Réglages fins alt/az pour EQ-2

thingiverse

I propose you optimize your old EQ-2 mount with fine adjustments in altitude and azimuth. You can also install a round bubble level. A - The axis altitude piece where the mount block comes to rest. The D bolt support is at 45°. I put a metal plate there to protect the plastic. I chose to stick a 2 euro coin with double-sided tape there. Aluminum might be a bit too "soft". B - M5x60 threaded rod with two screws and two washers. It blocks the mount and its possible rotation on axis C. My right ascension motor will be fixed there. C - The two screws that held the mount on its altitude axis are moved here, left and right. D - The altitude adjustment button with an M8x80 hex head bolt whose end has been rounded. E - The small altitude degree pointer is moved to the two small holes in piece A with its two small screws. The graduation was cut and reattached with a 90° rotation. F - The altitude axis. We put an aluminum tube of 12mm diameter there, into which we insert an M10x70 threaded rod. Two M10 screws on either side keep everything in place. You have to tighten them well but without blocking the axis. G - Alt/az pieces in two parts. They are linked and tightly held by two M5x100 threaded rods with bolts and washers. We stick an M8 screw in the first part and two M5 screws in the second. You will need two M5 buttons with a 30mm long bolt for azimuth axis adjustment (no STL files because I got them elsewhere). H - Small piece in two parts to glue a round bubble level up to 18mm diameter. You have to drill a hole to fix it with an M4x10 screw and its washer. I - Azimuth adjustment stop. It is fixed with an M8x20 bolt in the old thread that blocked the azimuth axis. J - Azimuth axis tightening handle which now blocks from below. The bolt is a M6x20 hex head bolt with a Whitworth thread. Don't forget to loosen it a bit when adjusting the azimuth. The mount is easily usable up to 55° latitude. Beyond 60°, there is a risk that the tube/counterweight equilibrium point will exceed the azimuth axis and make the mount tip backwards. So for very high latitudes (which are less common), you will have to block the altitude axis by tightening the M10 screws more strongly. You can find azimuth axis tightening handles in the STL files, which will facilitate the operation. All mechanical constraint supporting pieces were printed at a 75% fill rate with 4-line shells. The other parts like buttons or handles can be printed with much less requirements. I used PET-G which resists UV well because I do solar observations. White color is also suitable for this kind of observation.