Last updated: 30 June 2007
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Last updated: 30 June 2007 |
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This page is for user comments and information of a general nature or items applicable to all LXD55 and LXD75 models. If you have any comments, suggestions, questions or answers to questions posed here, e-mail them to me and I'll post them. Please use an appropriate Subject Line on your message. Thanks.
Subject: HELP with AutoStar #497, Please..!! Sent: Wednesday, June 27, 2007 16:41:54 From: PRATYUSH R. PANDYA (pratyush@cox.net) I recently purchased a Meade 6" SN telescope with AutoStar. But being new at this whole backyard astronomy thing, I am having setting it up, so that Autostar would work properly. Would you offer any assistance, or any tips?? Thanking you in advance. Pratyush R. Pandya, CPAMike here: First advice: read the manual, three times. Second advice: play with the telescope, following the steps in the manual indoors where the lighting is good and you can see what you and the telescope are doing. Once you are comfortable with setting up and using the telescope and AutoStar, then you can go outside in the dark without becoming frustrated. If you have any specific questions as you get into using it, feel free to write.
Subject: Coming Clean! Sent: Saturday, June 23, 2007 17:47:03 From: Steve (bullfox@comcast.net) Not to soft soap you, but I feel like I should come clean regarding that comment I made a while back about the LXD sounding like a washing machine. That was horrible hyperbole, muddy metaphor, soiled simile. After seeing it perform to the max last weekend I would say that it purrs like a kitten, a loud kitten, but a kitten nevertheless. There, that was some dirty laundry that needed airing. --Mike here: Some kittens purr louder than others! Same with washing machines!
Subject: re: how to fix free movement over both axis? Sent: Tuesday, June 12, 2007 22:38:48 From: richard seymour (rseymour@wolfenet.com) A quick and easy trick for wind-effects is to -unbalance- the system (just a little... maybe a little more...)... This way there is a moderate -load- in one direction, instead of the easy-to-blow balanced system. With an unbalanced system, the wind has to overcome the unbalance before it can rock the scope. After that, you'd have to dismantle the drive sections, and tweak and tune the worm loading into the main gear. Check that Meade didn't leave the worm carrier (and motor carrier) insufficiently secured. (the worm can NOT be heavily pressing against the final driven gear... it must have a very small amount of free play or things will grind themselves down very quickly) good luck --dick
Subject: LDX motors Sent: Saturday, June 9, 2007 16:14:20 From: Stephen Olson (stephen99@comcast.net) Hope all is well in your world. I was thinking about getting another mount for my son. Its a clone of the LXD75/vixen mounts. It does not have a motor drive. Do you have anything in your bag of tricks you might be willing to sell? also do you know if its possible to make it a goto? I just sent out my LXD75 SN8 to Dr Clay for a supercharge! I am so excited. Any thoughts on his service? From what I understand its suppose to be a very good service and worth the money. Regards, SteveMike here: First, I am not a dealer so have nothing to sell. As to making the mount a GOTO system, checkout the Roboscopes Yahoo Group. Lastly, Dr. Clay's service is excellent.
Subject: how to fix free movement over both axis? Sent: Saturday, June 9, 2007 12:16:53 From: Floris Hommes (florisvanja@hotmail.com) Thank you for your site. I have bought the LXD75 6 inch Newton. It works very well. Apart from one thing: There is a small amount of free movement over both axis. It is negligible at small magnifications, but disturbing with small gusts of wind and larger magnifications. The touching of my eyelashes already causes saturn to jump up and down my field when using my 5mm Meade series 5000. Is this a fixable problem? I have tried to tighten some screws but the manual does not support my search for the cause. Are there any more elaborate manuals? All the best from the Netherlands and thanks again. Floris HommesMike here: There are some tech tips on my LXD Site but I don't think these will address your concern. Do you have the tripod legs fully extended? If so, try reducing their height; that will increase the stabilility. Also, do you have the telescope properly balanced? That can also affect vibrations. What you are experiencing is not that uncommon, even with higher end telescopes.
And:
Thanks for the valuable info. After some testing I decided to conclude it is not a tripod issue. It is the mount. After locking both axes (with or without attaching the telescope) there is still some rotation possible on both axes. Say 2 millimeters in each direction. Are there any experiences you can share with me? I hope tightening some screws will solve the problem. I hope you understand my decription. However fluent one is in a language, some things are hard to explain. All the best from the Netherlands, Floris HommesMike here: The locks are friction type so some movement is still possible, especially if you push on the telescope tube. But during GOTOs and tracking there should be no slippage. Is that what you are experiencing? Have you done a CALIBRATE MOTORS and TRAIN DRIVES?
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