From: "Larry Davis" 
To: 
Reply-To: "Larry Davis" 


    Will a stepper motor make a reasonable clock drive for RA tracking?
    So far everything I've found to opperate a stepper has been way more
complicated than necessary to preform this function, or so it seems. Of
course with my knowledge of electronics I could have been looking at
exactly what I needed and not recognized it. I would like to find an off
the shelf controler to fit the following,
    System Description;
     1.   stand alone opperation on batteries
     2.   vary speed to match mechanical ratio of scope to sidereal rate (
I'm not sure how fine a speed control is available with stepper controlers
or how it is achieved )
     3.   a micro stepper controler capable of 1/40 step as per Mel's
reccomendations for smooth low vibration opperation.
     4.   a forward and reverse switch to jog for guiding during photography
or advance as a fine adjustment, there by eliminating the need for a
mechanical fine adj..
slew speeds not necessary.

    Any suggestions? maybe a micro-step or two in the right direction
appreciated.

    Merry Christmas to all
    Thanks LD

--- BBBS/NT v4.00 MP