In 1990 I purchased a 17.5-inch Newtonian Telescope. Since that time my telescope has gone through a series of changes. I first changed the focuser, switching to a low-profile Astro-systems 2-inch focuser. Then I replaced the cardboard Sono-tube with a wooden octagon truss tube assembly that I designed. In 1995 I added digital encoders. In 1999 I made the dramatic leap of adding motorized gears using Mel Bartels computerized drive-scope system. The photos shown here were taken in 2002 while adding Byers gears to drive the altitude and azimuth axis. Several other improvements have been made such as adding new aluminum altitude bearings and putting stainless steel plating on the surface of the ground board giving the azimuth bearing a smoother surface to roll on. All the improvements mentioned were necessary for the telescope to perform well enough to do CCD imaging. As you can see, when I first built the scope, I controlled it with a desktop computer attached to the front of the azimuth rocker-box. In 2003 I started using a laptop computer connected by cable, and placed on a table, beside the telescope.

I want to give special recognition and appreciation to Edwin Bading (deceased) of Seguin, Texas.  In the early 2000's he helped me throughout the process of machining various parts to design and build the computer-controlled telescope as it is today.