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Unitron Drives
Model 128, 142, and 152 mounts.
Images of Model 128
This is a low cost solution for Unitron mount owners. Original drives are no longer available. You can now track and slew forward and reverse (RA only). This unit is plug and play, and has an accuracy of 95% (better than most commercially available drives). I hand craft and test each one. No modifications, no hassle. The bracket is insulated from the mount by Neoprene, so you can't scratch your mount.
"I have found that with a drive, one can really appreciate the quality of Unitron optics. In side by side comparisons, Unitron out-performed larger modern achromatic instruments on planetary viewing. No secondary color, velvet black background, simply amazing." T.C.
Key Benefits
 | Add tracking to your mount without modifications! |
| Use all original hardware to mount the drive! |
| Low-cost, fully-functional with hand paddle! |
Images of Model 142 and Model 152
Unitron bevel gear and RA knob connecters are machined to strict tolerances, insuring smooth rotation to the worm gear (no sloppy movement or binding). Our unique "Pipe" system on the four inch model has a bronze press-fit bushing. The spindle rotates smoothly and stays against the bevel gear. Each unit is fully adjustable in both axes and we provide you with all the necessary information for worm gear adjustment to insure smooth installation and operation. Finally, all of our brackets are anodized aluminum and all of the hardware is brass and stainless steel.
Clear skies!!
Tony Costanzo
Quotes:
The Unitron company was quite
unresponsive in my requests from a retrofitted drive. Your drive system provides
the solution I have been seeking for years. The FOV on M22 was .656 degrees or
about 40 arc minutes. This was achieved with a 12mm Nagler (82 deg.
apparent FOV) 1500mm (FL of scope) / 12mm eyepiece = 125X 82 deg. apparent FOV /
125X = .656 deg. true FOV (or about 40 arc minutes). The "SEDS" site
describes M22 as having an apparent dimension of 32.0 arc minutes (the 4"
aperture of the Unitron may not have quite shown the full extent of this
globular cluster). But, the point is that M22 almost filled the FOV, and the
cluster remained completely within the FOV for over an hour and a half.
Thanks again,
David Morgan
-------------------
Hello Tony,
Your Unitron drive arrived in perfect order. It is beautiful, much more than
what I was expecting! If I had the original AC drive, I would still replace it
with one of your drives, much preferring to have a battery-operated drive.
Thanks,
Barry Kawaguchi
Yokohama, Japan
-------------------
When I placed my order to Tony about a motor
drive for my 4" f/15 Unitron/Polarex refractor, I never thought I was going
to receive such incredible setup!
When I received the package in Spain after few days, I opened the box and I
found:
- Drive motor, bracket, spindle (pre-assembled)
- Hand controller and battery pack
- Bevel gear
Everything was very well protected. I unpackaged everything and following Tony's
instructions, it was very easy to install in my Unitron/Polarex mount. Just
touching 2 small screws in the base of the spindle shaft, I was able to
perfectly adjust the bevel gear and the pre-assembled drive interface.
I replaced the original battery pack with a small 6v 3.2Ah battery that fits
perfectly in the original black battery pack cover.
I was really very excited to test the new setup at night! So, before saying
goodbye to the sun, I started to prepare all the equipment. When I started to
see the Polar, I proceed with the Polar alignment and to power on the motor
drive. Then, it was time for the great test. I pointed to Betelgeuse and slowly,
I started to increase the current magnification until 250x. I centered the star
in my astrometric eyepiece (54º AFOV/250x = 0.216 deg = around 13 arc minutes)
and I started to wait. After more than 30 minutes, the star was in the field of
view! It was wonderful.
So, definitively, I can assure that this solution offered by Astronomy-Shoppe
is a great purchase. You will not be disappointed at all.
Thanks Tony for your continuous support. Congratulations for this amazing
product!
Best wishes,
Daniel Corredor
Moonfish Group
www.moonfishgroup.com
-------------------
Hi Tony,
The drive shaft arrived yesterday, Saturday, and it installed just fine.
It's a nice installation. You did well. Thanks,
Jack
The Complete drive Interface includes:
2.4 Interface: Motor and Hand paddle, mounting bracket, battery pack, extension and 90 degree gears. Directions for use and installation.
3.1 and 4 Interface: Motor and Hand paddle, mounting bracket, extension, battery pack and brass bevel gears. Directions for use and installation.
The Motor is mounted out of the way. ( Better than the original; you get a hand paddle, and the unit runs on a 6 volt battery pack).
Price Guide
Drives ship within two weeks, please specify if your mount is Polarex or Unitron if you not sure email me or check the following. Distance from RA knob to Mount Bolt center to center. (pictured below)