| In addition to RoboFocus, Technical
Innovations offers a line of observatory domes and
automation equipment.
The following observatory product offerings from
Technical Innovations can be viewed in more detail at
www.homedome.com
OBSERVATORY DOMES:
Six Foot Domes - The six foot
diameter Home-Dome observatory offers all the
convenience and protection of large observatories,
but in a limited space. Its small size, (HD6S),
allows installation on almost any building or
structure, and is less imposing in communities where
neighbors have concerns about the view of your
property. The dome sits on a 9" high base ring, for
a total height of 3' 10". The HD6S is strong, but
very light weight, and can be mounted on a
rectangular or circular skirt to simplify the
transition to the structure The stand-alone
version, (HD6T), with an inside height off 6 foot 10
inches, provides ample room for the pier/scope while
fitting within most residential structure height
restrictions. The HD6T comes with a 45" high wall
and full access door. Additional floor space can be
added with one or more "computer cubbies" molded
into the wall sections. Both the HD6S and HD6T have
a 74" diameter dome with a 30" wide slot opening and
a two piece, up-and-over shutter . Although compact,
the 6' dome will easily accommodate a pier mounted
12" SCT, with space for you and a guest.
Ten Foot Domes - Available in two models,
the lower cost HD10 is designed primarily for
on-structure installation, while the PD10 can be
used either as a stand-alone dome on a structure.
Both the HD10 and PD10 can accommodate most Schmidt-Cassegrain
telescopes up to 16", and Newtonians, on German
Equatorial Mounts, also up to 16" diameter. Built to
the same high standard, both the HD10 and PD10 have
a 5 foot high dome made up of two pairs of
"quadrants" bolted together along interior flanges.
The dome sits on a 12' high base ring that
incorporates the high quality, sealed ball
bearing rollers for dome rotation. A reverse flange
at the top of the base ring covers the roller area
and keeps the dome safe from wind and weather
elements. The shutter opening is a generous 36"
wide, extending up to the zenith, and 16" beyond.
Two shutters open by sliding up and over the dome,
then nest together outside the dome rear cover. As
in all of our observatories, two integral, automatic
latches lock the shutter together for security and
wind protection when closed. Coupled with the
included wind restraint system, the domes have been
engineer tested for winds in excess of 110 mph. The
PD10 also includes a molded semi-door section (which
integrates with wall ring sections to provide full
height entrance), additional rollers, soffits,
and a key-operated, custom deadbolt lock assembly
for security. Wall height of the PD10 can be
increased by adding matching 12" high wall rings,
each with a molded door section. Because no part of
the ten foot dome weighs more than 50 pounds, it is
easy to assemble without the use of cranes, even on
top of high structures. As with our other dome
designs, the HD10 and PD10 must be mounted on a
foundation or other solid support structure.
Fifteen Foot Domes - The fifteen foot
diameter PD15 observatory will accommodate all but
the very largest amateur and professional
telescopes, (with associated equipment), and
provides room for group use of the observatory. The
PD15 uses the same proven design as the PD10
observatory. A unique feature of the PD15 is the 36"
wide semi-door entrance which meets requirements for
access by disabled persons. The PD15 dome is made up
of four quadrants, bolted together along internal
flanges. The slot opening is 48" wide, with 24"
available past the zenith. The shutter is an
up-and-over two piece, automatic latching system.
The shutters nest on the rear of the dome when
opened. The PD15 includes an electric
drive shutter system and electric dome drive motors.
Wall height of the PD15 can be increased by adding
matching 12" high wall rings. A PD15 with three wall
rings will allow a 6 foot tall person to stand
against the inside wall without obstruction. This
observatory dome can also be installed either at
ground level on its own foundation, or be mounted on
a roof-top, tower or custom structure. The 4" wide
base ring bottom flange can be bolted to nearly any
foundation. The dome turns on 58 precision, seal
ball bearing rollers, mounted on the 12" high base
ring. The standard PD15 will meet all but the most
stringent code requirements. Where needed, minor
modifications can be made to meet special
requirements.
RoboDome - The first small, affordably
priced, completely robotic observatory introduced to
today's astronomy marketplace. The RoboDome is
shipped fully assembled and ready to setup and
install telescope. The dome is fully motorized and
includes all hardware and software needed to
remotely open and close the shutter, rotate the
dome, and slave the dome to telescope position.
