SKY-WATCHER Saxon classic User manual

Copyright*©*2020,*Astro*Devices.*All*rights*reserved.**
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SkyWatcher: Encoders Installation
This*kit*is*suitable*for*SkyWatcher/Saxon*classic*6”-16”*and*Collapsible*up*to*16”.*
Please unpack all parts from the encoder kit. Make sure that your kit contains the following parts:
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The*following*parts*are*only*for*the*10”:*
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Encoder(resolutions:((
Azimuth:(311,296(steps(
Altitude:(6”-10”(–(842,700(steps,(12”(–(943,000(steps,(14”-16”(–(1,308,000(steps(
Current(consumption:(Azimuth(-(20(mA,(Altitude(–(20(mA(
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Copyright*©*2020,*Astro*Devices.*All*rights*reserved.**
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Azimuth encoder installation
You*will*need*the*following*parts*and*tools:*
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The*azimuth*pivot*bolt*needs*to*be*replaced*with*the*supplied*azimuth*pivot*bolt.*Use*the*socket*
wrench*and*the*shifter*tool/adjustable*spanner*to*remove*the*pivot*bolt*.*You*also*need*to*remove*
the*existing*plastic*bushing*from*the*hole.*
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Put*the*washer*and*the*plastic*bushing*on*the*pivot*bolt*and*insert*it*into*the*hole*

Copyright*©*2020,*Astro*Devices.*All*rights*reserved.**
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Put*the*rocker*box*on*its*side*and*install*the*aluminium*plate*on*the*pivot*bolt.*Drill*holes*for*the*
screws*using*the*supplied*drill*bit.**
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Use*the*supplied*screws*to*secure*the*plate.**

Copyright*©*2020,*Astro*Devices.*All*rights*reserved.**
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Tighten*the*pivot*bolt*making*sure*the*rocker*box*still*rotates*as*usual.*
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Tighten*two*set/grub*screws*using*supplied*Allen*key*

Copyright*©*2020,*Astro*Devices.*All*rights*reserved.**
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Now*install*the*tangent*arm*with*the*encoder*reader*on*the*pivot*bolt*
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Use*a*pencil*to*mark*the*middle*of*the*slot*at*the*end*of*the*tangent*arm*on*the*rocker*box*(for*the*
placement*of*the*anchor*bolt)*
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Swing*the*tangent*arm*away*from*the*marked*spot*and*put*the*anchor*bolt*with*the*foot*on*the*
marked*spot.*Then*use*the*pencil*to*mark*one*of*the*holes*

Copyright*©*2020,*Astro*Devices.*All*rights*reserved.**
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Predrill*the*hole*for*the*screw*
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Fix*plastic*foot*to*the*rocker*box*with*three*screws*provided*
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Copyright*©*2020,*Astro*Devices.*All*rights*reserved.**
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Remove*the*anchor*bolt*using*a*flat*head*screw*driver*
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Position*the*slot*of*the*tangent*arm*over*the*foot*and*install*the*anchor*bolt*
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Slide*the*two*thin*washers*over*the*top*of*the*pivot*bolt*and*install*the*encoder*disk*–*it*is*press*
fitted*onto*the*pivot*bolt’s*top*
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Copyright*©*2020,*Astro*Devices.*All*rights*reserved.**
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Altitude Encoder Installation (6”-8”, 12”-16”)
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For*the*installation*of*the*altitude*encoder*on*10”*version*only*refer*to*the*next*section*of*
this*document.*
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The*following*parts*are*required*to*install*the*altitude*encoder:*
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The*altitude*encoder*can*be*installed*on*either*altitude*bearing.*However*the*encoder*reader*will*be*
easier*to*install*on*the*left*side*wall*of*the*rocker*box*–*left*side*wall*shown*in*the*photo*below.*
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The*encoder*reader*is*installed*on*the*front*bearing*cylinder*(the*same*side*where*the*wall*
connecting*two*side*walls*of*the*rocker*box*is).**
Start*with*removing*the*OTA*from*the*rocker*box.*Then*clean*the*front*half*of*the*left*altitude*
bearing*with*an*alcohol*wipe:*

Copyright*©*2020,*Astro*Devices.*All*rights*reserved.**
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Then*put*the*OTA*back*in.*Lower*the*telescope*down*and*slide*the*reader*over*the*front*bearing*
cylinder:*
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Now*you*will*need*either*a*pencil*or*a*safety*pin*to*put*a*marking*on*the*altitude*bearing.*You*need*
to*mark*where*the*magnetic*tape*will*be*installed.*
Position*the*telescope*vertically*or*even*past*90˚*so*the*bottom*of*the*OTA*will*touch*the*front*wall*
of*the*rocker*box:*

