Product Details
Our mission at ASA, over the past few years, has been to develop a new mount with similar tracking technology used by professional Observatories, and offer that mount at a fair price. We have achieved our objective with this new line of mounts! The accuracy of any manufactured part is generally limited by the mechanical characteristics. Even the finest astronomical mounts, relying on mechanics lone, cannot solve all the problems experienced during a common astronomical imaging session. Thus we have to look with one eye at the development status of the professional Observatories where mechanical limits are also shared by the best commercially available mounts. Borrowing a page from the professionals, we too seek to overcome those issues with well-engineered, electronic solutions that come with a very costly price tag.
However, here at ASA, we have managed to find ways to lower the cost of these incredible electronic solutions without compromising the performance quality. Therefore we present them to you within an affordable price range.
Our answer is to employ high resolution encoders mounted directly on the axes of the mount.
Price excludes shipping from Austria to The Netherlands.
ASA uses Renishaw Encoders, which are verified electronically and resolve to an unbelievable 0, 01-0, 02 seconds of arc.
Positioning information is communicated by the mellow software developed by Philipp Keller (Astrooptik, Germany). The tracking accuracy is accomplished by comparing the actual position of the system, 100 times per second in real time. This permits any required corrections to be applied immediately.
Dependent on the diameter of the encoder a tracking accuracy of 0, 2 - 0, 4 seconds of arc is provided without guiding. The Torque motors (direct drives without gears and no backlash) we are using could operate in a range of one-hundredth of arc seconds.
Thus in most cases guiding is not necessary and the use of ancillary support systems such as adaptive optics (Starlight, SBIG) is no longer necessary.
Because of this excellent tracking, purchasing an ASA mount can begin to immediately pay for itself over more traditional mounts. The tracking accuracy makes this an unbeatable purchase decision.
By collaborating with Dipl. Phys. Philipp Keller, ASA has saved significant development time and cost. After all why should we too reinvent the wheel? Dr. Keller’s proven designs have already stood the test of time and one just needs to view the legendary history of the current professional observatories that use his time tested technology.
Of particular interest one might be amazed to learn that the by using an ASA mount Autopointing (plate solving) via CCD camera is no longer required. Thus ASA mounts can be very quickly and easily used in the field.
Actually the normal tracking operations disrupted by a momentary gust of wind will be quickly and easily compensated with this technology. Also no more wasted time and frustration searching for a guiding star. The ASA direct drive mount can also be used very easy and reliably in remote controlled operations.
The ASA DDM60 PRO has internally wired cables. There's NO external cabling!
Product Specifications
ASA DDM 60 direct drive mount:
- Software Autoslew by Philipp Keller (www.astrooptik.com)
- Diameter of the axis RA/Dec. 60 mm hollow axle
- Bearing Preloaded taper roller bearings 95/60 mm
- Weight without counterweight-shaft Approx. 19 kg
- Loading capacity Approx. 25 kg
- Drive High torque motors in RA and Dec. (Direct Drive without gear)
- Operating voltage 12V/<10 A (0,4 - 0,8 A/Tracking)
- Encoder resolution 0,02“ on the axis
- Altitude range 0 - 90 degrees
- Moving speed 15°/sec. (faster on request)
- Counterweight-shaft 40 mm high-grade steel axle
- Counterweights High-grade steel; 4 kg, Ø 130 mm
- Oject catalog Messier, NGC, IC, PGC e.c.
Included features:
- Automatic Meridianflip
- Cables are lead through the mount (only at the DDM60 PRO version)
- Parking position, re-positioning after power outage
- Satellite- and comet tracking, etc.
- Manual specifiable safety limits
- Control via PC or Notebook (PC/Notebook not included in the price)
- Tested interfaces to Maxim DL, Autofocus, The Sky, CCD-Autopilot, etc.
- Different other drivers
Optional Accessoires:
- WLAN (WIFI), Control via pocket PC (up to 2010)
- Control via internet (up to 2010)
For operating the mount, a PC with USB port is required!
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