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NexDome 2.2m Dome Rotation Kit, Installation And Operation Manual

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NexDome 2.2m Dome Rotation Kit Installation And Operation Manual Download Page 12

    

NEXDOME OBSERVATORIES                                                                                      NEXDOME.COM 

 

                                                                                                                                              

Page 12

 

 

 
 
 

Updating the firmware 
 

The rotator ships with the latest version of the firmware already installed. If newer versions 
become available, you can easily update your unit using the Arduino IDE software that you 
have already installed. The new firmware will be available through a link on the SUPPORT 
webpage (

https://www.nexdome.com/support

). Download the NexDome.ino file 

(

https://github.com/grozzie2/NexDome/tree/master/arduino/NexDome

) and open it using the 

Arduino IDE software. To upload it to the controller, simply press the button on the toolbar (fig 
11). The file will be compiled and uploaded to the controller. Remember to have the USB cable 
plugged in, the power cord does not need to be attached for firmware upgrades. 

 

Figure 11:Firmware upload to Arduino. Simply press the upload button after opening the file with the software.

 

Summary of Contents for 2.2m Dome Rotation Kit

Page 1: ...NEXDOME OBSERVATORIES NEXDOME COM Page 1 NexDome 2 2m Dome Rotation Kit Installation and Operation Manual ...

Page 2: ...lot Press firmly while unrolling the tape Once the tape is in place remove the protective strip from the outside Fig 1 Figure 1 Install the double sided tape as in A and remove the protective cover strip B Next install the gear track by unrolling the track while simultaneously and firmly pressing it into place along the tape Fig 2 TIPS The provided double sided tape works best with applying pressu...

Page 3: ...ition the motor unit with the gear in the middle of track and mark the hole positions on the wall post Drill the 516 bit Mount the motor unit with the bolts provided Fig 3 Figure 3 Motor unit mounted If you do not plan on using software to control the dome rotation you are done The dome can be rotated with the toggle switch TIP Use the pressure knob on the motor bracket to adjust the distant betwe...

Page 4: ... plugs into the motor controller The wire for the switch can be run under the wall lip and be held in place with tape You can test the placement of the magnet and switch with a voltmeter Place the leads of the voltmeter on the jack terminals Rotate the dome The switch will close when the magnet gets close If the switch doesn t close the gap is too large and it will be necessary to put a spacer und...

Page 5: ...t was shipped with the latest version of NexDome firmware but if you need to update to the latest version for Windows the link is available on the SUPPORT page at NexDome com https www nexdome com support Download the software that you need and read the included readme txt files for valuable installation instructions TIP Use administrator level permissions on your computer when installing Arduino ...

Page 6: ...Telescope Handset dome control freeware for these instructions ASCOM POTH is a Windows based program Other control software are setup in a similar manner You can download POTH from here http www ascom standards org Downloads There are two things that must be done before dome rotation will work correctly The first is calibration This tells the software how many steps of the motor are required to tu...

Page 7: ...d click on setup Next click on Dome and then Choose Dome The ASCOM Dome Chooser window will open Select NexDome from the dropdown list Click on the Properties button and select the COM Port that was assigned to the Arduino controller click OK Figure 6 POTH Scope and Dome control hub window ...

Page 8: ...nect button and a new control window will open Fig 8 Press the home button and the dome should start to rotate It will stop when the magnetic switch and magnet align Note the real life azimuth position of the dome slit not what s on the screen and enter this value in Home azimuth field ...

Page 9: ...mpute the number steps the drive makes to move the dome a specified number of degrees The last thing that is required in setup is to tell the computer where the scope is in relation to the dome slit This geometry is used to compute the position of the scope and slit relative to each other The measurements needed are taken from the center of the dome and reflect the telescope rotational axis Fig 9 ...

Page 10: ...ill be returned to the control window The position of the dome should reflect the home values you entered earlier If not go back and enter the real life azimuth value again in the home azimuth box Fig 18 Also sync the dome to this value on the main control screen Fig 10 You can now move the dome to any azimuth by entering the value and pressing the GoTo button Fig 20 ...

Page 11: ...sted here as well Move the shutter to the azimuth the scope is set to enter this value in the window and press Sync The scope and dome are now linked and will move together if the track and slave dome boxes are checked Note because the telescope is offset from the rotational axis and the dome axis there may be times when the dome slit and scope pointing don t align If you find this to be the case ...

Page 12: ...UPPORT webpage https www nexdome com support Download the NexDome ino file https github com grozzie2 NexDome tree master arduino NexDome and open it using the Arduino IDE software To upload it to the controller simply press the button on the toolbar fig 11 The file will be compiled and uploaded to the controller Remember to have the USB cable plugged in the power cord does not need to be attached ...

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