AM7 ???: Page 2 - ZWO User Forum

AM7 ???

SFFctq7Y

Is a long time 1 year or 3 years? I'm looking for around 20kg with no counterweight, the ability to use a scope that's over a meter long such as a 150mm refractor, more consistent guiding, and better axis adjustments. Oh, and $4,000 to $5,000 or less. If it's just a larger AM5, I'd still probably be willing to pay $3,000, but I'd really like to see something special from ZWO (who always do an amazing job on their new products). Also, I like the pattern on the AM5, but maybe for this mount you can make another competition.

ASIMount-ZWO

SFFctq7Y
Thank you for your attention and love. For the AM7, ZWO is still collecting user needs to determine the product specifications, which is really a challenging task. We have not yet determined what the payload capacity should be? What should be the weight and size of the product? What level of guiding accuracy should be achieved? What kind of telescope should be carried? What interfaces should the AM7 have? What should be the attractive points of the AM7, etc. We are still carefully considering. We hope so much to be able to develop a stable and easy-to-use AM7 for users as soon as possible.

Lain402

ASIMount-ZWO
那很简单哦！Just double the AM5 specifications in terms of payload capacity and tracking accuracy. At the same time, keep the weight, size, and of course, the price as low as possible! 搞定啦！

没那么复杂，哥。你们只要少花点时间设计那些 S50、S30、S20、S10 的玩具就行了。哦，对了，那个 rotator 到底什么时候才会上市呢？哎，不用解释哈哈哈。

JustinM

> "For the AM7, ZWO is still collecting user needs to determine the product specifications"

ASIMount-ZWO It should be able to compete with the HAE69. Ideally, it would have a payload capacity of about 70lb/32kg and a weight of about 20 lb/9 kg. It would also feature built-in cable management and EQ and AZ modes.

It would be nice if it also had the same type of screw pins (not clutches) from the Sky-Watcher Wave 150i that allows balancing the OTA in Dec and RA.

I want to be able to use a 14" Celestron EdgeHD on it, with counterweights if necessary.

SFrNly08

ASIMount-ZWO
I would like a mount that can handle the largest consumer refractors, like the Askar 185.
You should also make a larger and sturdier tripod. I use my AM5N with a Celestron AVX steel tripod because I don't really trust the Zwo little tripod when using my big scopes like the Explore Scientific ES 127ED.
You don't really have to go small with the AM7, the potential buyers will not use it for travel, but for home observatories and the like.

Larry.Cable

alastroct Better, more precise axis controls for polar alignment (this is the weakest feature in the AM5)

100% this!!! the Alt/Az adjustment on the AM5 and AM5N is its worst "feature" the pitch on both is too coarse and
the backlash on the Alt in particular is terrible when changing direction!

Larry.Cable

SFrNly08 Built-in wifi (not in the hand controller)
USB3 and power in the saddle for better cable management
at least 15 Kg/20 Kg payload (enough for an Askar 151 PHQ without counterweight)
A larger tripod with a spreader plate

all of this! and include a USB hub and sufficient power from the mount to supply ASIAir, Cameras, EAF and EFW!

Larry.Cable

Kevin_A encoders

+1!

Larry.Cable

Mesliz If I can suggest improvement, It would be nice to review the polar alignment system to make it more precise. Although we can rid of it of course, it would be nice to avoid moving by 4° when turning screws a little

I cannot echo this sentiment more - the Alt/Az adjusters for P.A must be improved!

Larry.Cable

I might also suggest clutches as on the Sky Watcher 150i to permit the balancing of the scope in RA and DEC, which surely would benefit load mgmt and tracking accuracy...

AstroGS

Dear ZWO Team,

Having already an AM5 at a remote observatory, which works very well, i would definitely consider a larger AM, if it will have the following characteristics:

Encoders
Servo Motors
30+Kgr
USB/power ports on the saddle

And finally, one feature that we do not speak about as much as we should: Auto PA

This is the single most dreadful process, when you send and expensive rig abroad at a remote observatory. This is the only process that stops the rig to go FULLY remotely managed.

jhun_4748

Am7 with a mount base for integrated/automated polar alignment? 🙏. I can only wish for sure..

3nd6Jc16

jhun_4748
UPAS from Avalon Instruments works fine if you value time over money and also use NINA. I doubt AM7 will ever include that natively, but yes, one could wish.

Kevin_A

What I would like to see in the AM7 would be simply very high quality strain wave gears with smoother sinusoidal harmonics, and for it to be a beltless design using direct drive servos. If the mount had excellent and smooth PE for great guiding capabilities it would dominate the entire market! No more random spikes in guiding…. all people want is a good capacity and a very smooth guiding mount!

Swizerlan

ASIMount@ZWO A 70lb payload, a Non meridian flip design like the Hobym Crux, A very heavy duty alt az adjustment for polar alignment. Homing Switches, A sensor for pier crashes, and servo motors like the warp astron wd20.

Think of a mount that will be used at home or packed by the dozen remote in starfront. It needs to be extremely ROBUST.

benek

I think you won’t achieve what you want or what users actually expect. Life has already taught me it’s better to pay more and be 100% sure things will work.
What do users need? A solid, as compact as possible mount with a 30–35 kg payload capacity, with or without absolute encoders. It must maintain quality, precision in build, and a declared max guiding error of 0.5 arcseconds. Compared to the AM5, the RA and DEC axis locks need to be improved — because sorry, but what’s in the AM5 is a failure. Those side clamps and the one-way screw don’t hold the position — a second screw on the back is needed for proper and stable locking. Right now, changing to a different target during the night = redoing polar alignment 2 or 3 times.
YES, I want to pay $10,000 for a mount and have peace of mind that the whole session will run flawlessly — not pay $3,000 and constantly babysit it to check if guiding needs real-time corrections.

3nd6Jc16

ASIMount@ZWO

higher capacity. Modern rigs including your own FF130 are getting close to capacity and I'd be way more comfortable with running it at 50% capacity with a lower guiding error than pushing AM5N to its full capacity
mount physical compatibility with AM5N so same columns and third party plates work for AM7
better guiding error with heavier rigs, scope balance feature in software/driver

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