600lb capacity mount

Looks surprisingly simple and un-jawdropping (new word).
It doesn't give the same WOW as a big AP mount or a 10 Micron GM4000 etc.

I think AP is also looking into harmonic mounts.

Harmonic mounts, so how do they work ??

I think AP is also looking into harmonic mounts.

Harmonic mounts, so how do they work ??

I *think* they reduce the need for crazy counterweights and thus longer shafts on the mount. Without the need for friction, the mount can be turned in any direction and the nature of it will mean it will remain at rest once you take your hand away.

P.S. Dave, it says in he link in the first post about 'harmonic mounts':

The Chronos uses high-tech harmonic drives instead of traditional worm or spur drives for consistently smooth operation and zero backlash!

and

With no limitation in latitude, astronomers world-wide can use Chronos without any add-on hardware.

:oops:

More info at www.chronosmount.com

Dave,

Harmonic drives are used extensively in high-precision applications such as robotics, integrated circuit wafer manufacturing, integrated circuit component loading, and satellite antenna pointing. Harmonic drives are on the rovers on Mars and keep the adaptive optics aligned on Mauna Kea. One-third of the 320 teeth on a harmonic drive are engaged at all times, while on worm-and-wheel and spur gearing, there is a maximum of three (3!) teeth engaged. This results in extremely smooth operation over the full 360º of rotation compared to the rough and irregular characteristics of conventional gearing.

Basically more teeth engaged, so presumably less play and backlash and more responsive - hence the use in adaptive optics.

its hard to imagine that one third of the teeth of a gear or cog is always engaged, anyone got pics of this ?