Copyright*©*2020,*Astro*Devices.*All*rights*reserved.**
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Now*mark*the*altitude*bearing*just*past*the*body*of*the*encoder*reader*with*a*pencil*(it*might*be*
easier*to*use*something*like*a*safety*pin*to*put*a*small*scratch*instead):*
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Now*remove*the*OTA*from*the*rocker*box.*Remove*the*protective*paper*from*the*back*of*the*
magnetic*tape:*

Copyright*©*2020,*Astro*Devices.*All*rights*reserved.**
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Use*the*spacing*tool*to*control*the*distance*of*the*tape*from*the*edge*of*the*bearing.*Here*the*lower*
part*of*the*OTA*is*on*the*left.*Position*the*end*of*the*magnetic*tape*starting*from*the*marked*position.**
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Use*a*soft*cloth*or*a*paper*towel*to*put*pressure*on*the*tape*so*it*adheres*to*the*surface*of*the*
bearing*without*any*gaps.*Move*the*spacing*tool*along*the*edge*all*the*way*until*the*end*of*the*tape:*
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Put*the*OTA*back*into*the*rocker*box:*

Copyright*©*2020,*Astro*Devices.*All*rights*reserved.**
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Move*the*OTA*all*the*way*down*and*make*sure*the*end*of*the*tape*does*not*go*beyond*the*reader’s*
top*edge.*
The*photo*below*shows*the*required*gap*between*the*reader*and*the*tape.*The*gap*is*controlled*by*
rotating*the*reader*around*the*bearing*cylinder:*
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Now*you*need*to*drill*a*small*hole*in*the*bearing*–*use*1.5mm*or*1/16”*drill*bit.*Drill*holes*at*both*
end*of*the*tape.*
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Copyright*©*2020,*Astro*Devices.*All*rights*reserved.**
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Then*fix*the*end*with*the*screws*provided:*
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Now*put*the*OTA*back*into*the*rocker*box*and*make*sure*that*the*reader*is*positioned*correctly*
and*does*not*rub*the*surface*of*the*magnetic*tape.**
Use*a*pencil*to*mark*the*centre*of*the*slot*on*the*reader:*
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Drill*a*small*hole*for*the*screw:*

Copyright*©*2020,*Astro*Devices.*All*rights*reserved.**
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And*fix*the*reader*with*the*screw*–*do*not*tighten*it*yet:*
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Put*the*OTA*back*into*the*rocker*box*and*make*sure*the*gap*between*the*reader*and*the*tape*is*
~0.8mm.*Then*tighten*the*screw:*
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Then*carefully*remove*the*OTA*by*making*sure*the*reader*is*not*moved.*
Altitude Encoder Installation (10” only)
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For*the*installation*of*the*altitude*encoder*on*6-8”*and*12”-16”*versions*refer*to*the*
previous*section*of*this*document.*
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The*following*parts*are*required*to*install*the*altitude*encoder:*

Copyright*©*2020,*Astro*Devices.*All*rights*reserved.**
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The*altitude*encoder*can*be*installed*on*either*altitude*bearing.*However*the*encoder*reader*will*be*
easier*to*install*on*the*left*side*wall*of*the*rocker*box*–*left*side*wall*shown*in*the*photo*below.*
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Remove*the*existing*nylon*bearings*
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And*install*two*bearings*provided*with*the*kit:*

Copyright*©*2020,*Astro*Devices.*All*rights*reserved.**
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Prepare*the*encoder*reader.*You*need*the*following*parts:*
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Remove*the*reader*PCB*and*move*the*PCB*to*the*other*housing:*

Copyright*©*2020,*Astro*Devices.*All*rights*reserved.**
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Put*the*screws*into*the*housing*and*tighten*them*carefully*(finger*tight):*
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Slide*the*encoder*reader*over*the*left*(front)*bearing*
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Put*the*OTA*on*the*right*bearing*with*the*left*bearing*facing*up.*This*bearing*will*be*on*the*same*
side*as*the*encoder*reader*when*the*OTA*is*installed*on*the*rocker*box.**

Copyright*©*2020,*Astro*Devices.*All*rights*reserved.**
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Clean*the*smaller*part*of*the*bearing*with*IPA:*
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You*will*now*need*the*following*parts:*
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The*magnetic*tape*will*be*positioned*at*the*bottom*of*the*smaller*part*of*the*altitude*bearing:*

Copyright*©*2020,*Astro*Devices.*All*rights*reserved.**
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You*will*need*to*remove*drill*a*hole*using*the*provided*drill*bit*approximately*at*the*bottom*most*
point*of*the*bearing:*
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Remove*the*protective*film*from*the*back*of*the*magnetic*tape:*
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Now*fix*the*tape*to*the*bottom*part*of*the*altitude*bearing*with*the*provided*screw:*

Copyright*©*2020,*Astro*Devices.*All*rights*reserved.**
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Use*a*soft*cloth*to*attach*the*tape*firmly*to*the*bearing:*
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Drill*the*second*hole*at*the*end*of*the*tape*and*fix*that*end*to*the*altitude*bearing:*