2 Mount Descr pt on
The M-tre is a single arm fork Dual Dec mount devoted to deep-sky imaging in the capacity
range up to 35 kg single telescope setup and 50 kg in double telescope setup.
The M-tre design was developed on the basis of the M-uno, making use of the same technical
concepts:
•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-tre 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-tre is the ideal tool to shoot deepsky objects in their best
conditions, close to the meridian, especially when the time is short and the sky is not so dark and
clear.
Another M-tre basic advantage is that counterweights may be not required.
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 several possible positions and to make the fine balance using a
very small counterweight.
The M-tre mount, is equipped with the new StarGo2 Pro Multiplatform Astronomical Control
System.
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-tre 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-tre 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
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