GM3000 HPS

PRODUCT OVERVIEW

The GM3000 HPS is a heavy-duty German Equatorial mount, designed specifically for permanent observatory installations where uncompromising stability meets high-load capacity. This "Go-to" system integrates 10Micron’s exclusive HPS technology, featuring absolute on-axis encoders and high-performance brushless motors to deliver elite tracking and pointing accuracy. Our sky modeling eliminates the need for autoguiding, reducing setup complexity, weight, and costs while enabling tracking where guide stars are critical or unavailable.

This mount serves as a bridge between advanced amateur astrophotography and institutional research, ensuring that even the most complex optical systems are operated with absolute precision.

Heritage and Vision

First introduced in 2013 as the fourth mount in the 10Micron lineup, the GM3000 HPS was developed from listening to our customers, specifically developed to bridge the critical gap between portable setups and massive observatory mounts. This model carries forward the brand’s pride in "Made in Italy" quality and mechanical excellence, representing an innovative evolution that has become one of the most successful and trusted platforms for its exceptional weight-to-performance ratio.

Applications and Targets

Designed for the most demanding environments, the GM3000 HPS is the ideal solution for remotized observation sites and professional research facilities. It is perfectly suited for high-end astrophotographers, university institutes, and institutional users engaged in astronomical scientific research. Whether the mission involves exoplanet monitoring, satellite tracking, or deep-sky imaging, this platform provides the reliability and autonomous management required for critical spatial applications.

Payload and Setup

With an instrument payload capacity of 100 kg (220 lb), excluding counterweights, the GM3000 HPS is built to support substantial instrumentation. It is ideally paired with large-aperture optics, such as 200 mm diameter refractors, 300 mm Newton reflectors, or 450 mm Cassegrains. This flexibility allows users to host a wide array of optical tube sizes and configurations, maintaining peak performance under heavy load conditions.

Motion and Mechanical Engineering

At the heart of its movement is our exclusive HPS technology, which utilizes a traditional, high-precision worm-gear system paired with high-performance motor drives and absolute encoders mounted directly on the axes. The mount achieves zero-backlash, through a timing belt reduction system, and slewing speeds of up to 20°/sec. The system continuously monitors and corrects motion at a 1/10 arcsecond resolution, ensuring near-perfect tracking free from mechanical error.

A key mechanical advantage for remote operators is the integrated internal cable routing, which allows instrumentation cables to pass through the axes, effectively eliminating the risk of entanglement or damage during slewing.

Advanced Control and Connectivity

The system is powered by the Control Box, featuring a new high-end processor and industrial-grade Binder connectors for extreme environmental resilience. It includes a specialized GPS interface with a PPS signal for ultra-precise timekeeping, essential for satellite work. Users can operate the mount via the ergonomic, heated keypad or through an integrated web interface that allows for comprehensive remote control and firmware updates via LAN or Wi-Fi.

The software ecosystem completes the package with advanced firmware capable of 100-star sky modeling, which corrects for mechanical flexure and atmospheric refraction. This allows for full remote control and automated workflows, ensuring the mount functions as a truly intelligent node in any research environment.

Explore our comprehensive range of included features and products in detail. Here, you will find a selection of dedicated articles covering different aspects of our mounts.

AVAILABLE OPTIONS

Cold Temperature Version: This option allows operation down to -30°C (-22°F). It includes special low-temperature lubricants, silicone-sheathed wiring, and certified electronics for flawless performance in harsh environments.

INCLUDED ITEMS

Note: This product does not include counterweights. You can find them sold separately in our pricelist.