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Explore Scientific TDM Adapter for Vixen GPDX / Celestron CAM/GT5 Mounts
Explore Scientific TDM Adapter for Vixen GPDX / Celestron CAM/GT5 Mounts

Explore Scientific TDM Adapter for Vixen GPDX / Celestron CAM/GT5 Mounts

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Your Price: CAD736.99
Retail Price:CAD759.10

Your Savings:CAD22.11(3%)

Special Order, Usually ships in 5-7 business days
Part Number:721070

Explore Scientific TDM Adapter for Vixen GPDX / Celestron CAM/GT5 Mounts Features...

  • This product number is for the adapter only. The information given here is to acquaint you with the TDM unit.
  • Compares the signals incoming from the high precision rotary encoder mounted onto the RA shaft with the time signal of its quartz oscillator
  • Fits many popular mounts, including select models from Celestron, Meade, Losmandy, Synta, Orion, Vixen, and Astro Physics
  • Any deviations of the angular velocity of the RA shaft from the prescribed drive rate, are compensated by feedback regulation in real time by accelerating or slowing down the drive
  • TDM allows auto-guider input as well
  • Better quality of mounts will also be able to provide higher accuracy (even less than 1" or 2" total) using Telescope Drive Master

A common struggle in astrophotography is having proper accurate tracking ability of mounts. Even most mounts with advanced tracking features still have small periodic and non-periodic tracking errors, further limiting the length of exposure depending on focal length etc. Sometimes, it is quite laborious to find a guiding star in the observed object's region in the sky, which is bright enough for accurate tracking process and, at the same time, you surely will not be able to find two tracking periods with exactly the same shapes for using your PEC algorithm efficiently enough. While auto-guiding and PEC (Periodic Error Correction) will help compensate for this, the best option is the "Telescope Drive Master" (TDM).

The Telescope Drive Master (TDM) consists of two main parts; a high precision encoder attached to a mount's RA shaft that sends electronic signals from the encoder to mount's driver. With a ±1 arc-second tracking accuracy, depending on the mechanical features of the mount concerned and the tracking correction speed of its driver to be used, a controller unit with a standard auto-guider input and sidereal speed of 0.5x is compatible with the TDM.

So far, three types of mechanical adapters have been developed, attaching the encoder unit to the mount: for Synta (SkyWatcher) EQ6 (or Orion Atlas EQ-G in the US), Celestron CGE and any type of Fornax mounts. (However, in the near future more and more new adapters will be developed and produced for the other popular mounts as well like Losmandy, Vixen, LX200, etc.) It means that while a typical EQ6 (EQ-G) mount can easily have 20-30" (or higher) periodic error as "out-of-box result", Telescope Drive Master can reduce it by more than one order of magnitude, down to 2-2.5" peak-to-valley total or less, which is better than the same feature of the very expensive premium category mounts. Certainly, the better quality of mounts will also be able to provide higher accuracy (even less than ±1" or 2" total) using Telescope Drive Master.


How Does the TDM Work?

The electronic controller unit of the Explore Scientific TDM Telescope Drive Master compares the signals incoming from the high precision rotary encoder mounted onto the RA shaft with the time signal of its quartz oscillator. Any deviations of the angular velocity of the RA shaft from the prescribed drive rate, are compensated by feedback regulation in real time by accelerating or slowing down the drive. If further correction is needed because of errors other than periodic drive error (e.g. dirty bearings, worm gear slipping on its shaft, etc.), the TDM allows auto-guider input as well.

Which Mounts Does it Work On?

There are adapters which allow the Explore Scientific TDM Telescope Drive Master to fit many popular mounts, including select models from Celestron, Meade, Losmandy, Synta, Orion, Vixen, and Astro Physics.

How Much Better Can My Drive Perform?

A typical mount can easily have 20-30" (or higher) periodic error as "out-of-box result", Explore Scientific TDM Telescope Drive Master can improve it down to 2-2.5" peak-to-valley total or less, which is often better than the same feature of the very expensive premium category mounts. Certainly, the better quality of mounts will also be able to provide higher accuracy (even less than 1" or 2" total) using Telescope Drive Master.



 


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