Avalon Instruments M-zero User manual

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INSTRUCTION MANUAL
Version 2.0.4 July 2020
All the pictures and contents here included are property of Avalon Instruments. The contents cannot be
reproduced, published, copied or transmitted in any way, including the internet, without the written
permission of Avalon Instruments.

SAFETY STANDARDS AND WARNINGS
Read the manual carefully before installing and using the mount
To make the document easier to read in the field, we recommend that you to copy
all documentation files from the supplied USB thumbnail drive to a smartphone or,
even better, to a computer or tablet
Use the power cable supplied with the mount or else a 12V- 3A stabilized power
supply as suggested in the manual
Make sure that the power cable is connected correctly and securely to the power
socket
Do not bend, pull or press the cable as this may damage it
For any assistance or repairs, please contact only the manufacturer
Be sure to remove the power supply at the end of an observing or imaging session
or before performing cleaning or maintenance When removing from a power
outlet, pull on the plug, not the cable
This mount is intended for use exclusively by adults Do not allow it to be used by
children under 12 or by people with impaired mental faculties
Operate the mount only as indicated in the manual
Modifying or altering the characteristics of the mount in any way will void the
manufacturer’s limited warranty
Never modify the tension of the belts (governed by a dedicated screw) These are set
in the factory and any unauthorized change will void the manufacturer’s limited
warranty
After using the mount, avoid storing it in areas exposed to sunlight or in wet places
IMPORTANT NOTE: DO NOT USE ANY KIND OF LUBRICANT, SPRY, LIQUID OR
OIL ON THE BELT DRIVE SYSTEM !!!
Any use of lubricants will void the manufacturer’s limited warranty
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Table of Contents
Summary.................................................................................................................................... 3
Technical Specifications.............................................................................................................4
Foreword.................................................................................................................................... 5
Package Contents........................................................................................................................5
1. Set the M-zero to ocal Conditions.....................................................................................6
1.1 Tripod Mounting...........................................................................................................6
1.2 Installing the Mount on the Tripod................................................................................7
1.3 Motor Cable Connections..............................................................................................7
1.4 Altitude Range Setting..................................................................................................8
1.5 Optical Tube Mounting...............................................................................................11
1.6 Choosing the Telescope...............................................................................................11
2. Telescope Balancing Operations........................................................................................16
2.1 Declination Axis Balancing.........................................................................................16
2.2 Right Ascension Axis Balancing:................................................................................17
3. M-zero Alignment in Equatorial Mode..............................................................................19
3.1 atitude Regulation.....................................................................................................19
3.2 Azimuth adjustment....................................................................................................20
3.3 Precise Polar Alignment..............................................................................................20
3.3.1 Polar Kit Installation.............................................................................................20
3.3.2. Polar alignment with a Skywatcher Polarscope....................................................21
3.4 External Programs for Polar Position Finding..........................................................23
5. StarGO Installation and Use – Quick User Guides............................................................29
APPENDIX A..........................................................................................................................30
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Technical Specifications
Type Equatorial / Alt-azimuth Single-Arm mount with Fast-Reverse
technology
Weight 5,5 kg (12.1 lbs.)
oad Capacity For photographic use 8 kg (17.6 lbs.) – For visual use 10 kg
(22,05 lbs.)
Transmission Four-step reducer via pulley-toothed belt system on ball
bearings, with no play in the axes
Construction
material
Anodized aluminum, machined from single blocks with high
precision CNC machines
Motion system Pulleys made with special glass fiber polymer and high
precision toothed belts
Polar finder Skywatcher model standard, others optional
Goto system Avalon StarGO GOTO System - Bluetooth
Counterweight bar W= 16 mm (0.63 inch) / = 80 mm (3.15 inches)
Counterweight 0.5 kg (1.1 lbs.)
Mounting Saddle Vixen style
Warranty 2 years from the purchase date, extended to 5 years for the
transmission system
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Foreword
This manual describes the mounting, operation and correct setup of the Avalon M-zero single
arm mount, including the proper installation of a suitable optical tube.
Please read this manual carefully to guarantee that you can use the M-zero mount in complete
safety and with the maximum satisfaction.
