I Bought a 2-meter Observa-Dome

Jason Glass:
Hi Davoud,
I can't remember who manufactures it, but there is a commercial rotation
system
available that uses IR emitters located on the telescope, which emit narrow
beams, and IR receivers located around the inside of the slot. As the scope
approaches the edge of the slot, the receivers sense the beams and engage the
dome drive. I'm sure someone here can provide a link to the product.
Best wishes,
Jason Glass

Thanks for taking time to post that. I know that such a device exists,
and I've spent a lot of time googling for a manufacturer of such a
product, but I haven't found it. If you should run across that
information, please post!

Thanks again,

Davoud

--
usenet *at* davidillig dawt com

Jason Glass:
Hi Davoud,
I can't remember who manufactures it, but there is a commercial rotation
system
available that uses IR emitters located on the telescope, which emit narrow
beams, and IR receivers located around the inside of the slot. As the scope
approaches the edge of the slot, the receivers sense the beams and engage the
dome drive. I'm sure someone here can provide a link to the product.
Best wishes,
Jason Glass

Thanks for taking time to post that. I know that such a device exists,
and I've spent a lot of time googling for a manufacturer of such a
product, but I haven't found it. If you should run across that
information, please post!

Thanks again,

Davoud

--
usenet *at* davidillig dawt com

"Davoud" wrote in message
...
Jason Glass:
Hi Davoud,
I can't remember who manufactures it, but there is a commercial rotation
system
available that uses IR emitters located on the telescope, which emit
narrow
beams, and IR receivers located around the inside of the slot. As the
scope
approaches the edge of the slot, the receivers sense the beams and
engage the
dome drive. I'm sure someone here can provide a link to the product.
Best wishes,
Jason Glass

Thanks for taking time to post that. I know that such a device exists,
and I've spent a lot of time googling for a manufacturer of such a
product, but I haven't found it. If you should run across that
information, please post!

Thanks again,

Davoud

--
usenet *at* davidillig dawt com

David,
In a totally parallel universe there is something called industrial
automation or industrial controls. It deals with programmable controllers
performing trivial and repetitive tasks as controlling conveyor belts,
regulating water levels, controlling water pumps ,even CNC equipment, data
acquisition, controlling positioning devices, robotic arms , many other hard
to imagine tasks. What's this got to do with dome control ? The cheapest
(meaning least capable/complex) of these devices, called microPLC's or
similar, cost in the order of $100-300 new. Now the interesting part. They
are user programmable , can read a number of digital or analog inputs , the
smallest can take at least 8 inputs , then process the input data according
to the user program and control some outputs. The outputs are somewhat
specialized, consisting of solid state relays capable of driving motors ,
lamps and other such loads . There are a large number of various proximity
and position sensors available to be directly plugged into these PLC's .
Getting the dome control done using some industrial sensors and a small PLC
is really doable.
Check this one :
http://web4.automationdirect.com/adc...ware/DirectLog
ic_05/PLC_Units/D0-05DR

Here is one possible IR reflective sensor (range 2.5m) , but there are a lot
more variations on the website:
http://web4.automationdirect.com/adc...-z-_Encoders/P
hotoelectric_Sensors/Rectangular_(QX-z-CX_Series)/Retroreflective_(QX-z-CX_S
eries)/QXP-A0-1A
You would need 2 of them , plus a small passive reflector . Total cost would
run under $300 .
I apologize for not really posting a turnkey solution , however this one
comes pretty close . If you or anyone else is interested in this type of
project please email me in private, I intend to develop something like this
for my own use down the road anyway .

Regards,
Matt Tudor

"Davoud" wrote in message
...
Jason Glass:
Hi Davoud,
I can't remember who manufactures it, but there is a commercial rotation
system
available that uses IR emitters located on the telescope, which emit
narrow
beams, and IR receivers located around the inside of the slot. As the
scope
approaches the edge of the slot, the receivers sense the beams and
engage the
dome drive. I'm sure someone here can provide a link to the product.
Best wishes,
Jason Glass

Thanks for taking time to post that. I know that such a device exists,
and I've spent a lot of time googling for a manufacturer of such a
product, but I haven't found it. If you should run across that
information, please post!

