Avalon Instruments M-zero Bedienungsanleitung
INSTRUCTION MANUAL
Version 2.0.4 July 2020
All the pictures and contents here included are property of Avalon Instruments. The contents cannot be
reproduced, published, copied or transmitted in any way, including the internet, without the written
permission of Avalon Instruments.
SAFETY STANDARDS AND WARNINGS
Read the manual carefully before installing and using the mount
To make the document easier to read in the field, we recommend that you to copy
all documentation files from the supplied USB thumbnail drive to a smartphone or,
even better, to a computer or tablet
Use the power cable supplied with the mount or else a 12V- 3A stabilized power
supply as suggested in the manual
Make sure that the power cable is connected correctly and securely to the power
socket
Do not bend, pull or press the cable as this may damage it
For any assistance or repairs, please contact only the manufacturer
Be sure to remove the power supply at the end of an observing or imaging session
or before performing cleaning or maintenance When removing from a power
outlet, pull on the plug, not the cable
This mount is intended for use exclusively by adults Do not allow it to be used by
children under 12 or by people with impaired mental faculties
Operate the mount only as indicated in the manual
Modifying or altering the characteristics of the mount in any way will void the
manufacturer’s limited warranty
Never modify the tension of the belts (governed by a dedicated screw) These are set
in the factory and any unauthorized change will void the manufacturer’s limited
warranty
After using the mount, avoid storing it in areas exposed to sunlight or in wet places
IMPORTANT NOTE: DO NOT USE ANY KIND OF LUBRICANT, SPRY, LIQUID OR
OIL ON THE BELT DRIVE SYSTEM !!!
Any use of lubricants will void the manufacturer’s limited warranty
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Table of Contents
Summary.................................................................................................................................... 3
Technical Specifications.............................................................................................................4
Foreword.................................................................................................................................... 5
Package Contents........................................................................................................................5
1. Set the M-zero to ocal Conditions.....................................................................................6
1.1 Tripod Mounting...........................................................................................................6
1.2 Installing the Mount on the Tripod................................................................................7
1.3 Motor Cable Connections..............................................................................................7
1.4 Altitude Range Setting..................................................................................................8
1.5 Optical Tube Mounting...............................................................................................11
1.6 Choosing the Telescope...............................................................................................11
2. Telescope Balancing Operations........................................................................................16
2.1 Declination Axis Balancing.........................................................................................16
2.2 Right Ascension Axis Balancing:................................................................................17
3. M-zero Alignment in Equatorial Mode..............................................................................19
3.1 atitude Regulation.....................................................................................................19
3.2 Azimuth adjustment....................................................................................................20
3.3 Precise Polar Alignment..............................................................................................20
3.3.1 Polar Kit Installation.............................................................................................20
3.3.2. Polar alignment with a Skywatcher Polarscope....................................................21
3.4 External Programs for Polar Position Finding..........................................................23
5. StarGO Installation and Use – Quick User Guides............................................................29
APPENDIX A..........................................................................................................................30
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Technical Specifications
Type Equatorial / Alt-azimuth Single-Arm mount with Fast-Reverse
technology
Weight 5,5 kg (12.1 lbs.)
oad Capacity For photographic use 8 kg (17.6 lbs.) – For visual use 10 kg
(22,05 lbs.)
Transmission Four-step reducer via pulley-toothed belt system on ball
bearings, with no play in the axes
Construction
material
Anodized aluminum, machined from single blocks with high
precision CNC machines
Motion system Pulleys made with special glass fiber polymer and high
precision toothed belts
Polar finder Skywatcher model standard, others optional
Goto system Avalon StarGO GOTO System - Bluetooth
Counterweight bar W= 16 mm (0.63 inch) / = 80 mm (3.15 inches)
Counterweight 0.5 kg (1.1 lbs.)
Mounting Saddle Vixen style
Warranty 2 years from the purchase date, extended to 5 years for the
transmission system
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Foreword
This manual describes the mounting, operation and correct setup of the Avalon M-zero single
arm mount, including the proper installation of a suitable optical tube.
Please read this manual carefully to guarantee that you can use the M-zero mount in complete
safety and with the maximum satisfaction.
The instructions related to the StarGO control system and related software are described in
separate Instruction Manuals:
Avalon Instruments - StarGO Control System
The instructions for using the M-zero with third party software are contained in the following
Instruction Manual:
Avalon Instruments – Avalon StarGO: Third Party Software Use
Both the above manuals are included in the flash drive supplied with the mount.
The images published in the manual refer to the early versions of the mount and therefore small
differences could exist between these illustrations and your own mount. Furthermore, the
design and the configuration of the mount can be subject to modifications without prior notice,
based on design decisions leading to continuous improvements and on the suggestions of mount
owners.
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1 Packing Content
Open the box and take out all the contents. Remove all the components from the small
cardboard box and from the mount bag side pocket, and place them on a clean, flat surface.
Component List
Aluminum tripod with StarGO control box
Motor’s connecting cable
Mount Head
Mount Head and accessory transport bag
Tripod transport bag.
