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FS2 GoTo controller for stepper motors - by Astro Electronic - "made in Germany" - 40V version
The FS2 Telescope Drive Unit is suitable for all equatorial mounts with bipolar stepper motors.
Microstep Mode
The current for the two stepper motors is sine wave shaped. This means that the motors run very silent, with no vibrations and with a very steady torque. This is called microstep mode.
5 programmable Slewing Speeds
5 programmable slewing speeds up to 3200x, for example 1/4x, 1x, 5x, 20x, 60x or: 0.3x, 1x, 3x, 10x, 500x. The maximum available speed depends on your motors and gears. You will find some examples on the last instuction manual page. |
Tracking Speed
The tracking speed can be selected for:
-- Stars, Moon, Sun
-- Comets (both axes are programmable, King Rate is possible too)
-- Earth (no tracking at all, e.g. for adjusting the optics)
Reference Objects
All 168 stars brighter than 3rd mag and the sun are available as reference objects, but you can also enter RA and DE of any other reference object.
Automatic Slewing to Objects (GoTo)
-- All 109 Messier objects
-- A practical selection (>3500) NGC and IC objects
-- 168 bright stars (all stars brighter than 3rd mag)
-- Sun and planets
-- RA and DE
-- If you didn´t find yout object right away: Automatic searching on a spiral-shaped track around the center of the field.
Serial Connection to PC
The serial connection to the PC works with these programs:
-- GUIDE
-- TheSky, TheSky Pocket Edition
-- SkymapPro
-- Starry Night
-- AstroVideo
-- Earth Centered Universe (ECU)
-- Cartes du Ciel
-- Hallo Northern Sky
-- IRIS 3.6
-- AstroArt
-- Maxim DL
-- Prism
-- and many more
You can show the sky map on the PC screen where the telescope is just pointing at and you can slew the telescope to all objects that are available in these programs.
The serial connection will work up to 15 meters cable length guaranteed.
The FS2 supports the most important LX200 commands:
:GR, :GD, :Sr, :Sd, :MS, :Q, :Qn, :Qs, :Qe, :Qw, :Mn, :Ms, :Me, :Mw, :RS, :RM, :RC, :RG, :CM, :U, ACK |
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Angle Encoders
You can plug in two encoders, but this is only necessary if you want to slew the telescope by hand. The coordinate display will work without encoders too. 8-pin Western-Modular plug. The maximum turning speed is 2000 lines per second. Encoders are available with two different resolutions:
-- 1000(or 1024) lines per revolution, angle resolution is 0.09°
-- 2000(or 2048) lines per revolution, angle resolution is 0.045°
The angle resolution given above is for mounting direct on the axis of the telescope without a gear. But any other gear ratio is possible, too.
The coordinates in the display are normally calculated using the known positions of the motors (by counting the steps). If there develops a difference between these coordinates and the positions of the encoders (e.g. because you did loosen the coupling between the gear and the axis and slew the telescope by hand) then the coordinate display will be calculated using the positions of the encoders. This means that the coordinate display will always stay valid (but this works only if you have encoders, of course).
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Simple adjustable Parameters
For both axes the following parameters are adjustable separately:
-- Current (from 10mA to 1800mA for each coil in 10mA steps)
-- Current at motor standstill or for low speed
-- Frequency at which the higher current is used
-- Current waveform: full step, half step or microstep
-- Motor type (number of full steps per motor revolution)
-- Gear ratio
-- Acceleration and slow down ramps
-- Gear clearance compensation (duration and speed are adjustable)
-- Motor turning direction (the FS2 works on the southern hemisphere too)
-- Encoder (select resolution and turning direction)
The adjustment of the parameters is required only one time. All parameters are adjusted using the five keys. That´s not difficult because you can always see in the display what you are doing. All parameters are stored permanently even without power supply, but you can always change them if you want.
Periodic error correction can be switched on. Learning the corrections can be made with the autoguider. A correction of the declination drift is available too.
For an extra charge the built-in autoguider interface for ST-4, ST-6, ST-7, ST-7e, ST-8, ST-8e, ST-9e, ST-10e, ST-1001e, STV and Meade Pictor is available (15 pole Sub-D jack and 6 pole Western jack).
For Starlight Xpress cameras you can use the autoguider interface with the STAR2000 interface.
For the Cookbook-CCD-Camera a special external interface is available from ASTRO ELECTRONIC.
Button Directions
You can exchange the directions of the buttons. This is useful if you observe with a star diagonal.
The timer function shows you the actual exposure time. |
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40V version:
This version has a built-in voltage converter. It accepts a supply voltage between 10 and 15 Volts, and the voltage converter produces 40 Volts for the stepper motors.
This means that the maximum slewing speed is more than twice compared with 12 Volts.
We recommend this version if you need high slewing speed and if you only have a 12 Volts (car battery) supply.
Front view
Upper row: Autoguider connectors, at left is the 15 pin connector for ST-4, at right is the 6 pin connector for Meade Pictor, ST-5, ST-7 and ST-8
Lower row: connectors for two encoders, control box and serial RS232 connector
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Motors and display can be switched off temporarily, but there will still be the correct coordinates in the display when you finish this mode.
Visitors Mode
Visitors mode: All functions except simple moving (using the four keys on top) are inhibited temporarily.
Easy upgradable Software
All firmware is in EPROM which is easily upgradable as new firmware features appear.
Dimensions:
Main unit: Anodized aluminium case 170mm x 110mm x 54mm
Control box: Solid plastic case 112mm x 62mm x 31mm
Rear view:
Upper row: Power switch, fuse, supply cables
Lower row: connectors for two stepper motors
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