Thanks again,

Davoud

--
usenet *at* davidillig dawt com

David,
In a totally parallel universe there is something called industrial
automation or industrial controls. It deals with programmable controllers
performing trivial and repetitive tasks as controlling conveyor belts,
regulating water levels, controlling water pumps ,even CNC equipment, data
acquisition, controlling positioning devices, robotic arms , many other hard
to imagine tasks. What's this got to do with dome control ? The cheapest
(meaning least capable/complex) of these devices, called microPLC's or
similar, cost in the order of $100-300 new. Now the interesting part. They
are user programmable , can read a number of digital or analog inputs , the
smallest can take at least 8 inputs , then process the input data according
to the user program and control some outputs. The outputs are somewhat
specialized, consisting of solid state relays capable of driving motors ,
lamps and other such loads . There are a large number of various proximity
and position sensors available to be directly plugged into these PLC's .
Getting the dome control done using some industrial sensors and a small PLC
is really doable.
Check this one :
http://web4.automationdirect.com/adc...ware/DirectLog
ic_05/PLC_Units/D0-05DR

Here is one possible IR reflective sensor (range 2.5m) , but there are a lot
more variations on the website:
http://web4.automationdirect.com/adc...-z-_Encoders/P
hotoelectric_Sensors/Rectangular_(QX-z-CX_Series)/Retroreflective_(QX-z-CX_S
eries)/QXP-A0-1A
You would need 2 of them , plus a small passive reflector . Total cost would
run under $300 .
I apologize for not really posting a turnkey solution , however this one
comes pretty close . If you or anyone else is interested in this type of
project please email me in private, I intend to develop something like this
for my own use down the road anyway .

Regards,
Matt Tudor

"Davoud" wrote in message
...
Jason Glass:
Hi Davoud,
I can't remember who manufactures it, but there is a commercial rotation
system
available that uses IR emitters located on the telescope, which emit
narrow
beams, and IR receivers located around the inside of the slot. As the
scope
approaches the edge of the slot, the receivers sense the beams and
engage the
dome drive. I'm sure someone here can provide a link to the product.
Best wishes,
Jason Glass

Thanks for taking time to post that. I know that such a device exists,
and I've spent a lot of time googling for a manufacturer of such a
product, but I haven't found it. If you should run across that
information, please post!

Thanks again,

Davoud

--
usenet *at* davidillig dawt com

David,
In a totally parallel universe there is something called industrial
automation or industrial controls. It deals with programmable controllers
performing trivial and repetitive tasks as controlling conveyor belts,
regulating water levels, controlling water pumps ,even CNC equipment, data
acquisition, controlling positioning devices, robotic arms , many other hard
to imagine tasks. What's this got to do with dome control ? The cheapest
(meaning least capable/complex) of these devices, called microPLC's or
similar, cost in the order of $100-300 new. Now the interesting part. They
are user programmable , can read a number of digital or analog inputs , the
smallest can take at least 8 inputs , then process the input data according
to the user program and control some outputs. The outputs are somewhat
specialized, consisting of solid state relays capable of driving motors ,
lamps and other such loads . There are a large number of various proximity
and position sensors available to be directly plugged into these PLC's .
Getting the dome control done using some industrial sensors and a small PLC
is really doable.
Check this one :
http://web4.automationdirect.com/adc...ware/DirectLog
ic_05/PLC_Units/D0-05DR

Here is one possible IR reflective sensor (range 2.5m) , but there are a lot
more variations on the website:
http://web4.automationdirect.com/adc...-z-_Encoders/P
hotoelectric_Sensors/Rectangular_(QX-z-CX_Series)/Retroreflective_(QX-z-CX_S
eries)/QXP-A0-1A
You would need 2 of them , plus a small passive reflector . Total cost would
run under $300 .
I apologize for not really posting a turnkey solution , however this one
comes pretty close . If you or anyone else is interested in this type of
project please email me in private, I intend to develop something like this
for my own use down the road anyway .

