• Cost for this mount is $7,000.00, delivered in the continental US. The closest competitor's harmonic drive mount starts at $14,000.00. The competitor's mount isn't portable either.  More specs for this mount are at the bottom of this page. 
• Custom orders, based on this mount design, can be ordered. See the partial list of options at the bottom of this page.
• Video of the mount moving 125 lbs. of simulated optics is below. 
• The mount is made of aluminum tubes primed and painted with hammered rustoleum. Scratches are easily painted over. 
• The electronics are from Sidereal Technology, using servo motors with attached encoders.
• The controller software is ASCOM compatible and nearly un-used by the operator when a planetarium program is used. 
• The pier is included, a custom made top plate is included, just send the specs for what you want.  The one shown is for 2 smaller scopes used for imaging. Dovetails can be made in house. 
• Counterweights are only needed for optics weighing over 50 lbs. 
• There are nearly 10 ticks of the encoder per arc second. 

The altitude adjustments. The threaded rod is a 1"- 10 threads per inch steel rod. The knobs are knurled steel. 

The pier comes with the mount. It is steel and comes apart for transport. No tools required !

The head and pier. Three knobs hold it on and snug it down in azimuth. 

The azimuth adjuster, simple and easy to operate. 

Also, the R.A. to Dec. axis collar is indexed. There are three tapered holes for the set screws to fit into. Again, tapered, indexed holes are used, not flats. The end of the R.A. shaft has UP stamped into it, so you can figure out the orientation easily. 

The R.A. axis on the mount. Each axis weighs 46 lbs. This tube slides into the head. Two small 1/4-20 knobs hold it in place inside the head tube. You can adjust the amount the R.A. axis "sticks out". Smaller optics won't need to do a meridian flip that way. 

The declination axis attached. There are two wires, idiot proof, for the encoder and motor power. I am not quite sure how best to manage these, for now they are just there. The axis just attaches with three small knobs. Again, tapered, indexed holes are used, not flats.

The top plate attached. Again, just 3 small knobs/bolts to attach it. Again, tapered, indexed holes are used, not flats. The plate is 1/2" aluminum. When you order the mount, just let me know what you want for holes, finish and size. 

The Sidereal technology controller. The plugs used are accessed from a slot on the left. Power, computer and handpad connections are there. Two small bolts hold it in place should the controller ever fail. 12-24 volts DC are all that is needed.

Video
A 2 minute tracking video using a Meade DSI Pro and Ph.D. autoguiding software is on YouTube.com
The mount has approximately 125 lbs. of weight added to the top of the Dec. axis. Scope is a little 6"F5 newt. The results were excellent. 
Daylight  videos of the mount moving around with a simulated 125 lbs of  weight is posted here  and here on YouTube.
A PemPro Periodic error video on YouTube. 

Custom Options - Each mount can be customized to a large degree. 

Pier Changes Available
Different heights
Different main pipe diameters
Different main pipe material
Different leg lengths
Different feet
No pier at all 
Custom pier adapter base plate
Adjustable height pier available

Mount Changes Available
Smaller or larger harmonic drives 
Smaller or larger main shafts
12 or 24 volt motors are available
Different cover material, coatings or colors
Different controller or motors

OTA Plate Options
This is available at no charge when ordered, at our discretion. 
If you have need to mount 2 separate optics, or whatever, we can make the plate.

Counterweights
Specify size, material and total weight needed when ordering the mount. They are included in the price. 
Stainless or Titanium counterweights are added cost items.
 

Controller Used
The mount uses a Sidereal Technology Servo Controller.  Pictures, software screen shots and specifications can be see here. The best feature of the controller is that it can be replaced in a few minutes, negating the need to send the mount back if there are problems. You can download the servo software and play around with it at any time before you purchase the mount. Just send us an e-mail request for a link to the latest software. There is a Yahoo Group for users too. 
Here is another great feature of the software. It is called Point XP. 

This is part of the reason for the mount's accuracy. After an offset initialization, ( point and click on a star) you start adding in "cal stars".  These are just plain stars that are centered on the CCD chip if you are imaging or in the eyepiece is you are doing a visual only session.  After about 3 of them, accuracy is such that polar alignment drift is nearly canceled out,  mount fabrication errors are compensated for etc.  Pointing accuracy will put a star near center of a CCD chip. The better the separation of the cal stars, the better the accuracy.  This is all done automatically. You need not even look at the PxP screen, just click on the button from the main screen when the star is centered. The recommended number of cal stars for the very best accuracy over the entire sky is 12. Accuracy is dramatically improved after 2 however. 

With these cal stars, Polar alignment does not have to be "perfect" anymore. Some of the polar alignment routines in other programs are rather lengthy and time consuming. With PxP, that can be eliminated. Each axis will be used when tracking. A Telrad  is all that is needed for polar alignment. 

Software
The software used is nearly transparent if you are using a planetarium. Screen shots are posted, here.

• The settings are saved on your computer in a file AND in the controller itself. You need not worry about having to fuss with the settings each time you go observing. 
• The software is FREE with the mount and updates with new features are FREE.
• Temperature controlled focusing, motorized focusers, limit switches etc. can be controlled from the software. 
• Different mount types can be controlled from the software and controller.
• Things like slew speeds, ramp speeds, backlash, power used etc. can all be controlled from this software. 

Motors Used
The motors are a big off the shelf motors with a 10k tick encoder attached. 

Harmonic Gearboxes
The gearboxes, one 160:1 per axis, are a Harmonic Gearbox. You can read about harmonic gearboxes here, here and here. Customers can request dual harmonic gearboxes for each axis. There is an added cost for this. 

Periodic Error 
A standard PE routine is used. Autoguiding from relays or from ASCOM can be used. PE testing reports will be posted after testing. 

Dimensions
R.A. axis weighs 46 lbs. 24" long, 6" OD. 
Dec. axis weighs 46 lbs. 24" long, 6" OD. 
Pier adapter weighs 19 lbs.
Pier weighs 47 lbs. It is an 8" ID pipe with a .225" wall thickness. 
Pier feet weigh 13 lbs. Each foot is 18" long, 1" x 3" square tubing.

2" solid steel shafts are used on each axis. 

Coatings
The pier adapter and bottom of the R.A. axis plate have been coated with an acrylic primer made for aluminum. This is the primer needed to keep regular paint on aluminum. Paint is a hammered rustoleum black. 

Power 
Power required is 12-24 volts DC. Cable is included. One end plugs into the controller, the other end has clips for attaching to a battery. A cigarette lighter male plug can be specified when ordering. 120 volt  power inverters can be used too. Should you already have up to a 24 volt power supply, that can be used too. A minor change in the configuration is needed however. ( change a number in a box ).

Computer Used
The software needed for operations is FREE. 
A laptop computer is needed for advanced operation. Either a Argo Navis or Sky Commander can be used too.
The software works best with an XP laptop, with the ASCOM platform installed and the "Dot Net" installed (FREE from Microsoft)
There is a FREE planetarium program that works very well with this system. 
The cable from the computer to the mount is included. 
You do need a serial port on the laptop. A USB to serial adapter may need to be purchased. 
Bluetooth wireless serial adapters can be used to control the mount wirelessly.
If requested,  we can  purchase and set up a laptop computer for operation of the mount. 

HandPad
A wired handpad is included. A wireless handpad can be ordered, they are in stock. Cost is $350.00 each. 
A wireless bluetooth serial adapter can be used to control the mount remotely from a computer.