10MICRON

Astro • technology

About Us

Aerial view of COMEC Company (10Micron) building with solar panels on its flat roof, an adjacent building with a curved roof and a parking lot. Residential and industrial buildings, train tracks, and greenery are in the background.

10Micron is a globally recognized brand in high-precision, premium astronomical mounts.

We are the Specialized division of COMEC Technology, an Italian company leader in precision mechanics. Our division was founded in the year 2000 to fuse a bold passion for astronomy and science with decades of robust mechanical and electrical engineering.

It was this deep-rooted knowledge, defined by a constant drive for innovation and quality, that provided the foundations for our Mission to design and produce pointing and tracking systems for the most demanding applications, supporting astronomers, scientific institutions, and the aerospace industry worldwide.

More about COMEC history here.

Production facility

A person operating a CNC machine, looking at a tablet with technical drawings and the machine's control panel with a display showing a 3D model of a part.

The unparalleled performance and reliability of 10Micron mounts are the direct result of our manufacturing ecosystem.

We operate within a 2,500 square-meter production facility: a fully certified Industry 4.0 plant where an advanced core of 13 CNC machines translates designs into reality. Also, our entire production cycle is digitalized, thanks to our latest-generation Management system, which ensures complete traceability.

Quality is part of our mission. To guarantee absolute, measurable precision, our dedicated Metrology Room features a certified Mitutoyo Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM) for Quality Control, alongside a full suite of millesimal-grade instruments, that validates every component.

More about COMEC facility here.

Close-up of a metal workpiece being machined by a CNC lathe machine in a workshop.

Interested in learning about our history, evolution, and achievements? Explore the milestones by viewing the complete timeline below.

OUR LOGO

The logo, designed by Founder Mariotti Ivan, embodies our core philosophy. The three-star trajectory symbolizes our commitment to precision guiding, while the brand name references the 10-micrometer precision once required for astrophotographic plates; a symbolic standard, now exceeded by our technology.

OUR HISTORY

1968

It all began in the early 1960s when the Mariotti brothers, driven by a family passion for mechanics, founded a small artisan workshop. Over time, the business consolidated, and thanks to their strong dedication, COMEC was officially established.

DISCOVER COMEC HISTORY

2000

Under the leadership of the new generation of the Mariotti family, the company makes a strategic leap into the technical-scientific sector. Leveraging its mechanical expertise combined with a passion for astronomy, it launches the 10Micron division.

2001

Following intensive research and development, the flagship GM2000 mount, equipped with the advanced FS2 control system, is successfully commercialized. This introduction set a new benchmark for precision Go-To performance and tracking capabilities.

2003

The proprietary QCI technology is introduced, revolutionizing our mounts. This partial closed-loop system integrates high-quality servo motors with dedicated encoders, replacing traditional stepper technology. QCI drastically improves tracking accuracy, motion quality and speed, powered by sophisticated on-board intelligent drive logic.

2004

The strategic European partnership with Baader Planetarium accelerated the adoption of our technology. Simultaneously, the powerful GM4 QCI Mount was introduced, extending the benefits of our QCI system to heavier professional and advanced instruments with its increased payload capacity.

2007

The Altazimuth (AZ) form factor was introduced, expanding our high-precision mounts into versatile new applications. Also, these years were defined by significant investment in software development, resulting in advanced integration and control logic.

2011

We reshaped the market with the revolutionary High Precision and Speed (HPS) technology. We became the first manufacturer in the general astronomy market to introduce high-resolution absolute encoders directly on both axes, establishing a fully closed-loop system. The GM2 was the first mount to receive this upgrade, initiating an evolution of the entire product line.

2013

The commercial launch of the GM1 and GM3 models completed the HPS product line. This strategic expansion scaled our absolute encoder technology to cover all low and intermediate payload capacities.

2014

The HPS 2 series was introduced, featuring a complete redesign for our first mounts. This meant component re-engineering, resulting in a noticeably stiffer, more rigid, and premium product line. The launch also marked the evolution of our electronic control system and drive technologies.

2016

We began intensive research and prototyping for the next-generation Direct Drive System (DDS). This advanced motion control focused on integrating powerful direct drive motors with sophisticated magnetic control systems, laying the foundation for future mount designs with zero backlash, extreme precision, and responsiveness.

2018

After years of acquired knowledge, we commercialized our first DDS product: the high-precision AZ5000 Fork Mount. Following this evolution, development immediately began on the larger AZ6000 and AZ8000 models, expanding the instrumentation capacity.

2021

Furthering our commitment to innovation, the AZ2500 T-Shape Mount was introduced. This specialized product represents a critical evolution of our DDS line, strategically positioning 10Micron for new applications in the aerospace and advanced spatial tracking sectors.

2022

Driven by the third generation of Mariotti leadership, our company completed its digital transformation. This effort included implementing advanced Industry 4.0 standards and establishing a new Quality Control Area featuring a CMM (Coordinate Measuring Machine). This strategic investment firmly positions the company for scalable growth and future innovation.

Today

10Micron stands as a solid, innovation-driven company, leveraging proprietary technology and advanced production systems.

Our deep mechanical heritage, combined with a total commitment to organizational excellence and verifiable quality, guarantees premium precision products for the world’s most specialized and demanding astronomical and spatial applications.

EXPLORE OUR TECHNOLOGY