Barn Door Tracker

Annoyed at myself. Managed to buy a project box that is too small for the arduino to fit inside!! I bought one that had a slide off cover as part of the main cover so that the 9v battery can be removed but forgot to take into account the position of the screw posts that hold the lid on and it clashes with the arduino. Back to the drawing board and looks like I'll have to get a box and a separate battery box so going to have a few unneeded parts sitting at the end

XP, I've got loads of unused parts ha ha !!!!
I kept ordering stuff then changing my mind and ordering something else.
I used the 9v battery holders that come with a switch on them for ease of turning the arduino and motor on/off without having to unplug things. They are only a couple of £ each on ebay.

Kena wrote in post #16720062
XP, I've got loads of unused parts ha ha !!!!
I kept ordering stuff then changing my mind and ordering something else.
I used the 9v battery holders that come with a switch on them for ease of turning the arduino and motor on/off without having to unplug things. They are only a couple of £ each on ebay.

My initial idea was use 2 smaller boxes that had a 9v battery slot incorporated so that I didnt need external bat boxes. I then purchased some on/off switches for the box. Now ive had to buy a bigger box and will either have to buy external bat boxes or just keep the batteries inside the big box (harder to switch when dud). Wish id thought it through more at the start

My first real attempt at deep space stuff. It was the first really clear sky tonight so I set the tracker up in the back garden again just after I got in from work. This stuff is all new to me and I have a lot to learn. Orion nebula tonight. 10x30sec subs and 10x30sec darks stacked in DSS, Iso 1600 F5.6 400mm ( maybe a bit to long for the tracker ). I'm not sure if there is trailing in this shot or some vibration, or a bit of both. It's not the best image but I'm pleased for a first attempt.
I think next time I try I will go for 300mm and get some sturdier ground. I was probably in too much of a hurry as I had just got in from work and probably too eager to give it a try.

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Just processed one of the single 30 sec images in CS5. I think I sell have a lot to learn regarding deep sky stacker as this single image is a lot clearer/crisper than the one above.

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without a 100% crop to look at it's difficult to be certain, but on a lot of stars it looks like there is a small second image in the bottom right. More than trailing that looks like a specific vibration.

Dumb question, but did you lock up the mirror before the exposure?

Excellent shot by the way!!!

Happy shooting.

Damn it another project to get my teeth into ... this is a fantastic thread ... great write up Ken ...

I've got all the electronics already (building an Arduino Macro Slider) ... just need some wood and metal hardware and I'm away ... hopefully ... I need a subject to use my Tokina 11-16 2.8 DX II ...

I see some Barn Door setups have straight rods ... what is the main advantage of the curved rod? ... accuracy? ... or easier for the thread movement going through the main cog? ...

cheers,
Gem

Thanks for the comments Gem
I think the curved rod gives better accuracy, with a straight rod you need a cam in place on the underside of the top piece of wood. Not the best description but it's early lol.....

Kena wrote in post #16754909
Thanks for the comments Gem
I think the curved rod gives better accuracy, .....

That is correct, there is some good information HEREabout barn doors

Excellent, thanks Ken for the explanation that makes sense now ... thanks Jimmy for the link ... I have got a parts list together and my good mate is also on board with this project so doubling up on parts ...

Incidentally you could save costs by micro-sizing your Arduino down to the very basic form ... Arduino (ATMEGA328P-PU ... the 328'P' means very low power consumption, perfect for battery power), crystal and 2 caps ...

Basic Arduino Kit

And to save further costs, those 5v Steppers (plus its board) can be grabbed for £8.48 (inc p+p) for 5 of them ... from Hong Kong ... which is where I'm grabbing mine ...

5pcs 5V Stepper Motor 28BYJ-48 + ULN2003 Driver Test Module Board for Arduino

cheers,
Gem

Excellent work....

Thanks for the info re the steppers Gem. The reason I ordered everything from the UK is I initially went with a 12v DC motor and controller. I ordered the controller from Ebay from what I thought was a UK site but it turns out it must have been chinese. They showed their location as the UK and stated next day dispacth. I started making my Tracker about 6 weeks ago and that particular controller still has not arrived as of yet. I ordered the stepper and arduino from a UK site and they arrived within a few days. Just a heads up for you...

Im having a similar issue Ken. my barndoor is on hold as my replacement battery for my drill has went missing in the post! I hate ebay sometimes

Ken ... haha yeah I know all too well about Asian eBay shops ... to be fair though China are a pain and take an age ... where as Hong Kong, I buy quite a lot from there, I have had good results (for UK) within a week and a few days ... it is the luck of the draw at the end of the day though ...

eBay Tip: Although they can 'fake' their address on the item page by saying they are in the UK, just click on their actual eBay name (blue lettering) ... that will take you to their feedback page and on there, at the bottom of the feedback data, it will tell you EXACTLY what country they are in ... they cannot hide that part ...

cheers,
Gem

StarBlazer wrote in post #16752379
without a 100% crop to look at it's difficult to be certain, but on a lot of stars it looks like there is a small second image in the bottom right. More than trailing that looks like a specific vibration.

Dumb question, but did you lock up the mirror before the exposure?

Excellent shot by the way!!!

Happy shooting.

Great point. Not only would I lock up the mirror but use a timer setting. When I used my old reflector scope I would hold a piece of cardboard over the barrel to let the shutter vibrations "ring down".

I have to build one of these. Kena, these shots are awesome. The spring and summer sky is coming. Would really like to see if I could capture the ring nebula. It was the first deep sky object I ever saw. This is really great stuff. Thanks for posting.