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Welcome to DarkFrame Ltd
£0.00

DarkFrame services and rebuilds existing Equatorial and Alt-Az Mounts and Telescopes to a much higher level of performance. This provides some of the most accurately tracking rebuilt mounts available, that offer fluid balance and full payload sub-arcsecond capability. By engineering tighter tolerances into these mounts, we make high-end reliability affordable, meaning you can spend the money you saved on other equipment like telescopes and better imaging cameras. With our in-house design and CNC engineering capability we have the ability to produce our own Astronomy products from the ground up, with components and materials sourced locally in the UK.

Building your own range of Telescopes and Mounts with this level of commitment and background brings something innovative to the UK Amateur Astronomy scene and drives change.

Over the past eight years we have ignited a revolution in mount tuning and lead the way in mount tuning worldwide. With over forty mount types to date, we offer the broadest range of telescope mount tuning in the world. We have become the worlds number one mount rebuilder, by volume and published performance.

Through HantsAstro, which is the largest astronomy group in the South of England and with over 300 members, we have a real-world presence too. We are Astronomers, not just engineers. We like to meet and we like to help. Our business is just an extension of that ethos and commitment to support over the past 15 years to the Group.

Our advice is genuinely impartial, as it's based around the experience of the broadest range of imaging equipment you can think of which is data based, not theory. 


About who we work with


We have a great relationship with all our chosen suppliers and we act as an extension of their business. That means the highest level of knowledge, service and support. We are not box-shifters and like to take our time with customers. We care about the products we sell and provide feedback and reviews to improve them. This feedback helps to improve and help create better products because we are Astronomers, just like you.

All of our supplied equipment is covered by either a 6 month to 2 year manufacturers warranty. We either refund, repair or replace if found faulty, it's as simple as that. The majority of our repairs where possible are done on site to save you time.

Because of our customer base worldwide, our Export Service means that we check all items and even update firmware. It's reassuring to know that it'll all work when it arrives to you, isn't it? We regularly ship to main EU countries, such as France, Spain and Germany. We also have HEQ5, EQ6-R and EQ8 customers in colder climates such as Nordic countries, so often will spec the mount to our 'Nordic Build' the mounts so they can be used down to -20º Celsius without issue. For hotter climates we also provide a proven 'Tropic' build for use of +25C to ensure superior subarcsecond reliability.


So who are we?

David Woods and Sharon Rose set up HantsAstro in 2008 and have been running it ever since to become the largest membership based astronomy group in the South East. We have proven that we are committed to providing a great astronomy experience, and now with the equipment we use too! Dave also teaches Astrophotography as well as being an active STEAM Ambassador. Sharon's 30+ years experience in customer services, translates into a huge asset from being HantsAstro's Membership Secretary into DarkFrame's customer service and logistics manager -  Our returns rate on all mounts serviced, tuned or repaired worldwide is less than 2% since we started, perhaps the best in the astronomy industry. We also have an electronics specialist with over 40 years experience to add to our growing support requirements. 

 

Our Thinking


You'll save more money in the long run starting with a better telescope and mount which is what we found after running the Group for a while. Many people start off with a cheap telescope (and sometimes truly nasty!) mount, which works OK, but we 
know they quickly wanted to upgrade leaving them with a scope/mount that often ended up in the loft!

Isn't it easier (and cheaper long term) to buy something that you won't outgrow in the first place, and is upgradeable? Well you can, and it will provide you an easier and more rewarding pastime from the start. Tuning mounts saves you money by improving balance, payload and tracking, so you don't need to upgrade if you want to go for longer exposures. It also makes the mount perform more reliably, so you dont waste lost data or time. You can just get on with taking images. We the weather we have been having over the past few years, getting the most of every clear night is a must!

That's why we are also now offering servicing and tuning of your mount, to protect your investment and help you get the best out of your setup, be it for observing or imaging.

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DarkFrame History

Formed in 2008, DarkFrame Ltd was originally setup as an astro-imaging photo-agency specialist based around the experiences gained from involvement with HantsAstro. This has since evolved to become a engineering solution provider, from component development including servicing and mount tuning. We can take your existing EQ Mount, such as a Sky-Watcher HEQ5 or EQ6 and refurbish it to provide up to three time better peak-to-peak periodic error performance! We can also make mount quieter too, making they whole experience more of a pleasure!

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Since August 2014, Dave started professionally tuning iOptron, Celestron and Sky-Watcher mounts and modifying telescopes, starting out with his own Celestron CG5-GT, and a modded Altair Astro 200mm ƒ4 Imaging Newtonian. From there he has acquired a broad range of CNC/CAD micro-engineering skills and experience in Tribology, the science of friction surfaces and lubrication. With fully equipped workshops, equipped with milling/drilling machines and ultra-precise lathes, DarkFrame can rapid prototype new components at will, as well as experiment with new engineering processes.

This innovation and development of the new very high precision StellarDrive-SPX™ worm-gears and low friction components in 2017 utilised for a range of new StellarDrive™ mounts,  DarkFrame is now the most successful mount tuner in in the industry, and mount remanufacturer, exporting to over 50 countries across the globe.

Our internal project for 2023-24 is 'Vitesse', which is all about a much faster turnaround. 2023 sees all mount production speeding up, with over 80% of the smaller entry-level mounts going through the Workshop in 10 working days from July 2023.  Also, with further development of our three computerised SIDAC Test rigs, we can work on faster turnarond for larger mounts, and diagnostics for more complex tracking issues. The modelling we now have based on 80,000 hours of PHD2 data, means we can very accurately predict any payload/tuned mount combination from test output values.


How to find Us

We are very easy to find in Clanfield, Hampshire, and just off the A3 just south of Butser Hill on the South Downs. Because we are not a retail shop (but have a home-based workshop in an refurbished stable block as registered business premises) and are located under Mag 20.8 dark skies, where we can do more mount development than at an industrial unit. Mount drop-off and collection is available by appointment only.

 



Is our web-store secure?

All data submitted through our store is encrypted and is completely secure. Our Checkout is SSL enabled as soon as you click 'checkout'! All payments are processed securely by third-party processors, such as PayPal and no billing details are ever stored or forwarded. You can be assured of your complete transaction security at all times. We also take cash/bank transfer.

We can also take secure credit card payments on site and at shows, courtesy of iZettle® AB 

Thanks for visiting and we look forward to your call, e-mail or visit! :)

DarkFrame Limited (est. September 2008)  
Co. Reg. 0676374    VAT Reg. No. GB 209 9868 55
11 Drift Road, Clanfield, Hampshire, UK  PO8 0JJ