EQ6/NEQ6 Wedge

[Carole]

Have you seen this?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PM7JH7vBNFU

Looks to be a good improvement on PA but a lot of work to adapt.
There's no price yet on Modern astronomy website but some-one found it on the web @ 295 euros (£243 approx).

NEQ6 is a great mount but the PA design is it's Achilles heel.

Carole

[mickw]

Very pretty so it's going to be an expensive way to do away with one bolt  

It's going to be €295 

http://www.eq6wedge.com/how-to-order/

[Carole]

Yes I agree, it's a lot of money to do away with one bolt, they should have made a better design in the first place, but I thought I'd post it for interest.

Carole

[Marek]

I have watched the video ,truly impressed,with the project,but asking to pay that amount of money (if the rumour has it)for no improvement just convienence of use is a lot too much to ask,I think I'm gonna stick to my plan to upgrade the original ALT screws.Is it going to make your aligement more accurate=no,setup quicker =maybe a little,for that price i would rather spend on belt conversion:)

[Carole]

Hi Marek,

It's not to make it quicker or more accurate, but the current system of the bolts is poor.  

The bolts that are supplied are not made of strong enough material and can bend easily.  It is usually recommended to get replacement bolts made of tougher steel, but even then it can be a difficult job with the rear bolt if you have your scopes already mounted and weighing a lot and the pressure is being pushed on a plate inside which can get worn (I am not into engineering so excuse my laymans terms).  

This new system uses better quality material with the pressure NOT being applied to that plate.  

However I would object to having to pay out all that amount of money just to counteract a poor design having paid something in order of £1000 for the mount in the first place.  However I know the boys like to play with toys and new gizmos so thought I'd post it up for info.

Those with a permanent set up don't need to keep polar aligning so it's not such a problem.

Carole

[Marek]

Hi Carole
Understand weakness of the current screws,and I  have no objection to read about it on the forum,just expressed my opinion about the video,i like the system very much  but at the moment I have  different priorities for my astro budget,who knows maybe by the time when the product becomes available,might change my mind:)

[mickw]

The bolts that are supplied are not made of strong enough material and can bend easily.

Got to disagree there, they can only bend if you try to tighten one bolt without loosening the other and then keep trying 

The bolts are only used to adjust Alt/Az  for polar and are and are then not touched until you move your site and they are not difficult to adjust, Bobs Knobs area bit easier to turn but that's about it

[Carole]

I'm going by what I have been told Mick, I have no personal experience of them bending, but lots of people say this is the case.

Carole

[MarkS]

Mine did bend.  It's a bad design. Unless you are imaging at the Equator, the alt adjustment screw does not bear on the adjustment lug orthogonally.  Hence the weight of scope plus counterweights acts in a way that the lug puts a bending force on the adjustment bolt - especially with a C11 + guidescope + 4 counterweights.  Unfortunately, it is important to perform this adjustment under the full equipment load.

I bought replacement bolts and they certainly seem less "bendy".  I also tend to "help it along" by counteracting the moment of the equipment load with one arm whilst adjusting the bolt with the other hand.

Mark

[The Thing]

I rebuilt the joint and it made a lot of difference with some paraffin candle wax as the lubricant (doesn't bind). I still use the original bolts.

[Rocket Pooch]

I just lift one of the tripod legs to get the Dec right then the bolts are ok.

Am I the only one who does not have 100's of issues with the kit?

[RobertM]

Not at all.  Yes there are improvements to be done but for the money it's good value compared with the alternatives and I'm happy with it.