Paramount ME User’s Guide
43
Balance Knobs
The Balance Knobs serve a dual purpose. When turned clockwise, they pull the worm
away from the gear, allowing free rotation of the axis so that the mount’s payload can be
balanced. When turned counterclockwise, they hold the worm into mesh with the gear,
preventing disengagement. The adjustment of this knob, discussed below, is
straightforward but very important.
Always be extremely careful when disengaging the worm from the
gear! If the mount is out of balance and not properly secured, you
could be injured, or your equipment could be damaged when the axis
rotates freely and the heavy end comes to rest at lowest point.
Figure 24: Turn the Balance Knobs clockwise (CW) to disengage, and counterclockwise (CCW) to
engage the worm.
Disengaging the Worm
To disengage the worm for balancing, make sure you’ve secured the mount by grasping the
counterweight shaft, and then turn the Balance Knob clockwise about 1-1/2 turns. The
axis can now rotate freely. The worm will remain disengaged until you re-engage it by
rotating the knob in the counterclockwise direction. Before letting go of the counterweight
shaft, verify that you have completely disengaged the worm from the gear by very slightly
moving the counterweight shaft. Any resistance to rotation means that the worm is not
fully disengaged.
Engaging the Worm
To engage right ascension axis worm with the gear, first make sure that the axis is
balanced properly. Then firmly grasp the counterweight shaft with one hand while turning
the RA Balance Knob counterclockwise until you feel the worm and gear make contact.
Gently wiggle the right ascension axis using the counterweight shaft to be sure the worm
is actually seated into the gear. Again, turn the knob counterclockwise to a full stop.
Once the knob has been rotated counterclockwise to a full stop, rotate it clockwise about
one knob click (that is, 1/10 of a turn). This holds the worm very close to the gear and
does not allow separation if the mount is out of balance. It also does not force the worm
against the gear, which can bind the servomotors.
Note that internal spring plungers on the worm gears apply the actual force that holds the
worm into the gear. That is, the balance knobs’ purpose is to disengage the worm from the
gear and to keep the worm block assembly from disengaging from the gear. The Balance
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