Counterweight rod
StarGO Keypad
0.5 kg Counterweight
Polar scope with support
Power cable
Warranty & Testing Certificates
Declaration of Conformity
Allen wrench
Azimuth adjustment pin
USB flash drive with manuals and software
Ra/Dec motor cables
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2 Mount Description
The M-zero Fast Reverse mount is a portable single arm fork mount devoted to deep-sky
imaging in the capacity range up to 10 kg (22 lb). With a total weight of 5.5 kg (12 lb) ot is an
ideal companion for travelling astrophotography.
The following drawing show the M-zero mount dimensional characteristics. Dimensions are in
mm.
The M-uno design was developed on the basis of the linear fast reverse, making use of the same
technical concepts:
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•Fast Reverse technology
•Computer aided design (CAD)
•High quality manufacturing with digital control 5 axes CNC machines (CNC + CAM)
•Absolute quality materials: Anodized aluminium from milled mono-bloc, stainless steel
components and screws, brass components, techno-polymers
The M-zero motion transmission technology is based on pulley-tooth belt without play, while
its peculiar geometry makes easy the imaging at the meridian crossing regardless the typical
problem affecting the classic German Equatorial Mounts, for both the risk of touching the
tripod and the need of waiting for the object cross the meridian.
Moreover, considering that at the meridian the sky is less subject to light pollution and to
atmospheric turbulence, the M-zero is the ideal tool to shoot deep-sky objects in their best
conditions, close to the meridian, especially when the time is short and the sky is not so dark
and clear.
The M-zero is mainly designed for astro-imaging with medium-short length tubes (such as SC-
Maksutov, RC up to 6-8″ aperture and 10 kg (22 lb) weight, according to the tube length). It is
possible to use the M-zero even with refractors (400-500 mm), with a piggyback or parallel
guidescope that can act also as an active counterweight.
The larger overhang of the single arm system will allow a greater pointing angle compared to
the classic German Equatorial Mounts.
Another M-zero basic advantage is that it doesn't need heavy counterweights, nor the long bar.
Its declination axis can be quickly balanced like in an equatorial mount, while, for the RA axis,
it is possible to fix the arm on three possible positions and to make the fine balance using a very
small counterweight.
The use of pulleys and toothed belts has allowed to obtain several advantages: a really steady
motion without play (no backlash) and sudden peaks, factors of paramount relevance for long
guided exposures and during high magnification visual observations. These features are of
particular relevance especially for the declination axis motor that can now quickly reverse the
motion without breaks to recover the plays: from here the mount name FAST REVERSE. The
toothed belts used in the M-zero have the structure made of special material with steel strands
to avoid any deformation, elongation and stress, much better than those used in the automotive
engine distribution system (which are generally made of rubber with nylon strands).
Considering that the service time for the automotive toothed belts is around 100.000 km
(60.000 miles), assuming a medium regime of 2.000 rpm and thermal stress from 0 to 90°C (30
to 195 F) in a few minutes, we can think that the life cycle of the M-zero toothed belts will be
extremely long! It is important to underline that in the gear-worm systems the motion
transmission has only one tangent point of contact, any errors on each of the two components
will, sooner or later, result into a tracking errors. On the contrary, in the pulley-toothed belt
system, no direct contact occurs between the pulley and the motion is transmitted by the belt
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engaging from 50% to 90% of the girth surface. Consequently any error, eventually present, is
averaged among the cogs, moreover soft, greatly reducing the tracking error.
No wearing effects since no relevant frictions occur. In fact, all the pulleys and the axes rotate
on roller bearings, 13 for the RA axis and 13 for the DEC axis that allow to reduce the total
friction almost to zero.
Another significant advantage of very low frictions is that the risks of motor slipping during
GOTO operation is virtually null. On the contrary, it is well known the difficulty to regulate the
coupling between gear and worm in the conventional mounts. If the coupling is tight the motors
can stuck with consequent loss of the position, if the coupling is too loose the plays increase.
On the other hands, the absence of significant play in the M-zero makes the initial calibration of
guiding CCD quick and easy.
Since there are no gears, there is no need of periodical lubrication of the internal components
and therefore the maintenance is extremely reduced and limited to the external cleaning.
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3 Initial M-zero Setting
The M-zero can be operated within a latitude range from about 24° to about 90°. To facilitate
packing it is shipped with a latitude setting of 90 degrees. Therefore the first operation to be
performed is to set the latitude range and scale for the location where the mount will be used.
The same operations must be performed when the mount is moved to a site with latitude outside
the range originally set.
The operations described here require the M-zero to be firmly set on the T-Pod tripod.
Therefore the first portion of this chapter will describe the operation needed to set up the tripod
and install the mount on it.
A key feature of the M-zero is the possibility to use it in both Equatorial and Alt-azimuth
modes. Alt-azimuth is convenient for visual observations and for terrestrial photos taken with
the Time apse method. To put the mount in Alt-Azimuth mode, set the longitude scale to 90°
as described in the following sections.
1.1 Tripod Mounting
For compact shipping, the T-Pod is
packaged completely closed with the
StarGO control bo already mounted on
one leg.
Note: If the StarGO control system will
also be used for other purposes (i.e. to
control mounts of other brands), it is
possible to detach it from the tripod by
unscrewing the two screws in the inner
side of the tripod leg.
The tripod setup is very simple. The
operations to perform are the following:
Place the T-Pod tripod head up with the
legs on the ground. After loosening the
knobs on the legs, adjust their length to the
desired height.
Pull the legs outward by extending
the three tie-rods until they click in
fully opened position.
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