Meade MAX Robotic German Equatorial Mount

MAX - Designed by the best for the best.

MAX is the distillation of Meade's generation of experience serving the astronomical community. It is a mount system designed by practiced and experienced observers for the most demanding observers. The design team's credo was to "Design the last mount you will ever buy." It was a tall order. We chose to build a classic German mount because it has the flexibility to carry any optical instrument we can design. That includes both our current offerings and ones we are just dreaming up now. Read on and I think you will agree, MAX really is the finest production telescope mount on the market.

Components of MAX

MAX features a unique modular design that allows a couple of individuals to assemble, either permanently or transportably, a mount twice the size of any other commercially available mount. The mount breaks down into a Portable Pier (tripod), Pedestal, RA Housing Assembly, and DEC Housing assembly. Together all of the components and an OTA assembly fit easily into a station wagon, SUV, minivan or small truck. When assembled, quick release, but rock solid, dovetail plates allow OTA and instrument packages up to 250 lbs to be quickly mounted and de-mounted.

Pedestal Assembly

MAX's Pedestal assembly can be configured to cover three altitude ranges without the need of disassembly. Together, the three ranges allow the mount to operate anywhere on the planet. No other maker can make such a claim. The Pedestal was designed using advanced CAD analysis to assure both ease of adjustment and rock solid stability using modern light weight alloys. Attractively finished, all standard field installation and adjustments on the Pedestal and mount can be performed without tools using large, easily accessible ergonomic handles and knobs. This kind of design shows Meade's generation of experience making instruments for actual observers.

Right Ascension Housing Assembly

The RA Housing mates to the Pedestal easily, sliding firmly into a dovetail block that measures over 100 square inches. When locked in place, this broad footprint assures that your mount will operate as a single rigid block delivering accurate and repeatable pointing and tracking performance. The RA Housing contains Meade's proven and patented Autostar II telescope control system, a massive 13.625" pitch diameter worm gear attached to a 3.84" diameter 6061-T6511 aluminum alloy main shaft supported by one 6020 Ball bearing (5.9055 OD x 3.9370 ID x 0.9449 wide) & one 6013 ball bearing (3.9370 OD x 2.5591 ID x 0.7090 wide). From the start, this mount is built to handle the load.

Declination Housing Assembly

The Dec Housing mates to the RA Housing using another huge dovetail block. When locked in place, the mount is one single rigid structure ready to carry your instrument payload and point it anywhere in the universe both smoothly and easily with phenomenal accuracy. The RA Housing, DEC Housing and Pedestal are all designed to allow you to track more than 6 degrees past meridian without interference. This mount will let you cover the whole sky. We know that best seeing is near the meridian, and we don't want you to miss it. When you have a mount like MAX, we know one instrument is never enough. In addition to accepting quick change dovetail plates, MAX has two generous wing mount platforms that will allow you to attach guide scopes, piggy back cameras, short focal length refractors and a wide variety of secondary instruments without interfering with the MAX's "all sky" design.

Periodic Error and Pointing Accuracy

Pointing accuracy is an obsession with MAX's designer, the Autostar II enhanced control systems will help you tune your system for peak performance: