to them on two builds I use a ramps setup which is hard to configure with these drivers so I just leave all jumpers off. This gives me silent but slow slews.
11
DIY AstroEQ / Celstron CGE anyone done a stepper conversion?
« on: September 20, 2018, 04:09:11 »
I have successfully finished my Atlas non goto conversion and now want to do a conversion of an old CGE mount to stepper, anyone done this and can give me some tips on motors to use and whats needed bracket and belt wise to make it work.
Terry
Terry
12
DIY AstroEQ / Re: 2208's are great ,but!
« on: February 08, 2018, 21:45:19 »
OK I think I sorted the issue. The 2208 is expecting step size of 16 I had 32, I am guessing the extra steps are interpolated wrongly and you get a double step when it is converted to 256 steps. Now slewing right and tracking right.
If this works I will take the stock board out of my other Atlas and Eq it cause it's like night and day smoothness and noise wise.
If this works I will take the stock board out of my other Atlas and Eq it cause it's like night and day smoothness and noise wise.
13
DIY AstroEQ / 2208's are great ,but!
« on: February 08, 2018, 20:28:25 »
Fitted my long awaited 2208's to the Atlas ramps setup, This has been performing perfectly on the 8825's if somewhat noisy.
The 2208's cured all that and the mount is now pretty much silent in slew and track. But and there is always one. Is that slews and probably tracking is now running 100% more distance than before. So if I am pointed at the home position and ask it to go due East I end up with both axes doubling the distance exactly and the scope points down to the ground.
I removed all the bridging clips on the ramps board and am running it in default mode.
Any ideas on this one?
Terry
The 2208's cured all that and the mount is now pretty much silent in slew and track. But and there is always one. Is that slews and probably tracking is now running 100% more distance than before. So if I am pointed at the home position and ask it to go due East I end up with both axes doubling the distance exactly and the scope points down to the ground.
I removed all the bridging clips on the ramps board and am running it in default mode.
Any ideas on this one?
Terry
14
Mount Support / Re: Gears,gears,gears
« on: January 24, 2018, 22:09:00 »
Thanks Phil. I did look at that and decided I did not want to do that much disassembly on the mount, it had been hypertuned by DSS so was in good mechanical shape. I bought a set of EQ6 motor assemblies from Skywatcher in the end. Not cheap but at least I know the gearing is right.
15
Mount Support / Gears,gears,gears
« on: January 14, 2018, 22:56:03 »
Now I am on to the mechanical part of my EQ6 Mod. I have a couple of drive mounting plates but need to source the gears.
I took a look at the ones in my goto Atlas and they are a 12 tooth gear on the stepper shaft and a 32 tooth transfer gear that meshes with the gear in the mount attached to the Worm gear.
Anyone know what these two gears are pitch wise and where I can find them.
Thanks
Terry
I took a look at the ones in my goto Atlas and they are a 12 tooth gear on the stepper shaft and a 32 tooth transfer gear that meshes with the gear in the mount attached to the Worm gear.
Anyone know what these two gears are pitch wise and where I can find them.
Thanks
Terry
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