About this product
The PlaneWave L-350 is an alt-azimuth, single-fork arm style mount that is capable of carrying a total payload of 45kg/100lbs. This mount therefore can easily carry a PlaneWave CDK14, Celestron C14 or other similar size (or smaller) scopes and their accessories (e.g. camera, filter wheel etc).
The mount combines versatility, simplicity and affordability by combining all the technology of PlaneWave's Observatory-class telescopes into a compact and stand-alone mount and is a breakthrough in mount design, specification and features for the price.
The L-350 mount uses a direct drive motor system with high resolution encoders on both the RA and DEC axes that results in zero backlash and periodic error. The mount can slew at speeds from 20 degrees to up to 50 degrees per second!
The mount is offered in an Alt-Az configuration (or Equatorial with the optional Equatorial wedge). The Alt/Az configuration is considerably more compact than an equatorial mounted configuration, allowing a larger telescope to fit in a smaller enclosure. Unlike German Equatorial mounts, no polar alignment is necessary, there are no meridian flips and no large protruding counterweights to create a potential hazard if the telescope is located in a public observatory.
The PlaneWave L-350 features Direct Drive motors and on-axis encoders on both the RA and DEC axes. This eliminates the need for gear-based mechanics, thereby eliminating backlash and periodic error. With the high-resolution encoders providing feedback for the direct drive motors, not only will the telescope track without periodic error and backlash, the mount will also counter wind gusts with precise servo feedback.
The L-series direct drive motors can move the telescope at speeds from 2 degrees and up to 50 degrees per second. This makes the mount ideal for tracking satellites or just minimising celestial target acquisition time.
The PlaneWave 8"-wide dovetail mounting bracket holds telescopes onto the inside of L mounts fork arm. An additional dovetail clamp is available to allow the mounting of an extra supplementary telescope on the outside of the fork arm adding to the mount's versatility.
Adding extra accessories to a single-mounted telescope, or adding a second telescope can affect the overall balance of the whole telescope. The upper portion of the L mount can be moved horizontally for precise centre-of-gravity balancing whether the mount is in Alt-Az or Equatorial configuration.
To keep cabling from e.g. CCD cameras, filter wheels etc, the L- series mounts feature interior "through-the-mount" cable routing via access panels in the fork arm and azimuth axis sections.
The PlaneWave alt-az L-Series uses the same proven technology as used in the well-respected CDK700 telescopes which are being used in Universities such as the UK's University of Central Lancashire Alson Observatory.
MOUNT SYSTEM
| Type | Alt-Azimuth / Equatorial Direct Drive Mount |
| Weight | 110 lbs (50 kg) |
| Max. Load Capacity | 100 lbs (45 kg) |
| Latitude Range | 0 to 90 degrees, Northern and Southern hemispheres |
| Cable Management | Equipment cables can be wired through mount |
CONTROL SYSTEM
| Control Electronics | PlaneWave Interface dual axis telescope control |
| User Interface | PlaneWave Interface 4 (PWI4) Control Software with integrated PointXP mount modelling software |
| Homing Sensors | Home position sensors are included allowing the mount can find its home position on power up. |
| Slew Rate | 20 degrees per second (standard); 50 degrees per second (maximum), both axes |
| Power Requirement | Accepts 120 VAC. Supplied with 12VDC 15A Regulated Power Adapter |
MOTION CONTROL
| Motor Control | Industrial grade brushless motor control system and built in electronics |
| Motor - Azimuth and Altitude | Direct Drive 3 Phase Axial-Flux Torque Motors |
| Encoder - Azimuth and Altitude | 152mm disk built into the azimuth and altitude axes with stainless steel encoder on the circumference with reader yields 18,880,000 counts per revolution of the telescope. This translates to about 0.069 arcsecond resolution |
| Motor Torque | Approximately 20 ft-lbs continuous; 50 ft-lbs peak |
| Drive Electronics | Industrial grade, off-the-shelf brushless motor drives for each axis with custom designed interface card |
| Telescope Control Software | PlaneWave Interface (PWI4). Incorporates PointXP mount modelling software by Dave Rowe All ASCOM compatible. |
SYSTEM PERFORMANCE
| Pointing Accuracy | <10 arcsecond RMS with PointXP Model |
| Pointing Precision | 2 arcsecond |
| Tracking Accuracy | < .3 arcsecond error over 5 minute period |
| System Natural Frequency | 10 Hz or greater
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