Motors for dome control

I'm starting to look at how I can attach motors to my dome to control it. For starters I'll focus on the horizintal motion and see if I can get it to rotate. I would like to use the Lesvedome system so that it can be compouter controlled and ASCOM compliant.
The Lesvedome system tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/lesvedome/ is essentially where a motor and sensors are linked up to a computer board which connects into a USB port in a computer. Unfortunately, that is the extent of my knowledge on it as it gets very complicated very quickly! :ohmy:
So, to get the ball rolling, I'm looking for a motor. I can easily push the dome with one hand, so it doesn;'t need to be too powerful. However, what I do not need is a noisy motor! I can't have this making a racket at 2am in the morning! I have seen a Technical Innovations dome in use and the standard motors it comes with are waaaayy too noisy - they would wake the dead in the middle of the night!

Any recommendations/suggestions on how I would go about selecting a motor?

Thanks,

Michael.

No ideas Mike but I am all ears on this...
I hope to build a dome when I eventually move but
this would be of interest.
Hopefully not hijacking your thread...
why the motorised option...
it seems that a push and shove may be the order of the day?!

Michael,

TI have upgraded to new motors that have far less noise. The reason they developed the new ones is bacause of customers complaints from neighbours. I actually upgraded my dome by purchasing a set of TI motors last year. They are more powerful and have the noise output of a windowscreen wiper motor.

Good luck

Eamonn A

www.kingslandobservatory.com

Barberskum wrote:

it seems that a push and shove may be the order of the day?!

I could do that but it would be handy to motorise it if it was wasn't too expensive to do so.
Would be useful for long exposure astrophotography as I could then automate it to take images all night long.

Michael

eansbro wrote:

Michael,

TI have upgraded to new motors that have far less noise. The reason they developed the new ones is bacause of customers complaints from neighbours. I actually upgraded my dome by purchasing a set of TI motors last year. They are more powerful and have the noise output of a windowscreen wiper motor.

Good luck

Eamonn A

www.kingslandobservatory.com

Thanks for the update on the motors Eamonn.
One of the difficulties I have is with the design of the dome.
With my dome, the wheels are attached to the dome - not on the walls like with the TI domes.
See photos below:



Shutter system is in two parts: Bottom 2ft folds out while top part slides upwards.



So, a slightly complicated system to motorise.

Any suggestions are welcome.
Thanks,
Michael.

Michael just looking at your photos, its looks like whatever motors you attach you will need to mount the motor to the dome shell with a drive wheel bearing against the rail (just like the actual roller bearings. Problem is that the wiring would also need to rotate with the dome.

I was given a very powerful motor by a friend which I plan to use to automate my roll off roof. I will probably develop the controller board and software myself. I could also be persuaded to do a variation to suit a domed observatory. We should chat about this sometime.