Regards,
Matt Tudor

Davoud wrote in message ...
Jason Glass:
Hi Davoud,
I can't remember who manufactures it, but there is a commercial rotation
system
available that uses IR emitters located on the telescope, which emit narrow
beams, and IR receivers located around the inside of the slot. As the scope
approaches the edge of the slot, the receivers sense the beams and engage the
dome drive. I'm sure someone here can provide a link to the product.
Best wishes,
Jason Glass

Thanks for taking time to post that. I know that such a device exists,
and I've spent a lot of time googling for a manufacturer of such a
product, but I haven't found it. If you should run across that
information, please post!

You should re-do your Google search using "IR observatory dome control", some
good links will be found. Here's one to a picture of a guy using the IR system
on his LX200 to control the dome's azimuth:

http://www.mv.com/ipusers/astron/observatory.htm

Davoud wrote in message ...
Jason Glass:
Hi Davoud,
I can't remember who manufactures it, but there is a commercial rotation
system
available that uses IR emitters located on the telescope, which emit narrow
beams, and IR receivers located around the inside of the slot. As the scope
approaches the edge of the slot, the receivers sense the beams and engage the
dome drive. I'm sure someone here can provide a link to the product.
Best wishes,
Jason Glass

Thanks for taking time to post that. I know that such a device exists,
and I've spent a lot of time googling for a manufacturer of such a
product, but I haven't found it. If you should run across that
information, please post!

You should re-do your Google search using "IR observatory dome control", some
good links will be found. Here's one to a picture of a guy using the IR system
on his LX200 to control the dome's azimuth:

http://www.mv.com/ipusers/astron/observatory.htm

Davoud wrote in message ...
Jason Glass:
Hi Davoud,
I can't remember who manufactures it, but there is a commercial rotation
system
available that uses IR emitters located on the telescope, which emit narrow
beams, and IR receivers located around the inside of the slot. As the scope
approaches the edge of the slot, the receivers sense the beams and engage the
dome drive. I'm sure someone here can provide a link to the product.
Best wishes,
Jason Glass

Thanks for taking time to post that. I know that such a device exists,
and I've spent a lot of time googling for a manufacturer of such a
product, but I haven't found it. If you should run across that
information, please post!

You should re-do your Google search using "IR observatory dome control", some
good links will be found. Here's one to a picture of a guy using the IR system
on his LX200 to control the dome's azimuth:

http://www.mv.com/ipusers/astron/observatory.htm

matt:
David,
In a totally parallel universe there is something called industrial
automation or industrial controls. It deals with programmable controllers
performing trivial and repetitive tasks as...

Thanks for taking time to send all of that. The links will no doubt
prove useful. I actually spent my 32-year working career using this
technology in a specialized way, but I was a specifier and user;
engineers half a world away (I worked overseas) would build the
devices. They were one-off's usually, so I was not exposed to
commercial products. Thus the info and links and info that you provided
will prove especially useful as a point to start learning.

Thanks again,

David

--
usenet *at* davidillig dawt com

matt:
David,
In a totally parallel universe there is something called industrial
automation or industrial controls. It deals with programmable controllers
performing trivial and repetitive tasks as...

Thanks for taking time to send all of that. The links will no doubt
prove useful. I actually spent my 32-year working career using this
technology in a specialized way, but I was a specifier and user;
engineers half a world away (I worked overseas) would build the
devices. They were one-off's usually, so I was not exposed to
commercial products. Thus the info and links and info that you provided
will prove especially useful as a point to start learning.

Thanks again,

David

--
usenet *at* davidillig dawt com