EzCBP Cylindrical Bearing Equatorial Platform Smooth High Gear Ratio Roller Driven Tracking

EzCBP with its Hand Controller Kevin Stephen's Masterpiece (read his report on Kit Builder's page)

Features of the EzCBP include:
Cylindrical Bearing Platform balances dob's weight for maximum stability
Easy to build design with single cylindrical sector
Precision tracking with direct roller drive
CCD Imaging and Astrophotography with no field rotation
Works with up to 130 pound scopes(ask us about higher weight scope solutions)
Attach your scope directly to top board and also use it without platform
Adjustable latitude settings from 10 to 65 degrees
Can be used with Digital Setting Circles "EzDSC"
Hand Controller for easy speed control, centering and slewing to nearby dim objects.

This quality, easy to build, cylindrical bearing platform *kit is for those who want precise hands free tracking for up to one hour with the ease of accurate speed selection and slow E/W slewing(also N/S on Dual-axis which can be used for limited movements to find nearby dim object or moving around large objects such as the moon) of its Hand Controller. The north sector is direct roller driven so that no tangental error occurs as with a tangent arm drive. You use our graph to determine the sector size for the center of gravity of your particular dobsonian(or give us the height of your Alt. axis and your Lat. and we will calculate it for you). The platform can be built to basically the same size as your scope's base and near or under 5.5" high including the feet under the platform's baseboard and if you transfer your dob's teflon pads and center bolt to the top of the platform the total height with your scope is decreased by about 1.5". When this is done, you can easily use the platform's top board as your scope's base board for use without the platform(the instructions show you how). Its easy to cut and finish the single circular sector using a standard hand jig saw and hand drill circular sander with the detailed instructions included.

The cylindrical bearing platform's main advantage is that it can be built to put the center of gravity of the dobsonian at or under the polar axis in order to balance the scope's weight for maximum stability. This precise balance also makes it easier for the motor to move the platform with a heavy scope sitting on it. The simple design of this CBP uses only one cylindrical sector and the rear sector is replaced by a single roller, which allows the polar axis to be set by the single north sector. Another important advantage is the precise tracking with a direct roller drive that allows photography.

If the Declination Drift Method is used for accurate polar alignment, the Single-axis platform can be used for limited unguided CCD Imaging and astrophotography (some single-axis guiding on Ra only can be used). Track-and-Stack CCD imaging allows a series of short exposures for deep-sky imaging(click on Astrophotography below for info). The Declination Drift Method is included in the plans. Guiding is always needed for most deep space objects requiring long exposures on any telescope mount. For those interested in long exposures with an off-axis guider or flip-mirror system(see info & links in par. below), a Dual-axis platform is also available. For converting a single-axis platform kit, a dual-axis conversion kit which requires another special single-axis controller box is now available(see our Purchase Information page for prices).

ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY Photographing bright objects, such as planets, that do not require long exposures is easy. You simply electronically control the right ascension speed with the motor controller (Hand Controller). Dual axis control can be necessary for dimmer objects requiring long exposures by smoothly controlling the RA speed (slow/fast buttons) and declination (north/south buttons) with an off-axis guider or flip-mirror system. Off-axis guider and flip-mirror products at: Taurus-Tech shows how its done. Imaging bodies is now much cheaper (under $50 B&W or color) and easier with Webcams. See Astronomy magazine, page 94 of December 2003

*The Cylindrical Bearing Platform kit, with right ascension motor controller circuit board and stepper motor(dual-axis also contains dec. board w/motor), includes everything except the wood. Most of the mechanical parts come in sub-assemblies and are ready for attachment (the required power is 12 volts DC, about 150 ma.(Dual-axis, 500 ma.) from either a battery (such as a car battery) or an AC-to-12 volt DC adaptor(included in kit).

All kits include detailed plans for each step of the assembly process. The circuit board(s) is tested and ready for assembly into the enclosure (about 10 wires{16 on dual-axis} must be soldered to switches and solder terminals and holes must be cut into plastic enclosure). The power and output connector wires are already attached to the circuit board. The assembled controller is also available (single-axis prices below).

This Cylindrical Bearing Platform is easy to build. The controller assembly is also greatly simplified. *The 3/4" plywood, that we recommend for construction, is available in standard, pre-cut sizes from Home Depot. The platform shown above is made from 24x24x3/4" birch pre-cut boards, and the circular sector is made from oak hardwood. The height of the finished platform is 5.5", which includes the feet underneat the ground board. If you want to decrease the total height of your platform plus scope you can put your scope's teflon pads and center bolt on the platform. The platform can be made larger or smaller as desired to fit your scope. Its simplicity makes it a pleasure to build.

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