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Stars tracker by pchretien is licensed under the Attribution - Share Alike - Creative Commons license.
© 2011 by pchretien
Instructions
This still is a work in progress. I'll post the source files, a video and more detailed instructions later ...
1 - Print all 5 stl files
2 - Press fit a 1/4" nut in the bottom of the hinge6.stl part
3 - Press fit two 608 ball bearings in the hinge6.stl part
4 - Insert the 1" long 3/8" bolt in the hinge5.stl part
5 - Insert the alignment scope tube in the hinge5.stl part
6 - Press fit two 608 ball bearings in the hinge5.stl part
7 - Attach the wheel to one end of the 1/4" filted rod using two 1/4" nuts and the butterfly 1/4" nut
8 - Screw the cylindrical lock screw on the 1/4" threaded rod
9 - Screw the ball of the ball joint to the other end of the 1/4" filted rod
10 - Screw hinge6.stl and headdown.stl to the 12" long 3/8" filted rod. There must be 11.5" between the center of the bearing and the center of the slot where the cylindrical lock nut will be inserted.
11 - Screw hinge5.stl and the ball join head to the 13" long 3/8" filted rod. Make sure there is 11.5" between the center of the bearing and the center of the ball join hole.
12 - Insert the 1/4" rod assembly into the headdown.stl piece. The cylindrical lock nut should snap in place.
13 - Attach both 3/8" assemblies together using the M6x8 shoulder bold.
14 - Snap the ball join head on the ball join ball.
To start shooting follow these instructions:
1 - Attach a camera tripod heat to the stars tracker using the 1" long 3/8" bolt.
2 - Mount the stars tracker on a tripod using the 1/4 nut on the bottom of the hinge5.stl part
3 - Ajust the tripod so that the celestial north pole appear in the center of the alignment scope tube.
4 - Point your camera to your subject and start the exposition.
5 - Turn the wheel 1/4 turn clock wise every 15 seconds until the end of the exposure.
I suggest starting with 2 minutes exposures at more than 800 ASA.