Project:
Nikon D800 for astrophotography ?

Contents:

1. Nikon D800 overview
2. Adapter Nikon to Pentax 645
3. Lid, Dove tail, Tube ring
4. Focuser mechanism, driver
5. Off-axis guide camera
6. Computer module and DC/DC converter
7. DC/DC general triple converters
8. Main bracket
9. Wiring & USB-HUB
10. Test with Windows and APT
11. First Light
12. Balance system
13. Nikon vs Canon, Pentax FA vs Pentax
14. Tilt adjuster
15. KStars/INDI setup for Nikon
16. To be continued

Note:
I take no responsibility or liability for what are written here, you use the information on your own risk!

12: Balance system

With my new astrophotographing system I saved 1.7 kg on the lens and camera setup. With that I also can reduce the counter balance by 2.5 kg. In total I save 4.2 kg, that's a lot when I travel out in the night to dark places.

Latest look of the equipment:

I replace my single 5 kg balance weight with something lighter. Couldn't find where to buy any so I took some of the weights from the exercise equipment, nobody use it anyway. One problem, the shaft has a diameter of 19 mm, these balance weights has a hole of 26 mm. I had to design and 3D-print a reducer to have them to fit. I need three weights, two 1 kg and one 0.5 kg.

It must sit safe on the mount, if they fall down something can broke.

I had to pull the shaft all the way out to have the system in balance with these low weight balances.

It take a bit more space when the shaft protrude like this. But out in the nature I have all space I need. It's only on this HEQ5 mount I have these low weight balances. On my home system with an EQ6 I have the normal single 5 kg weight, the weight doesn't matter in that case.

The bottom side, here is the stepper motor with the tangent arm that control the focus. It works very well, low backlash, low friction and it doesn't take much space.