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FORUMS Photo Sharing & Discussion Astronomy & Celestial 
Thread started 23 Feb 2015 (Monday) 19:24
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Curved Rod Barn Door Tracker, DIY

 
lazypineapple
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Gallery: 4 photos
Likes: 54
Joined Apr 2012
Location: Granbury,TX
Post edited over 8 years ago by lazypineapple. (2 edits in all)
     
Feb 23, 2015 19:24 |  #1

After posting a couple of Photos with my homemade tracker i have received a request to start a Thread about DIY Barndoor tracker.
There is plenty of reading on the inter web about the different BDTs. I choose the Curved rod route.
Using Arduino uno to drive my Stepper motor, I found this link on YouTube (external link)
and copied this setup ,because It has a track speed and a quick rewind speed switch
I also modded this schematic i found my Mike Ross, Thank you Mike Ross


IMAGE: https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7123/7427594700_1418c0e2f2_c.jpg

my parts list is
Arduino Uno (RadioShack)
Easy Driver http://www.schmalzhaus​.com/EasyDriver/ (external link)
Nema 17 Stepper Motor (online)
gears and hubs https://www.servocity.​com/html/gears___sproc​kets.html (external link)
Aluminum Plate (Ebay)
piano Hinge
Meade Field Tripod (ebay 40.00)
Scope ( my old BB gun)
12v dc transformer

IMAGE: https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8666/15902194125_688d184185_c.jpg

IMAGE: https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8661/16442661369_abd9df157b_c.jpg
IMAGE: https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7284/16877203881_4a5ff32dd8.jpg

BJ
60d, 6d, with Canon 24-105,18-200, 200mm 2.8L, Tokina 11-16, iEQ45 ProMount, 8" Astrograph Newtonian, ST-80, Curved Rod BarnDoor Tracker

  
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lazypineapple
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Gallery: 4 photos
Likes: 54
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Location: Granbury,TX
     
Feb 23, 2015 20:04 |  #2

the Arduino Sketch From Mike Ross that i modded to match my need in timing RPM
I am using 12/48 gearing so I'm turning my Stepper 4 rpms to turn the gear on the threaded rod 1 rpm.

// This sketch is for the stepper motor controlled Barn Door

long Distance = 0;
// DelayTime is the total Delay per cycle in MicroSeconds
// The Higher the number, slower it will go
long DelayTime = 9000;
// MaxUp is the upper limit count and will need to be set
// depending on the length of the threaded Rod
long MaxUp = 800000;

// Analog Input pins to monitor Switch Positions for speed
// and direction
int swPinA = 2;
int swPinB = 3;
int swA = 0;
int swB = 0;


void setup()
{
pinMode(8, OUTPUT);
pinMode(9, OUTPUT);
pinMode(swPinA, OUTPUT);
pinMode(swPinB, OUTPUT);
// You can turn the serial monitor and watch the numbers
// to set the MaxUp value if you want by uncommenting out
// all of the serial commands in this code and using the
// Serial Monitor window to watch what is happening.
// Serial.begin(9600);
}


void loop()
{
swA = analogRead(swPinA);
swB = analogRead(swPinB);
if(Distance < 0)
{
Distance = 0;
}

// Serial.print("A- ");
// Serial.print(swA);
// Serial.print(" B- ");
// Serial.println(swB);
// Serial.println(Distanc​e);

if(swB<=500)
{
if(swA>500)
{
// Serial.print("Down - Slow");
if(Distance > 0)
{
DownSidereal();
}
else
{
//Do NOTHING
}
}
if(swA<=500)
{
// Serial.print("Down - Fast");
if(Distance > 1999)
{
FastDown();
}
else
{
//Do NOTHING
}
}
}
if(swB>500)
{
if(swA>500)
{
// Serial.print("Up - Slow");
if(Distance < MaxUp)
{
UpSidereal();
}
else
{
//Do NOTHING
}
}
if(swA<=500)
{
// Serial.print("Up - Fast");
if(Distance < MaxUp)
{
FastUp();
}
else
{
//Do NOTHING
}
}
}
}



void DownSidereal()
{
MoveDirection(1);
digitalWrite(9, HIGH);
delayMicroseconds(Dela​yTime / 2);
digitalWrite(9, LOW);
delayMicroseconds(Dela​yTime / 2);
Distance = Distance - 1;
}

void UpSidereal()
{
MoveDirection(2);
digitalWrite(9, HIGH);
delayMicroseconds(Dela​yTime / 2);
digitalWrite(9, LOW);
delayMicroseconds(Dela​yTime / 2);
Distance = Distance + 1;
}


void FastUp()
{
for(int x = 0; x<1000; x++)
{
MoveDirection(2);
digitalWrite(9, LOW);
delayMicroseconds(75);
digitalWrite(9, HIGH);
delayMicroseconds(75);
Distance = Distance + 1;
}
}


void FastDown()
{
for(int x = 0; x<1000; x++)
{
MoveDirection(1);
digitalWrite(9, HIGH);
delayMicroseconds(75);
digitalWrite(9, LOW);
delayMicroseconds(75);
Distance = Distance - 1;
}
}


void MoveDirection(int Direction)
{
// 1 = Down, 2 = Up
if (Direction == 1)
{
digitalWrite(8, HIGH);
digitalWrite(9, LOW);
}
else
{
digitalWrite(8, LOW);
digitalWrite(9, HIGH);
}
}

BJ
60d, 6d, with Canon 24-105,18-200, 200mm 2.8L, Tokina 11-16, iEQ45 ProMount, 8" Astrograph Newtonian, ST-80, Curved Rod BarnDoor Tracker

  
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lazypineapple
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37 posts
Gallery: 4 photos
Likes: 54
Joined Apr 2012
Location: Granbury,TX
Post edited over 8 years ago by lazypineapple.
     
Feb 23, 2015 20:17 |  #3

I found this 1/4-20 thread hub to mount the large gear on. from the place mention above
using a Brass all thread 1/4-20 i bought on eBay

IMAGE: https://photography-on-the.net/forum/images/hostedphotos_lq/2015/02/4/LQ_714539.jpg
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IMAGE: https://photography-on-the.net/forum/images/hostedphotos_lq/2015/02/4/LQ_714538.jpg
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i used a 1/4-20 all thread,
bend to a radius of 11.46"
I took a paint stir stick drilled 2 holes 11.46" apart
then using a piece of plywood 24+" square you will need at least 22.92" across 11.46x2
take nail in one hole and a pencil in the other hole draw a radius on the plywood and cut the radius out and then bend the rod to the radius, its best to use a long piece of all thread so you get a good 8" or so of a good radius bent curved rod. 8-9 inched will track a couple hours.
it needs to be a perfect radius!
the center of the rod is to be mounted 11.46" from the center of the piano hinge exact!

BJ
60d, 6d, with Canon 24-105,18-200, 200mm 2.8L, Tokina 11-16, iEQ45 ProMount, 8" Astrograph Newtonian, ST-80, Curved Rod BarnDoor Tracker

  
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the ­ jimmy
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1,426 posts
Likes: 33
Joined Dec 2009
Location: west coast of Florida
     
Feb 24, 2015 19:14 as a reply to  @ lazypineapple's post |  #4

I have an old BD made from wood but it is operated manually, I haven't used it much as my view of Polaris is blocked by a neighbors tree vmad
However it has worked for short exposure runs, I'm also using a rifle scope to polar align.

Would be interested to see photo's of your mount from different angles, want to see the top side as well, thanks for the write up.




  
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lazypineapple
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Gallery: 4 photos
Likes: 54
Joined Apr 2012
Location: Granbury,TX
     
Feb 24, 2015 21:06 |  #5

After I marked and drilled the holes for the hinge.And then marked and drilled the holes for Curved rod. Getting the two plates squared up was kinda tricky. I could swing it open and closed and the rod passed thru the lower hole, i had to open the lower hole a little and try to hit the angle the curve rod had,
then i took it apart. Got a Sharpie and a Ruler and drew a graph and then started drilling holes with a Step Drill
I also drilled and tapped a few 1/4-20 holes while i had my graph drawn just to give different mounting for anything mounted to the top plate or bottom plate.
I'm not real happy with the way the large gear and bushing set on lower plate. i need some type of bearing so there isn't any slop.instead of a bushing.
I bought the Aluminum off ebay, Guys sell cutoffs cheap and usually find the size i need with out doin much prep work and squaring or cutting. 2 pieces 6"x14"x1/4" thick 26.00


IMAGE: https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7496/15282552813_3a1a81b6e9_n.jpg
IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/pht5​vT  (external link) Curved Rod Tracker (external link) by bjjjr (external link), on Flickr

IMAGE: https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7550/15279941384_6e6fdd0130_n.jpg
IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/pheG​ef  (external link) Barn door tracker mount (external link) by bjjjr (external link), on Flickr

BJ
60d, 6d, with Canon 24-105,18-200, 200mm 2.8L, Tokina 11-16, iEQ45 ProMount, 8" Astrograph Newtonian, ST-80, Curved Rod BarnDoor Tracker

  
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Curved Rod Barn Door Tracker, DIY
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