Astronomy & Electronics Centre

10micron

The availability on the market of more and more advanced and flexible astronomical imaging systems opens new windows on the sky: today, ultra-high definition and ultra-high speed imaging is within the amateur's reach, way more than what was predictable ten years ago. 10micron's products evolved at the same pace, in terms of tracking and pointing accuracy and speed. The HPS series mounts are now at the peak of this process.

Every observer knows that when you are under the sky you have little time and each set up operation comes with the risk of compromising the night. Having excellent performance on paper means nothing if you need many complex set up operations before reaching it.

This is the reason 10micron mounts are designed around the user's needs, and not to enforce the mount's way of operation on them.

Now 10micron mounts are used in the open field as well as in remotized sites, in educational observatories as well in the extreme climates of northern Canada and Atacama desert.

THE HPS TECHNOLOGY

HPS stands for High Precision and Speed, representing the essence of the new 10micron mounts. High precision, thanks to an innovative and exclusive absolute resolver paired with the 10micron manufacturing. High speed, thanks to high performance electronics and AC servo motors.

The HPS series mounts are equipped with a pair of absolute resolver with ultra-high resolution, directly mounted on the right ascension and declination axes. This technology has been used already in the professional observatories, where the high cost and complexity are not an issue. Measuring directly the rotation angles of the axes allows to compensate the large part of the mechanical errors, such as periodic errors and transmission backlash. However, this requires systems with very high resolution.

In the past few years this technology is being found also in amateur astronomers' instruments, often paired with the use of direct drive technology, where motors are mounted directly on the mount's axes, without any mechanical reduction gearing.

While having some advantages, using a direct drive system implies also some drawbacks such as having axes less robust to external stresses like wind and greater power needs. For this reason, 10micron mounts continue to feature the traditional worm – wormwheel transmission.

The absolute resolvers used in the HPS mounts have been specifically designed for this application. Beyond a resolution of the order of a tenth of an arcsecond, in this way we have also removed any need for homing or position-saving procedures.

GM1000HPS
Evolving Perfection

Click GM1000HPS Images to Enlarge

The GM1000HPS mount is built for the demanding observer using photographic instruments up to a weight of 25kg – 55 lbs (counterweights not included).

Movements are driven by two AC servo motors, with timing belt reduction having zerobacklash. Both axes feature a classic worm – wormwheel pairing. The wormwheels are made of bronze (B14), with a diameter of 125mm and 250 teeth, while the worms are built of alloy steel with a diameter of 20mm. The axes themselves are made of 30mm diameter alloy steel, for the maximum rigidity.

The double dovetail mounting plate guarantees the maximum compatibility with many telescope manufacturers.

The electronics is housed in an independent control box, easily removable. The connections of motors, resolvers and hand pad feature secutiry lock screws.

The mount can be controlled using the included hand pad, without connecting an external PC.

The hand pad is built in order to maintain the maximum readability in all lighting conditions. Both the display and the ergonomic keys, allowing for the use of gloves, feature a red backlight.

The mount can be controlled using the most common software packages by connecting it to a PC with the RS-232 serial port or the Ethernet connection, via the proprietary 10micron ASCOM driver or the Meade compatible command protocol. Furthermore, a dedicated software (also included with the mount) can be used to create a "virtual hand pad" replicating exactly the functions of the physical hand pad. The RS-232 port can also be used to control an external dome. This flexibility makes the GM1000HPS an ideal mount for observatories and remotized observing sites.

The object database contains many star catalogs and deep-sky objects up to the 16th magnitude. Solar system objects can be tracked so that their motion is compensated with respect to the stars. You may load orbital elements of comets, asteroids and artificial satellites into the mount, so that these objects can be tracked directly using the hand pad (without any external PC).

GM1000HPS technical specifications
Type	German Equatorial Mount
Weight (mount)	19.5kg (~43lbs) without accessories
Instrument Payload Capacity	~ 25kg (~ 55 lbs)
Latitude Range	0°to 82°(90°optional)
Azimuth fine adjustment range	+/- 7.5°
Counterweight shaft	30mm diameter, stainless steel, weight 17kg (3.7lbs)
Axes	30mm diameter, alloy steel
Bearings	Pre-loaded tapered roller bearings Roller thrust bearings
Worm wheels	250 teeth, 125mm diameter, B14 bronze
Worms	diameter 20mm, alloy steel, grinded and lapped
Transmission system	Backlash-free system with timing belt and automatic backlash recovery.
Motors	2 axes AC servo brushless
Power supply	24 V DC
Power consumption	~ 0.5 A while tracking ~ 3 A at maximum speed ~ 4 A peak
Go-to speed	Adjustable from 2°/s to 15°/s
Pointing accuracy	< 20" with internal 25-stars software mapping
Average tracking accuracy	~ 1" typical for 15 minutes ~ 0,6" RMS with internal 25-stars software mapping and compensation of flexure and polar alignment errors
Security stop	+/- 30°past meridian in r.a. (software) +/- 45°past meridian in r.a. (mechanical)
Communication ports	RS-232 port; GPS port; autoguide ST-4 protocol port; Ethernet port
PC control	Remote control via RS-232 or Ethernet; proprietary ASCOM driver or Meade compatible protocol; update of firmware and orbital elements of comets, asteroids and artificial satellites via RS-232 or Ethernet; virtual control panel via RS-232 or Ethernet

For the full range of information and images of the GM1000HPS, please download the 10micron GM1000HPS product information PDF file (please note: this file is 5mb in size)

CLICK HERE

GM2000HPS

Click GM2000HPS Images to Enlarge

The GM2000HPS (High Precision and Speed) mount is an enhanced-performance version of the renowned
GM2000QCI german equatorial mount by 10micron.

Boosted by an high-accuracy absolute resolver, the GM2000HPS provides absolute positioning, thus eliminating any need of homing or zeroing procedures. You will not lose your alignment by moving the mount by hand, releasing the clutches, even when the mount is unpowered, for example in case of power outages. This means ease of use when operating in the field, since the setup procedure is much faster. This means also additional security for remote operation, since there is absolutely no way you can lose your alignment, even in case of slippage.

The absolute resolver provides also high-accuracy, sub‑arcsecond tracking feedback, eliminating the need of
autoguiding in the vast majority of applications. The dualaxis tracking function ensures correct tracking in case of polar misalignment, and is able to correct for atmospheric refraction.
The GM2000HPS is able to point and track artificial satellites thanks to its slew speed of 20 °/s.

All this without using any external PC!

GM2000HPS technical specifications
Tracking accuracy	~1 arcsecond peak-to-peak in 15 minutes ~0.6 arcsecond RMS
Pointing accuracy	< 20 arcsecond RMS with standard multiple-star alignment
Slew and satellite-tracking speed	20 °/s
Power supply	24 VDC, 3 A
User interface	Dedicated hand pad (no PC needed)
Control system	QCI v. 2

GM4000HPS

Click GM4000HPS Images to Enlarge

HPS stands for High Precision and Speed and HPS-mount is an evolution of the GM 4000 QCI from 10micron with the same proven mechanics but with high precision encoders. The future begins with the HPS technology.

The GM 4000 HPS reaches a satellite tracking and positioning speed of 10 deg / sec. with an average positioning accuracy of <20 "and a tracking accuracy of about 1" / 15 min (peak to peak).

Maximum load: 150 kg of pure instrument weight (counterweights are needed to bring additional number)
Optimum load: 125 kg tool weight (counterweights are needed to bring additional number)

Contact AEC For more information regarding these products