Rotation and elongation problems with 1600mmc

gunny

I posted the following on the SGP froum and am hoping for some direction:

I've had my 1600 for a little less than a week. I'm using usb 2.0, thru a powered usb hub and cat 6 ethernet connection. I have usb set to 80 and no problems with downloads.

Two problems that I have noticed are a noticeable rotation in the image with a meridian flip. Centered, but rotated about 4-7 degrees. I also noticed the rotation ( 7degrees) in images taken on the same side of the meridian on two consecutive nights. This has happened using a 10Micron mount with two different models of 60 -62 stars. Polar alignment was about 2' rms. yes, the polar alignment could be made better, but it has never been a problem for the STT 8300m on a Tak FSQ 106, or the AGO 12.5" with Fli 11002m. Both platforms are on the 10u mount and I've never experienced rotation with my images before. On one of the evenings, I also imaged M8 with my larger scope before going to the 1600. Images from the FLI camera showed no rotation and stars were round.

The second problem is a noticeable tilt as evidenced in star elongation. I never had this problem with the STT 8300, so my guess is that a tilt tip adapter will have to be added. Stars were elongated in a diagonal and toward the corners.

As I watch the auto centering and plate solves being performed in SGP, they are all showing centering <= 1pixel

Some have suggested that the sensor maybe loose in the camera and I should open the front cover.

I'm reluctant to do that since it is under warranty.

Any and all suggestions appreciated at this point............Thank you..........Gunny

gunny

I took off the camera (V3) yesterday and started to remove the filters. ALL of the filter screws were loose ( no torque needed on the screw driver ) and it wouldn't have been long until they fell out. The machining tolerances are not very good here, especially as I compared them to the screws on the Sbig fw.

Just my thoughts, based on my Fli camera fw, I would definitely put a micro-bead of silicone caulk on those screws or locktite blue to make sure they don't back out. I had a similar problem with the Fli fw and their filter rings that screw onto the filter compartments. They would loosen up, so I put a very thin film of silicone caulk on the threads. This did solve the problem and it is easy enough to unscrew later. The last thing you want to have happen with those expensive filters, is to have a loose part scratch them up. A cheap fw isn't so cheap when a filter is ruined.

Last night I reattached the STT 8300m and went to the same target, after generating a new model for the 10u mount. All went well with no elongation of stars, nor rotation of images after a meridian flip. I'll wait to see what OPT says.

This camera has great potential as I compare its' images to my images of 1200 sec from last night, but there is definitely room for improvement. I'm sure there will be exciting developments in the future..........Gunny

Sam@ZWO

Hi Gunny

sorry about this problem at first

do you mean you take off the cover of 1600 and found the PCB's fix screw is loose?