Communication between the control room and
observatory can be via RS232 cable, phone, network
or internet. The RoboDome is secure against leaks,
withstands winds over 100mph, needs no external
hardware, and requires little or no maintenance. The
shutter opening is a wide 24", with clear views from
the horizon to 5" beyond zenith, and can accommodate
telescopes and mounts up to a 10" SCT.
DOME OPTIONS and ACCESSORIES:
Electric Dome Drive Systems - All
Technical Innovation observatories can be equipped
with electric drive systems (12vDC) to open/close
the shutter and rotate the Dome. (The PD15 and
RoboDome come standard with electric motor drive
systems).
Custom Colors - All Technical Innovations
observatories can be produced in nearly any color.
The user provides a color sample (paint chips are an
easy source), which will be computer analyzed for
pigment addition to the standard resin and gel-coat
materials used to product the "fiberglass" sections
of the dome. This provides color throughout the
material and thus is not a "coat" that would require
maintenance.
Pre-Assembly Service - Pre-assembly is
available for all Technical Innovations domes and
equipment. This service costs an additional 15%, and
includes everything ordered. A pre-assembly
specialist will completely assemble, (and test as a
"working observatory), your dome at the plant prior
to crating for shipment. All holes will of course be
properly located and drilled, and as many items as
possible, (while still allowing safe shipping), will
be left in place. All seams are carefully marked and
assembly notes posted where beneficial. Final
assembly is significantly simplified and the time to
do final construction greatly reduced when the
pre-assembly option is chosen.
Security Systems - Security features, such
as deadbolt lock assemblies, which are standard
items on some domes, are available as options on all
others. Technical Innovations is happy to work with
buyers, on an individual basis, to identify security
needs and help development a security plan to be put
into place.
OBSERVATORY AUTOMATION:
Dome Works - All Technical Innovation
observatories can be equipped with our Dome Works
package to rotate the Dome in conjunction with
telescope movement. It is a family of instruments
that allow local remote control of your dome's
rotation. Because it will work with any scope and
requires no computer connection, Dome Works may
offer you the right level of automation at a
moderate cost. Dome Works does not provide shutter
control, but does provide both rotation control and
azimuth data back to the user. Dome Works is made up
of three components: Dome-Trak -
Uses infrared beams to sense whether the shutter
opening is in front of the scope. If it is not, a
microprocessor operates relays to turn the dome to
the correct position; Dome-Go - Hand
control to manually operate relays and rotate dome.
May be used with cabling up to 400 feet away;
Dome-Dial - Uses a special sensor to measure
the azimuth position of the dome, which is then sent
to a digital display unit. This unit can also be
placed at distances up to 400 feet. Push buttons on
the display operate the Dome-Go function.
Digital Dome Works - Digital Dome Works
meets the astronomers need for an easy to use, low
price system that automates all functions of the
dome through a computer connection - either direct
wired or via remote communications. Digital Dome
Works (DDW), includes PC based software that
presents all control and operating data to the user.
DDW includes dozens of services for the user, both
inside the observatory or at a remote location. Foe
example, a "smart" hand control inside the
observatory, allows the user to turn dome slaving
on/off or return the dome to the home position and
close the shutter with a single button push.
Built-in interlock features automatically close the
dome if communication links are broken, or after a
fixed time if you end the session but forget to
close down the dome. In fact, DDW will even shut off
the drive on many telescopes when the dome closes,
thus protecting against "wire wrapping".
The DDW control module, located inside the
observatory, contains two microprocessors which
control the observatory motors, sensors and other
devices. The control unit connects via an RS232
communications line to the controlling personal
computer running the DDW Control Program, (DDWCP).
The DDWCP is included in the DDW System package and
includes access to all future versions and updates
at no additional cost. The DDWCP source code is
"open" and available to any DDW owner for custom
modifications and interfaces. DDWCP now also
includes a complete set of external ASCOM drivers
and selected "plug-ins". The control program
provides a "human" interface with a complete set of
command buttons ("OPEN", "HOME", "GO TO", "SLAVE TO
TELESCOPE", etc.) and visual displays of
dome/telescope positions, shutter status, and
operation progress. A "SHOW DATA" feature displays
data streams of al input/output commands and data
responses. A complete configuration sub-systems
allows user input compensation data for factors such
as observatory location, pier positioning,
telescope/mount type, and other software package
interface.
A weather monitoring interface allows DDW to
inform user of current remote weather conditions,
and to support interlocks to prevent observatory
operation in bad weather. Other remote operation
add-ons to DDW include the Remote Power Module,
Auto-Reboot Module, and of course the RoboFocus
System.
|
