MAX mount on tripod

The Meade MAX go-to robotic German equatorial mount can handle a payload of up to 250 pounds (excluding counterweights) with ease and precision. It has a periodic error of only 2 arc seconds, less than half that of a star's Airy disc on nights of sub-par seeing, and sub arc minute pointing accuracy during go-to operation.

It uses 13.625" diameter right ascension and declination drive gears with 652 teeth on each. Each gear is driven by a high torque Pittman DC servo motor turning a clutchless 1.1667" diameter fully-enclosed and permanently precision-adjusted spring-loaded worm. The massive right ascension shaft is a full 3.84" in diameter. It is supported by two high payload ball bearing races. The declination shaft is 2.90" in diameter. It is also supported by two high payload ball bearing races.

The mount can be operated over a 0° to 90° latitude range for use anywhere in the world. Internal cabling eliminates the potential cable tangles possible with lesser mounts that use external cabling to the drive motors. The mount uses a proprietary quick-release dovetail plate, rather than a standard Losmandy-type D plate. P>Electronic features include local control while standing at the scope through two multi-function/multi-port panels; remote control through a LAN from a nearby location (from inside your warm house, for example, while the mount works flawlessly outside in your observatory building in sub-freezing temperatures); or remote control from any distant location via the internet, even from another continent. The mount's main control panel is identical to the main control panel on Meade large aperture LX400-ACF optical tubes. The mount's saddle panel has the same connections as those on the LX400-ACF OTA panel. This includes three USB connectors for accessories such as cameras and auto-guiders. A cable connects between the LX400-ACF OTA and the mount's saddle panel to let the AutoStar controller (handbox) operate the optical tube's focuser and collimation motors, fan, and dew heater. There are no dangling cables between the LX400-ACF optical tube and the body of the mount,

The MAX mount has a software-controlled meridian limit of 8 degrees beyond the zenith to prevent accidental pier damage when the telescope and its equipment are aimed at the zenith. The user can decrease this if a custom set-up limits this further. There are also horizon limits built into the software that are user-definable if you have trees or buildings blocking your view of the horizon.

The mount has open loop tracking; 3 USB 2.0 ports; an AutoStar II hand control with a 147,541 star and object library. The hand control has expanded AutoStar II-based software features, such as AutoAlign and an electronic mount balancing program. There's a built-in 16-channel GPS system using a Sony GPS receiver that can be disabled if the mount is permanently installed in an observatory dome. The GPS system can also be left enabled in an observatory to provide an accurate time/date reference, even if the latitude/longitude function is not used. Built-in Smart Mount Technology constantly trains and improves the already high pointing accuracy of the telescope with every object that you center precisely and synchronize on during a night's observing. The Smart Drive system has a new advanced PPEC (Permanent Periodic Error Correction) circuit to improve the already superb two arc second tracking accuracy for astrophotography and more.

The mount slews in RA and Dec at the following user-selected speeds: 0.01x to 1.0x sidereal, variable in 0.01x increments; 2x, 8x, 16x, 64x, and 128x sidereal; and 1°/second to 2°/second, variable in 0.1°/second increments. In addition, you can select from pre-set sidereal or lunar tracking rates, or any of 2000 custom-selected incremental rates (for tracking the Sun for solar observing, for example).

The MAX mount requires an optional 110 volt AC to 12 volt DC power adapter (#RCXAC). This AC adapter is rated for a 5 amp capacity. This is enough current to run the fan and the dew heater of an LX400-ACF optical tube, in addition to operating the mount.

The MAX mount has a heavy duty 26.5" tall tripod for use in the field. When aimed 45° above the horizon, the tripod puts the eyepiece of a typical 16" catadioptric scope approximately 5'8" above ground level. The tripod can also be used semi-permanently in an observatory building, with the tripod giving you the option to also take the mount into the field. The mount is transportable, as opposed to being truly portable, since the various components of the mount and tripod weigh in at a 329 pound total - without counterweights or optical tube. The tripod itself weighs 81 pounds. The mount's pedestal (wedge) weighs 66 pounds. The right ascension assembly is 66 pounds. The declination assembly is 75 pounds. The counterweight shaft assembly weighs 32 pounds. One very motivated person can set up the mount on his own, but a minimum of two people is strongly recommended. The setup time is heavily dependant upon the strength, skill, and experience of the person(s) assembling the components.

The mount comes with the appropriate number of 35 pound counterweights to balance your particular optical tube. There are optional 20 and 35 pound counterweights available to balance the weight of heavy accessories. The counterweight shaft is a stainless steel threaded rod with a thread 1.5" in diameter and 6 threads per inch. The counterweights are equipped with a pushbutton for quick release to let you slide the counterweight(s) to the approximate correct location on the shaft. Once positioned in the rough location, the pushbutton is released and the counterweight(s) spin on the threaded shaft for fine balance.

Once the MAX mount is turned on, it goes through the normal AutoStar setup routine. The AutoStar software is expanded for the MAX Mount, however. For example, there are no clutches and no way of disengaging the worm screw from the worm gear. This is for safety reasons, to avoid the potential damage that could be caused by an unbalanced 130-140 pound optical tube swinging unexpectedly, along with the potential for stripped teeth on the drive gear when an unbalanced OTA starts jumping over gear teeth. Accordingly, the new software includes an electronic balancing routine that takes literally only seconds to balance the mount.

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