Learning a lot from reading the posts here!

I recently placed an order for a UC18; expecting delivery sometime in November.?? I did have two questions which maybe the group can help with:

1. Dave K. told me ServoCAT is out of business, so no Go-To options at present, and nothing on the immediate horizon.? But I saw something from Gary at Wildcard about a possible new drive system designed to interface with Argo Navis.? This was around January, but I've heard nothing since (and Dave says he knows nothing more than that).? Has anybody heard anything more?

I was weighing whether to delay purchasing the scope until a new Go-To system was available, but who knows how long that will be. I see a lot of the big Dob manufacturers, and big mirror grinders, have gone out of business in the last few years, so I figure it's a good idea to get my hands on a proven optical/mechanical system now, and I can always retrofit a drive system later.

2. I'd be interested in making the wheelbarrow handles collapsible, which would make storage and transport much easier. (Of course they have to be removed entirely for observing, but for storage in my basement closet and transport in my car it would be a lot easier if I could simply remove or stow away the handle extensions, while leaving the first part connected to the scope.) Has anyone successfully done this?? I think I've sketched out in my head how to do it, but as always it's nicer to learn from the mistakes of others than from your own :-)

Best,

Jeremy


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Jeremy P. Carlo
jcarlo@...


Cell: (917) 612-2163
Work: (610) 519-3279

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Hi Jeremy,

I've got some info about the wheelbarrow handles and the need for a dolly here:??

hope that helps some.??

-jeff

Hi Jeremy,

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Thanks so much Gary for the information!? Looking forward to the new system, whenever things settle down.

Hopefully with a new system there will be a more elegant system for the altitude cable.?? I was evaluating another UC18 before ordering my own, and also reading various comments, and that altitude cable slipping out of its channel seems to be one of the biggest complaints about the system.?

My quick take was if the channel were a little larger, or the cable end a bit slimmer, the cable could be fed directly into the channel from one end while the VMB is sitting on the rocker box.? Still not the easiest thing to do in the dark, but much easier than having to lift the scope off the base, line up the cable, and then plop the scope back down without the cable slipping out.? Or, instead of having the cable run under the altitude bearing, have it run along a rail mounted outboard to the bearing, which makes it much easier to install and remove the cable.? (But it would have to be done in a way which doesn't run afoul of the wheelbarrow handles... not sure if that's doable.)

Best,

Jeremy

Hi Jeremy,

When Gary Myers retired in January, we announced we would be introducing a next generation servo GOTO controller.

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As you may be aware, StellarCAT had Wildcard had a long cooperation and we developed the ServoCAT communications protocol together including features such as AutoTrack.

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Gary Myers had spoken about retiring for some time and the plan had been for Wildcard to then seamlessly introduce introduce a new GOTO controller as a successor to the ServoCAT.

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However, the pandemic brought about a severe global supply chain disruption in the semiconductor industry. Components became harder and many times impossible to source.

So Gary Myers brought his retirement forward.

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The semiconductor components shortage crises is still ongoing, still very severe and it has also meant that it does not look likely that we will be able to introduce the controller this year.

Semiconductor manufacturing industry spokespeople suggest the shortages will likely go on into 2023, so currently that is what we are aiming for.

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The new controller will be compatible with existing ServoCAT servo motor installations. The controller also includes new advanced features.

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My advice is to purchase your UC 18 now. As you can imagine, we are eager to get the new controller on the market as soon as the semiconductor log jam clears
but even semiconductor manufacturers themselves are not sure when that will be.

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Argo Navis units however are in stock including both here and at Obsession. All Argo Navis units ever made are manufactured here at an ISO-9001 quality assured plant in Sydney.
Obsession manufacture their own encoder mount hardware and supply their own encoders and encoder cables. You ask for that to be pre-installed and use the mount in a PUSH-TO
mode of operation.

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Announcements about the forthcoming GoTo controller will appear here as well as on the Argo Navis Users' Group at?

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The best way to contact us is by email at sales@...
We always respond to emails so if you don't see a response within a day or two, please check your spam folder

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Best Regards

?

Gary Kopff

Managing Director

Wildcard Innovations Pty. Ltd.

20 Kilmory Place

Mount Kuring-Gai NSW 2080

Australia

Phone +61-2-9457-9049

sales@...

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   Jeremy P. Carlo
   jcarlo@...
   

