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Tracker on the cheap | 18 comments (18 topical, editorial)

Re: Tracker on the cheap (3.00 / 0) (#8)
by Volvo farmer on Tue Mar 7th, 2006 at 12:07:34 PM MST
(User Info)

You need limit switches on each end of the travel and diodes so that you can pull the thing the other direction. There's a diagram of how it works on the Redrok site. If you can find a used satellite actuator, they have the limit switches built in. Are you in the US? There are old abandoned c-band dishes everywhere here. Everyone has gone to 18" dishes and I could have a dozen old dishes if I wanted them.

Volvo Farmer

May you always have success in your quest to irritate those who you despise. -Ben Goode
[ Parent ]

Re: Tracker on the cheap (3.00 / 0) (#9)
by amiklic1 (andjelo.miklic1@st.htnet.hr) on Tue Mar 7th, 2006 at 04:09:04 PM MST
(User Info) www.hypeol.com

No, I live in Croatia (Europe). Ihave a number of steppers from printers and photocopy machines. I think it can be used, with a kind of a gearing (some of them are geared). As I understand, it works so that tracker gives an impulse into the motor to move it into desired direction. When it comes to the limit position, the tracker gives a series of impulses to the motor, sao it moves the array into other position (east).
It's not complicated for me to build the axis and the frames. Where to find limit switches? Is it some ordinary switch (I have plenty of them, all kinds of microswitches etc)?
Free energy? Yes, please!
[ Parent ]

Re: Tracker on the cheap (3.00 / 0) (#10)
by Volvo farmer on Tue Mar 7th, 2006 at 04:51:52 PM MST
(User Info)

Yes, ordinary switches, like are used in the doors of microwave ovens. Like these
http://www.electronix.com/catalog/images/47-499.jpg
Yes you need a limit in the eastmost and westmost positions, otherwise the tracker will continue to move west or east past the phsical limits of your moving apparatus.

Volvo Farmer

May you always have success in your quest to irritate those who you despise. -Ben Goode
[ Parent ]

Tracker on the cheap | 18 comments (18 topical, 0 editorial)

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