Gen 3 HD Astro Tracker

thingiverse

This is the third generation of the star tracker I started years ago. This is an update which re-uses much of the same internal components from the previous generation. The major changes include the main body, and components related to the mounting plate including the ball bearing. Most of the other components are still the same. I wanted a 3D printed star tracker that could handle a bigger lens and camera. Even though the stepper motor is very tiny, because of the gear reduction it's capable of handling a bit of load. Assuming perfect conditions, the torque output is over 200 ft-lbs!!! There is a fair bit of backlash, just keep the camera loaded between the 10-11 o'clock position when looking at the output face. Original Design: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4879109/