   Cell:        (917) 612-2163
   Work:        (610) 519-3279

-..   .     -.   ..---   --..   .-..   --.-

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Thanks Jeff - very interesting!? A dolly is a bit more involved than I was looking to get into (I'm hoping to just make a couple of cuts and drill a couple of holes and be done with it), but it is nice to not have to remove the altitude encoder for transport.

That gives me another idea, to come up with a way to have the wheelbarrow handle fit around the altitude encoder.? Perhaps the handle could be mounted a little further out (without putting too much shear on the supporting bolts), or a channel could be milled out of the inner part of the handle where it meets the bearing arms (without weakening it too much).

jpc

Hi Jeremy,

I've got some info about the wheelbarrow handles and the need for a dolly here:??

hope that helps some.??

-jeff

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-..   .     -.   ..---   --..   .-..   --.-

   Jeremy P. Carlo
   jcarlo@...
   

   Cell:        (917) 612-2163
   Work:        (610) 519-3279

-..   .     -.   ..---   --..   .-..   --.-

Keep in mind the wheelbarrow handles mount to the mirror cell, NOT the groundboard: you can't observe with the handles on (well, only within a couple of degrees of zenith).? I HATED the three minutes it took to unscrew the four eyebolts on my old Telekit; I replaced the normal threaded bolts with 3/8" quick release pins (and seats).? That took 30 seconds to mount/unmount the handles; I didn't mind that at all.

I think you'll find jacking around with all that gear at the base will make it even more cumbersome and may restrict getting it in the travel case.? The Dolly you only need around the house (or somewhere else you'll keep it set up).? ?When travelling with it, you carry from the case or from the care in components, rather than roll the full structure.

Good luck.? I'm curious to your solution.

-jeff

> ?I replaced the normal threaded bolts with 3/8" quick release pins (and seats)?
?
Jeff, I’m not particularly handy. Could you expound a bit more on your solution, maybe attach a picture so I can visualize what you did? A quick release would be a wonderful addition. ?It is a bit of a pain to mess with those eyebolts, especially when finishing up an observing run at 2am.
?

Thanks,
Alex

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Thanks Jeff.?? Yes, I spoke with Dave K. about that - observing with the handles attached is definitely a no-no.? My thought was for storage and transportation, since I have a narrow storage space, and narrow clearance in the back of my car, so reaching around the sides to detach the handles is going to be a pain.

Like Alex, I'm also interested in hearing how you attach the handles with quick-release pins.? That could be a big help!

Dave also told me the big white ATA carrying case is no more.? He's also making the scopes with one-piece altitude bearings now (he said it's more mechanically stable and holds alignment better), which means it probably wouldn't fit in the case anyway.

Best,

Jeremy

Keep in mind the wheelbarrow handles mount to the mirror cell, NOT the groundboard: you can't observe with the handles on (well, only within a couple of degrees of zenith).? I HATED the three minutes it took to unscrew the four eyebolts on my old Telekit; I replaced the normal threaded bolts with 3/8" quick release pins (and seats).? That took 30 seconds to mount/unmount the handles; I didn't mind that at all.

I think you'll find jacking around with all that gear at the base will make it even more cumbersome and may restrict getting it in the travel case.? The Dolly you only need around the house (or somewhere else you'll keep it set up).? ?When travelling with it, you carry from the case or from the care in components, rather than roll the full structure.

Good luck.? I'm curious to your solution.

-jeff

-- 
-..   .     -.   ..---   --..   .-..   --.-

   Jeremy P. Carlo
   jcarlo@...
   

   Cell:        (917) 612-2163
   Work:        (610) 519-3279

-..   .     -.   ..---   --..   .-..   --.-

This is really easy on the Classic "big box" ground boards.? Instead of the normal threaded insert mounted in the wood, you place a pin receptacle ().? Instead of the 3/8" bolt, use a 3/8" Quick Release pin (similar to?).? Almost instant mount/dismount.? Only negative, 4 pins and seats come to over $100.? but worth it.

-jeff

Thanks for the info Jeff. ?One other thought I had was to put a threaded rod in the VMB where the eyebolts goes, and use wing nuts. ?But last night I noticed the eyebolts are captured in the handle, complicating matters. ?I did take the scope out last night, and timed how long it took me to add or remove the handles. ?15-20 seconds each. ?I guess it just seemed longer late at night. ?Upon further consideration, I think I can?live with 15-20 seconds.
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As for the original post regarding collapsible handles, maybe some sort of telescoping (sorry) handles would work?

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Alex

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Yeah, wing nuts on threaded rods are faster than eyebolts.