The instructions related to the StarGO control system and related software are described in
separate Instruction Manuals:
Avalon Instruments - StarGO Control System
The instructions for using the M-zero with third party software are contained in the following
Instruction Manual:
Avalon Instruments – Avalon StarGO: Third Party Software Use
Both the above manuals are included in the flash drive supplied with the mount.
The images published in the manual refer to the early versions of the mount and therefore small
differences could exist between these illustrations and your own mount. Furthermore, the
design and the configuration of the mount can be subject to modifications without prior notice,
based on design decisions leading to continuous improvements and on the suggestions of mount
owners.
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1 Packing Content
Open the box and take out all the contents. Remove all the components from the small
cardboard box and from the mount bag side pocket, and place them on a clean, flat surface.
Component List
Aluminum tripod with StarGO control box
Motor’s connecting cable
Mount Head
Mount Head and accessory transport bag
Tripod transport bag.
Counterweight rod
StarGO Keypad
0.5 kg Counterweight
Polar scope with support
Power cable
Warranty & Testing Certificates
Declaration of Conformity
Allen wrench
Azimuth adjustment pin
USB flash drive with manuals and software
Ra/Dec motor cables
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2 Mount Description
The M-zero Fast Reverse mount is a portable single arm fork mount devoted to deep-sky
imaging in the capacity range up to 10 kg (22 lb). With a total weight of 5.5 kg (12 lb) ot is an
ideal companion for travelling astrophotography.
The following drawing show the M-zero mount dimensional characteristics. Dimensions are in
mm.
The M-uno design was developed on the basis of the linear fast reverse, making use of the same
technical concepts:
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•Fast Reverse technology
•Computer aided design (CAD)
•High quality manufacturing with digital control 5 axes CNC machines (CNC + CAM)
•Absolute quality materials: Anodized aluminium from milled mono-bloc, stainless steel
components and screws, brass components, techno-polymers
The M-zero motion transmission technology is based on pulley-tooth belt without play, while
its peculiar geometry makes easy the imaging at the meridian crossing regardless the typical
problem affecting the classic German Equatorial Mounts, for both the risk of touching the
tripod and the need of waiting for the object cross the meridian.
Moreover, considering that at the meridian the sky is less subject to light pollution and to
atmospheric turbulence, the M-zero is the ideal tool to shoot deep-sky objects in their best
conditions, close to the meridian, especially when the time is short and the sky is not so dark
and clear.
The M-zero is mainly designed for astro-imaging with medium-short length tubes (such as SC-
Maksutov, RC up to 6-8″ aperture and 10 kg (22 lb) weight, according to the tube length). It is
possible to use the M-zero even with refractors (400-500 mm), with a piggyback or parallel
guidescope that can act also as an active counterweight.
The larger overhang of the single arm system will allow a greater pointing angle compared to
the classic German Equatorial Mounts.
Another M-zero basic advantage is that it doesn't need heavy counterweights, nor the long bar.
Its declination axis can be quickly balanced like in an equatorial mount, while, for the RA axis,
it is possible to fix the arm on three possible positions and to make the fine balance using a very
small counterweight.
The use of pulleys and toothed belts has allowed to obtain several advantages: a really steady
motion without play (no backlash) and sudden peaks, factors of paramount relevance for long
guided exposures and during high magnification visual observations. These features are of
particular relevance especially for the declination axis motor that can now quickly reverse the
motion without breaks to recover the plays: from here the mount name FAST REVERSE. The
toothed belts used in the M-zero have the structure made of special material with steel strands
to avoid any deformation, elongation and stress, much better than those used in the automotive
engine distribution system (which are generally made of rubber with nylon strands).
Considering that the service time for the automotive toothed belts is around 100.000 km
(60.000 miles), assuming a medium regime of 2.000 rpm and thermal stress from 0 to 90°C (30
to 195 F) in a few minutes, we can think that the life cycle of the M-zero toothed belts will be
extremely long! It is important to underline that in the gear-worm systems the motion
transmission has only one tangent point of contact, any errors on each of the two components
will, sooner or later, result into a tracking errors. On the contrary, in the pulley-toothed belt
system, no direct contact occurs between the pulley and the motion is transmitted by the belt
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engaging from 50% to 90% of the girth surface. Consequently any error, eventually present, is
averaged among the cogs, moreover soft, greatly reducing the tracking error.
No wearing effects since no relevant frictions occur. In fact, all the pulleys and the axes rotate
on roller bearings, 13 for the RA axis and 13 for the DEC axis that allow to reduce the total
friction almost to zero.
Another significant advantage of very low frictions is that the risks of motor slipping during
GOTO operation is virtually null. On the contrary, it is well known the difficulty to regulate the
coupling between gear and worm in the conventional mounts. If the coupling is tight the motors
can stuck with consequent loss of the position, if the coupling is too loose the plays increase.
On the other hands, the absence of significant play in the M-zero makes the initial calibration of
guiding CCD quick and easy.
Since there are no gears, there is no need of periodical lubrication of the internal components
and therefore the maintenance is extremely reduced and limited to the external cleaning.
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3 Initial M-zero Setting
The M-zero can be operated within a latitude range from about 24° to about 90°. To facilitate
packing it is shipped with a latitude setting of 90 degrees. Therefore the first operation to be
performed is to set the latitude range and scale for the location where the mount will be used.
The same operations must be performed when the mount is moved to a site with latitude outside
the range originally set.
The operations described here require the M-zero to be firmly set on the T-Pod tripod.
Therefore the first portion of this chapter will describe the operation needed to set up the tripod
and install the mount on it.
A key feature of the M-zero is the possibility to use it in both Equatorial and Alt-azimuth
modes. Alt-azimuth is convenient for visual observations and for terrestrial photos taken with
the Time apse method. To put the mount in Alt-Azimuth mode, set the longitude scale to 90°
as described in the following sections.
1.1 Tripod Mounting
For compact shipping, the T-Pod is
packaged completely closed with the
StarGO control bo already mounted on
one leg.
Note: If the StarGO control system will
also be used for other purposes (i.e. to
control mounts of other brands), it is
possible to detach it from the tripod by
unscrewing the two screws in the inner
side of the tripod leg.
The tripod setup is very simple. The
operations to perform are the following:
Place the T-Pod tripod head up with the
legs on the ground. After loosening the
knobs on the legs, adjust their length to the
desired height.
Pull the legs outward by extending
the three tie-rods until they click in
fully opened position.
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Adjustment of the tripod height will depend on the type of telescope to be used with the
mount. A Newtonian optical tube will require a
minimum height because its eyepiece is placed at the
distal end of the tube, close to eye height for a person
of average stature. If the telescope is a refractor or a
Schmidt-Cassegrain, the eyepiece is on the proximal
end of the OTA and viewing will be more comfortable
if the tripod is at its full height. Use the bubble level to
adjust the length of each leg to put tripod head in an
approximate horizontal position.
Firmly tighten the knobs on each leg to set the leg lengths and the height of the tripod
head.
Install the Azimuth adjustment pin as seen in the illustration.
3 2 Installing the Mount on the Tripod
To install the mount on the tripod,
follow this step-by-step
procedure:
oosen the two Azimuth
adjustment knobs (1) a few turns.
Put the mount on the tripod plate,
placing the pin (2) in the gap
between the two Azimuth
adjustment screws.
Tighten the knob located under
the tripod plate to firmly lock the
mount in position.
Tighten both Azimuth adjustment knobs until the screws touch the Azimuth adjustment
pin.
3 3 Motor Cable Connections
Once the mount has been installed on the tripod, it is necessary to
connect the electrical cables from the StarGO to the motors and
to the polar scope illuminator (if one is being used). The StarGO
is provided with two RJ11 female connectors for DEC and RA
motors and a pin jack socket for the polar scope illuminator.
The provided cable set is provided with two RJ11, 4 pin cables
and one cable with pin jack connectors. The two RJ11 cables
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should be connected to the StarGO and DEC connector in one side and to the RA and DEC
motors in the other side as shown on the picture below.
The third cable, with the pin-jack connector, must be connected to the illuminator
Below are the o erations to erform these
connections:
1. Insert the RJ11 male connectors into
the corresponding receptacles on the
top of the StarGO box, as indicated
in the picture below.
2. Pass the two motor cables through
the central hole of the mount.
3. Connect the opposite ends of the
RJ11 cables in their respective RA
and DEC receptacles on the mount.
Because the two cables have
different lengths and the two motor
receptacles are at different distances,
it is not possible to make mistakes.
The longest cable goes to the RA
motor and the shorter one goes to the
DEC motor.
4. The pins of the third cable should be
inserted in their corresponding
receptacles of the StarGO and the
Polar scope illuminator.
3 4 Altitude Range Setting
As previously stated, the M-zero can be used in an extended range of latitudes from about 24°
to 90°. The total amplitude of the operating range is about 66°, subdivided into 4 sub-intervals
as follows:
First interval 24° --- 40°
Second interval 40° --- 57°
Third interval 57° --- 74°
Fourth interval 75° --- 90°
NOTE: With an optional low latitude kit it is also possible to use the M-zero mount down
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to 15° of elevation, as shown in the following picture:
It must be emphasized that the Alt-azimuth Mode of mount operation takes place with the
declination axis set in the fully vertical position. All other configurations are used for mount
operation in the Equatorial Mode.
The following procedure starts with the mount in the 90° position, which is the way it comes
straight out of the packing. Thus, all the other adjustments after the first will start with the
mount already in Equatorial Mode.
The following are the steps to adjust the mount’s latitude range for equatorial configuration:
1. Completely loosen and remove
the screw (1) that is currently
holding the adjustment cylinder
(2) in the fourth position hole.
2. Completely unscrew the knurled
black knobs (indicated by #3),
from both sides.
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3. Rotate the adjustment cylinder (2)
around its own axis until its hole
is coaxial with the adjustment
hole closest to the desired
latitude.
4. Insert the screw (1), extracted in
step 1, into the desired adjustment
hole. If necessary, rotate the
cylinder (2) to bring its hole to the
right position.
5. The above steps will place the
mount in the approximate latitude
where it will be used. The precise
latitude adjustment will be
described in chapter 3.
6. If it is required to use the mount
in Alt-Azimuth mode, repeat the
previous steps. Insert the screw
into the lowest hole (4), which is
the fourth interval hole. This will
put the adjustment cylinder in
position to set the mount at 90
degrees for Alt-azimuth
operation.
7. Rotate the toothed wheel (5) to
bring the arm to a perfectly
vertical position with the help of
the spherical bubble level (6).
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3 5 Optical Tube Mounting
The optical tube to mount on the M-zero must be provided with a male Vi en-type dovetail bar
(standard width 50 mm) to fit the M-zero mounting saddle.
Place the mount arm in a perfectly leveled position and
firmly tighten the RA axis clutch knob (indicated with
1 in the side picture).
Turn the DEC axis clutch knob (#1 in the right picture)
and rotate the female dovetail plate until it is parallel
to the mount arm.
Firmly lock both axis clutch knobs.
oosen the dovetail saddle plate lock using the knob
#2 in the picture at right.
Insert the dovetail bar of the optical tube in the saddle and, while safely holding the
optical tube with one hand, firmly tighten the knob #2 with the other hand. The
assistance of another person could be helpful in performing this operation, especially if
the tube is particularly heavy and/or oversized.
Note: Before taking your hands off the tube, make certain that the OTA is firmly seated
in the mounting saddle with no wobbling
3 6 Choosing the Telescope
The M-zero is an extremely versatile mount. It can be used in equatorial or alt-azimuth
configuration and can carry several varieties of telescopes.
In particular, when in equatorial configuration, it can be set for continuous operation without
the need to perform the “meridian flip”. This can be facilitated by the appropriate choice of a
telescope.
Another benefit of the M-zero is its ability to mount two parallel telescopes. This feature offers
a wide range of advantages, such as simultaneous observation with different filters or auto-
guiding.
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A simple optional accessory is required to mount a parallel telescope.
In order to install this accessory it
is necessary to remove the plastic
plug that has the Avalon logo
(fig. a). This removal enables the
mounting flange (fig. b) to be
inserted.
This flange holds the Dual-DEC
accessory for mounting the
Secondary Vixen dovetail saddle
(fig. c) or the X-Guider (fig. d).
The X-Guider is moveable in two directions, which allows perfect alignment of two telescopes.
When used with a second telescope for auto-guiding, it also allows the slight misalignment
required to search for a suitable guide star.
The figures below show the optional kit components described above.
Secondary Vixen Saddle kit components Avalon X-Guider kit components
The following table illustrates the M-zero mount possible configurations (operating mode and
telescope type):
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Operating
mode Telescope type Picture Note
Equatorial
Any type of
optical tube
This setup allows the
use of any telescope
type (within the
allowable weight
limits). Medium length
refractors are possible
because the arm
position permits the
telescope rotation
without obstacles. In
this arrangement it
could be necessary to
perform the meridian
flip.
The counterweight
being used is 0.5 kg.
Optical tubes
up to 8” RCs
and SCs and
Newtonians up
to 6” .
In this setup the shape
brackets have been
mounted in reversed
position to allow the
repositioning of the arm
to a more extended
position. This new
position enables rotation
without obstacles even
with this type of
telescope and facilitates
better telescope
balancing. As seen in
the illustration, it is
possible to balance an
8” SC with a
counterweight of only
1.5 kg.
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Equatorial
Two parallel
telescopes are
illustrated here:
A 106 mm f/5
refractor
weighting about
9 kg and a 60
mm secondary
refractor
weighting about
3 kg.
In this setup the
secondary tube is
mounted on the optional
accessory. It can be
used for auto-guiding,
for taking simultaneous
pictures with different
FOVs or different
filters, etc.
The second telescope
constitutes an active
counterweight, allowing
the mount to obtain
performance that would
normally require mounts
with much higher
loading capacity.
Counterweights used
total 2 kg.
Two parallel
tubes: An 8”
f/10 SC
weighting about
7 kg and a 70
mm secondary
refractor
weighting about
3 kg.
In this setup the
secondary tube is
mounted on the optional
X-Guider, permitting
precise alignment of the
two optics.
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DS R Camera
A DS R camera can be
installed on the M-zero
mount, allowing it to
perform wide and extra-
wide field imaging. It
can be mounted as a
stand-alone or in
parallel with a
telescope. In this case
the telescope can be
used as a guide-scope
for longer exposures.
With this setup a
counterweight is not
necessary
Alt-azimuth
Any type of
optical tube
In the Alt-azimuth operational
mode, the telescope setups do
not change from the previous
configurations as seen in the
above figures
The telescope in
installed on the mount
externally as explained
in the previous
paragraph 1.5.
Binocular
Another optional tool
makes it possible to
install binoculars of
suitable dimensions and
weight.
DS R Camera
Using a short Vixen bar
it is possible to install a
DS R camera on the M-
zero mount. With this
arrangement it is
possible to perform
terrestrial time lapse
photography.
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4 Telescope Balancing Operations
To correctly balance the telescope it must be free to move manually around both rotational
axes.
The M-zero mount is provided with locking clutch knobs for both axes. To allow the telescope
to be freely moved by hand, turn the knobs in a counter clockwise direction, until the axes are
unlocked. Make sure you have a firm grasp of the telescope so it will not be dropped.
A significantly unbalanced mount can cause the telescope to drop quickly with potential
damage to the tube or to the mount itself. To prevent this from happening when using the mount
in Equatorial mode, be sure to hold onto the tube with the hands before loosening the clutch
knobs if the telescope has not been balanced, especially in the DEC axis.
To guarantee correct and reliable mount tracking it is necessary to balance the telescope in both
rotational axes. Even if the telescope is not intended to track in Declination, the optical tube
must still be balanced in this axis to avoid sudden movements when the DEC clutch is
loosened. This precaution also helps to limit vibrations and to provide immediate response
during auto-guided photographic sessions.
4 1 Declination Axis Balancing
With the M-zero mount it is better to balance the DEC axis first because the RA axis will
already be almost balanced.
1. Put the telescope in a horizontal position.
2. oosen the DEC axis clutch knob and allow
the tube to move – GRADUALLY – to
verify in which direction it tends to move.
3. Slightly loosen the knob on the mounting
saddle that keeps the dovetail bar and the
telescope fixed to the mount. Next slide the
tube forward or backward and tighten the
saddle knob. Repeat this action until the
mount stays in the same horizontal position
even with the DEC axis clutch completely
loosened. This stability indicates that the
telescope is balanced in the DEC axis.
4. Tighten the mounting saddle knob and the DEC clutch knobs to lock the telescope in the
balanced position.
5. DO NOT let go of the tube until the mounting saddle knob and DEC clutch knobs are
firmly tightened.
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