Fan vibration

Discussion in 'STX and STXL Series Cameras' started by CraigNZ, Mar 26, 2017.

  1. blackdragon72

    blackdragon72 Standard User

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    And is there any compatible low vibration fan in the market? I could try a different fan.
     
  2. Doug

    Doug Staff Member

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    The four black screws. The fan is retained inside the black housing using a foam-like material. The fan should be firmly held in place; if it is loose then it may move around and cause problems.
     
  3. chrisscottmaier

    chrisscottmaier Standard User

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    I had the same problem on a STX. I replaced it with the same fan to keep it the same but it vibrated also. I ended up using a piece of 1/2" thick Sorbothane and longer screws between the camera body and the fan. I cut the Sorbothane to resemble a gasket. It took out all the vibrations.
     
  4. blackdragon72

    blackdragon72 Standard User

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    Thanks!

    This does seem a common issue. Actually I joined a remote team and their 16803 started to show similar issue, and they suspected it was from fan too.

    I will give it a try. My last resort would be getting a low vibration fan.
     
  5. blackdragon72

    blackdragon72 Standard User

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    Doug,

    I will check again.

    Could you also provide the spec of the fan? I am looking for alternative on the market.
     
  6. Doug

    Doug Staff Member

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  7. Mason Steidle

    Mason Steidle Standard User

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    Sorry to bring this back from the dead, But I'm encountering the same issue with my STT camera. I could feel the vibration just by touching the filter wheel.

    I went ahead and replaced the fans, but the vibration is still affecting the image. I'm going to try the Sorbothane gasket to see if it resolves the issue.

    For context, my imaging train goes RC8 -> Moonlite Focuser (no extensions) -> CCDT67 -> STT8300 w/ FW8G, all connections are threaded. I assume i'm just hitting some sort of resonance.

    Ive attached images of the issue. These were both 1 second exposures, fan off and fan on.
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Sep 21, 2023
  8. Doug

    Doug Staff Member

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    You can try changing the fan speed. If the vibration drops then you are indeed hitting a resonance. Also you could try a sleeve bearing fan instead of a ball bearing fan; they don't last as long but they do produce less vibration. Or, you could try and sort out the mechanical resonance issue.

    I had an issue on my own telescope some years ago, when I needed a counterweight at the front of the scope (I couldn't just move the tube forward - it would hit something). It turned out the counterweight mount was a little too flexible. I beefed that up and the problem went away.
     
  9. Mike Hambrick

    Mike Hambrick Cyanogen Customer

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    Hi Mason

    Can you see what your camera cooler output is (in MaxIm it shows up in the camera status window) ? In my experience with my STXL camera, if the cooler output stays over 75% for more than a few minutes, the cooler fan kicks into high speed with the same effect as you are seeing on the image quality.

    As Doug says, you can manually clamp the cooler output, but I have never felt the need to do so. I just make sure that the temperature setpoint I am using is such that the cooler output stays at or below 70% at steady state.

    This is only a problem when the ambient temperature is above 20 Deg C and I am trying to cool the camera too much. My STXL camera will not cool below -35 Deg C, and someone once commented to me that there isn't any point in trying to go below this temperature anyway. In the winter, I can reach -35 Deg with the cooler running at about 50% output. In the late spring when the nighttime temperatures are in the 15 - 20 Deg C range, I can only get to about -33 Deg C with the cooler output at about 68%. In the summer when the ambient nighttime temperature in southeast Texas is 25 - 30 Deg C, I can't go much below -25 Deg C.

    Mike
     
  10. William B

    William B Cyanogen Customer

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    If you can find them in the appropriate size/ specification then have a look at the SUNON range of DR Maglev fans with VAPO bearings.

    That fan design employs an extra magnet to levitate the fan away from its bearings when running and the result is a very low vibration level.

    We employed that design of fan in some of our medical systems for use in operating theatres where low vibration, low noise and resistance to dust infiltration of the bearing was important.

    William.
     
  11. Mason Steidle

    Mason Steidle Standard User

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    Following up with this.

    I ended up buying a piece of .060" Sorbothane and fashioning gaskets for the fans. From my testing so far the vibrations are now unnoticeable when cooling to -30 at 60% fan speed. We will see if it lasts.
     
  12. Mike Hambrick

    Mike Hambrick Cyanogen Customer

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    Thanks for that suggestion Mason.
     

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