My German Equatorial Mount
I
have built a GEM with parts obtained mostly from junk markets specialising in
recycled auto parts.
This
is a specialist market in New Delhi, where old vehicles of all hues are
dismantled, the parts separated ,classified into bearings ,gears and the like and resold to make various
machines like threshers, lathes etc.One can obtain all types of bearings,
pillow blocks, shafts worm and gears here at rates a fraction of what such new
parts would cost.
Briefly
the pillar of the mount is an old rocket body (best steel), the RA axis is a broken rear axle of the
Ambassador car, the bearings are from the rear axle of the same car and the
gear and worm are from a dismantled gear box.
The
Dec axis is 3/4inch galvanised iron
plumbing pipe which runs in bushings formed by two ¾ inch
The Dec axis is provided with a small
tangent arm for fine control
The RA axis is driven by large worm and gear. Main
gear has a ratio of 90 and the second gear is 48 giving a total ratio of 4320.
The gear train is driven by a 3 rpm dc motor giving 1 rev per 1440 mins.
Here is
my 8 inch telescope mounted on the GEM