Rowan Astronomy AZ100 User manual

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01/12/2019 © 2019 Copyright Rowan Engineering Ltd. Page 1
AZ100 Y Axis Balancer.
The alignment kit contains:-
1 x Y Axis Alignment plate, with 2x angle brackets fitted.
1 x E epiece counterweight bar with end-stop washer.
2 x Adjustment knobs with dome tip screws.
4x M8x16
4x M6x16
4x M6x25 with washers (for attaching saddle to Y Axis balancer).
Optional 12mm axis spacer: Optional 24mm axis spacer
1x Axis spacer 1x Axis spacer
4x M8x25 4x M8x40
4x M6x30 4x M6x40
Rowan Astronom
Rowan Engineering Ltd.
Unit 8 Overfield
Banbur
Oxon
OX16 4XR
[phone]

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1) We recommend working on the mount
when it is attached to a pier or tripod for
stabilit and to prevent the mount falling
over.
2) To fit the Y Axis plate to the AZ100, remove
the saddle or counterweight shaft and
flange from the side ou wish to add the Y
axis alignment plate. Attach using the
M8x16 or M6x16 screws.
3) When fitting the Y Axis adjuster on the
left to an AZ100 with the goto motor kit
fitted, please add the axis spacer and
use the longer M6 or M8 screws to
attach the Y Axis adjuster to the AZ100.
This ensures that the knobs when set in
their lowest position don’t collide with
the motor housing.
4) Fit the saddle to the Y axis adjuster
using 4x M6x25 with washers (or using
the optional 4x knob set).
5. The e epiece counterweight bar is
normall fitted to the front side of the mount
awa from the observer so that the bar
does not collide with the tripod at high
elevations.
The counterweight bar can also be fitted so
that it angles downwards. This helps offset
the differing weights of the e epieces in
both the horizontal and vertical axis.
(Optional weight shown)

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Adjustment:-
1) With the telescope fitted with the medium weight e epiece expected to be used, set the
e epiece counterweight (if used) to the mid position along the counterweight shaft.
2) Slide and adjust the telescope in the saddle or rings to obtain balance while the telescope
is in the horizontal position. Slackening the clutches will allow balance to be finel adjusted.
3) Now point the telescope vertical (ensure the saddle clamps are tight and the telescope
can not slide out of the saddle – we recommend the dovetail bar be fitted with safet stop
bolts).
4) Again, with the clutches slack, the telescope will have a tendenc to rotate, i.e. it is now
unbalanced in the vertical axis.
5) Slacken the 4 bolts such that the saddle can be moved sidewa s and set this so balance
is obtained in the vertical axis.
It can make the adjustment easier if the telescope is rotated to the horizontal position while
making the adjustment.
6)With the telescope pointing verticall again, check the balance and repeat until satisfactor
Y- Axis balance is obtained.
7) The telescope should now be able to be pointed at an altitude and remain in fine balance.
8) When changing e epieces, adjust the horizontal balance b repositioning the e epiece
weight.
The scale can be used for reference so that the Y axis balancer can be re-set to a known
position for particular OTA and e epiece combinations.
For further information or advice about using or adjusting the AZ100 please e-mail Rowan Astronom
at sales@rowanastronom .com or contact us on our office number [phone]
A .pdf version of this instruction sheet with higher resolution photos is available in the support section
of www.rowanastronom .com

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Y Axis balancing – How it works.
The drawing below shows an example of an OTA weighing10Kg in total including diagonal, e epiece, and a
bino-viewer.
The top drawing has the telescope mounted without a Y-Axis balancer.
It is eas to balance the OTA in the horizontal position as the mass is simpl set to be equal on each side of the
vertical axis, sliding the telescope in its saddle to obtain balance.
However as the telescope increases in altitude the imbalance also increases to maximum at the zenith.
The imbalance is caused b the heavier mass now on the right side of the vertical axis (because of the bino-
viewer and optics etc.). There is still a total of 10kg but this is now un-evenl distributed about the vertical axis,
for example 4kg on one side and 6kg on the other resulting in a rotational force, i.e unbalanced.
The Y axis balancer overcomes this problem b ‘using’ some of the telescope tube mass to balance the offset
weight of the viewing optics.
In the lower drawing the Y axis balancer allows adjustment of the telescope mass so that the weight is evenl
distributed about the vertical (Y) axis and therefore elimination the rotational force and hence balanced.
The OTA is balanced and adjusted using the middle weight e epiece expected in use, then a small
counterweight is onl required to compensate for the different e epiece weights.