Dome Control

DomePro provides fully automated control of all types of telescope enclosures including: classic domes, clamshell domes and roll-off roof enclosures.

Fully automated control of all types of telescope enclosures

Classic domes

DomePro includes one module for controlling dome azimuth motors for rotation and a separate module (linked by wireless or cabled interface to the azimuth module) for controlling dome shutter motors.

Clamshell domes

DomePro is provided as one module that controls the two sides of the clamshell. Independent closure of either side to any arbitrary angle is provided.

Roll-off roof enclosures

DomePro is provided as one module that controls the roof, and in many cases, a gable door needed to provide telescope clearance.

As with all of our products, DomePro is a standards-based controller and supports the ASCOM dome interface.  DomePro provides operation from a PC and manual (no PC) operation from panel switches.

Integrated systems for Domes from Ash Manufacturing

Astrometric specializes in integrated drop-in control systems for domes from Ash Manufacturing.

Standard Ash Azimuth Module
Standard Ash Shutter Module
These systems include:
  • Electronics package in robust industrial enclosures using high-quality and reliable connectors and cables.
  • An azimuth module providing control of one or two azimuth motors (typically two for 18’ and above domes). Standard Ash AC induction motors are supported by default; however, for heavy use domes we recommend customers specify 3ph AC motors which DomePro then controls using variable frequency AC inverters to provide smooth acceleration/deceleration.
  • A shutter module providing control for upper and lower shutter motors. Power is provided to the shutter module via slip rings on the interior of the dome.  Communications between the shutter and azimuth modules is provided by a robust international ISM-band radio.
  • An optical encoder sensing rotation in azimuth.
  • A home index switch for azimuth initialization.
  • Weather safe and power fail inputs and a PC fail timeout for initiating emergency shutter closure.
  • A rich set of timeouts protecting against motor or other system component failures. Note: all timeouts are individually programmable and enablable.
  • Motor overload protection.
  • Versatile PC-based user interface software providing:
    • ASCOM compliance.
    • Slaving of dome azimuth position to telescope position.
    • Full-featured geometry model that provides accurate azimuth slaving for arbitrary telescope position within the dome. Accommodates German mount flip.

Integrated systems for non-Ash domes

The DomePro system provides extensive flexibility.  We have installed many dome control systems for non-standard Ash domes or non-Ash domes using a wide variety of pre-existing motors including AC induction motors, 3-phase AC motors, high-power servo or stepper azimuth motors, variable speed DC azimuth motors and solar powered DC shutter motors.  If you have application for controlling a dome that is not standard Ash then please contact us to discuss options… of which there are many.

Custom Azimuth Modules
Custom Shutter Module

Clamshell dome control

Recently (2nd half of 2016) Astrometric has shipped a number of control systems for Astrohaven clamshell domes.  For these installations we are using our new DomePro2 controller.  DomePro2 includes all of the great features of our DomePro line but is based off the same controller module present in our PrimeTCS telescope control product.  For Astrometric, this is a move towards standardizing our hardware platform across all product lines which will assure product availability (both new and replacement), no matter the function, far into the future.

DomePro2-c has the ability to independently control both clamshell shutters and set each shutter to its own unique angle.

Integrated systems for roll-off roof observatories

DomePro for roll-off roof observatories is provided as one module that controls the roof, and in many cases, a gable door needed to provide telescope clearance.

Controller components for custom dome applications

The base controller module included in our DomePro systems is available separately for customers who would like to build-out their own motors and mechanisms to move the dome components.

Since 2006 we have been selling our DomePro controller modules as stand-alone components.  In 2016 we started offering our new DomePro2 controllers which are based off the same controller module present in our PrimeTCS telescope control product.

 

DomePro controllers: 2006-2016

DomePro2 controller: 2016-onwards
(shown for clamshell domes below, DomePro2-d and DomePro2-r are available for classic domes and roll-off domes respectively).

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