StellarDrive X 6R Pro

DARKFRAME StellarDrive X™ 6R  (EQ6-R)

(Stated price is for upgrade to customers own mount) New EQ6-R's are also available with this build type.

Tech Spec -
Imaging Payload: 25kg (OEM stock =18.3kg) Tracking: 0.16-0.4 ArcSec RMS over 4+hours*
Imaging Payload Range: Up 12" f4 Newtonian, 130-140mm APO Refractor, 8" RASA/10"-11" SCT

*multiple customer data

Our StellarDrive X™ rebuild is the transformational iteration of an EQ6-R/Pro mount and supercedes the 6R ULTRA in many respects. The ULTRA differs with lapped and hobbed gears, which is part of an 18 hour operation. 

Take one Celestron CGEMII cast body, beef up the base with bigger M20 bolts cure to the NEQ6 issues, and use the same gears. Add belt drive from the AZEQ6GT motors and motherboard, and there you have it  - the new SkyWatcher EQ6-R.

Alledgedly, a more accurate evolution of the ubiquitous EQ6, but with the RA encoder from the AZEQ6GT, which does slightly improve things as a stock mount. The stock EQ6-R for imaging 18kg. Our re-engineering takes this up to 25KG. It means that you can guide 140mm triplets at 0.4 ArcSec RMS for hours at a time, and often lower when conditions permit, of course. It also runs approximately 30% smoother than a ZWO AM5 with a similar payload, according to a customer that has both mounts.

Check out how our StellarDrive X™ 6R/Pro mounts compares in our performance charts.

Our tuning methodology provides a more detailed approach, using higher performance lubricants that help the mount perform better, which have been tested extensively over several years. 

As part of the StellarDrive X ™ rebuild, we now also upgrade the main DEC and RA axis bearings with our own treated versions. Our all new indexed ESSE2 lubricant pack adds smoothness and longevity over our previous builds. We also include new (threadlocked) stainless steel bolts and screws to make your mount factory fresh. We also upgrade the rubber belts to the poly ones used in the Rowan Belt Kit for better longevity. It is a very comprehensive upgrade.
 

StellarDrive X™ 6-R Series Notes:

The stock EQ6-R mount typically runs at 20-30 arcsecs from new unguided in independent tests. Once tuned and rebuilt our mounts run circa ±5 arcsecs peak to peak often lower, and circa 0.16-0.4 arcsecs RMS guided is often reported by our customers under load. 

Our Build Type for StellarDrive™ X is now to Atacama v6.1.3, or v6.1.5 for our HD version for longer optical telescope assemblies, or form demanding imaging pixel scales below 0.7 ArcSec.

The proven RA/DEC StellarDrive SPX™ worm-gears just spin freely when upgraded with our new treated and tested Hybrid Ceramic bearings. We replace the main 6 axis bearings with our own treated items and precisely re-hone the RA casting cut-away. This provides our StellarDrive 6R with stictionless perfected balance, so you can achieve perfect tracking. The DEC is equally free, and rotates unaided due to the mass of the knobs on the clamp.

As with our tuned EQ6's, periodic error has been reduced to ±5 arcsecs or lower, and closely matches the previous the StellarDrive 6R ULTRA™ (Uyuni 6.2.x) performance envelope. This is without the lapping and hobbing we used to do. This will result in a super low guiding error of just circa 0.16-0.25 arc-seconds RMS under PHD2 (weather permitting). It's dependable enough to be used for remote imaging, and serves as such in several observatories.

A StellarDrive X™ Mount also sports Hydrogen Red  Levers. It also comes with new product badges and a Upgrade Certificate and unique serial number. 

Other customer supplied examples are available upon request.

E&OE - Mount Build Specification and components used subject to change without notice. Example EQ mount tracking performance is not guaranteed, and is subject to the age and condition of the Donor Mount. Re-build price does not include the mount.