Giro System Background Description:  Using a Tech2000 modular approach, this tripod or pier-mounted altaz head can mount one or two instruments at a time, and with zero modification can use the Tech2000 Dob-Driver II motor module made specifically for it with its famous "no align, no setup" immediate object tracking, or 2-star aligned goto & track functions.  Tech200 is known the world over for electronically optimizing performance of individual mount heads, and the behavior of the instrument(s)  they carry, without the usual burdens which compromize portability and setup convenience for the user.  We like to mount a scope and observe Right Now!  Not polar align or star align, not level the mount or enter time or GPS info.  When we track we really do mean Right Now!  It makes a big difference to many users when the instrument is not encumbered by setup requirements and can be used immediately - and therefore more conveniently and more often without any added hassle.  But we still like our electric slo-mo, slew, and high-mag tracking!  Well the best of both worlds has arrived with an altaz Giro head and a zero-setup-time Dob-Driver.  And when we do want the auto goto & track, and we might want to use our favorite sky chart on PC without fear of drive compatibility, versions etc... well we can do that too... without being forced everytime to do setups just to track objects!
  The Giro head itself is impressive to people already familiar with a wide variety of telescope mountings.  Where "light and compact" could not mix with "silky-smooth and rock solid"... we have finally discovered that design innovation does provide the solution!  In this case it is the clever design of Tele-Optic and their almost maniacle pursuit of German CNC precision.  It is all automated and done so precisely that ball bearings are not used!  Only a particular wide-temperature grease is used to form the cone mechanism that has no deviations like rollers or balls, no expense from those ultra-precision requirements, and an ability to carry large loads!  It is very similar to fluid-filled video mounts.
  The result is silky-smooth movement, without catching, drag, weight, bulk, or the price associated with the larger and more expensive mounts.  Had enough of that - we pick the Giro mounts now every time since the No-Align GiroDrive is available to add anytime our customers want.
  We became aware that this technological ability had arrived when Markus Ludes, the well-known advocate of high-performance optics (and primary distributor of Giro mounts) approached us at Astrofest to say " This mount needs a compact drive unit - can you do it?"  One look and one "feel" session was all it took... we were absolutely hooked!  Developing these mounts with the new Tech2000 drive has been just wonderful ever since.  We've not missed a goto object yet!

GR2 Deluxe single arm $299.        GR2 Deluxe twinarm $339.
    Baby these are ROCK-SOLID - I assure your money-back  if you have any problem whatsoever.  -DM/Tech2000.

Twinarm shown with accessories - Stainless Universal Mount Plate and Counterweight Shaft  20mm for Vixen weights etc.

Bottom female bolt thread available in either 10mm or 3/8-16 depending on the tripod you mount upon.
Dull Silver standard, optional black annodize $40 extra.
  Many adapters for telescopes, dovetail plates, and tripod mounts are described Below.  The 2 screws on the end of the arm visible in the photo are spaced 35mm (1-3/8") and are 6mm threads - which is the standard for a very large number of telescope tube mountings.  We can fit anything to it at Tech2000.

Universal Stainless Steel Telescope Adapter Plate shown above on the left - $45
You can adapt-mount anything with that one but check below first.

Counterweight Shaft Stainless Steel shown above on the right.  For either single or twin-arm.  If an instrument weighs >10 Lb then it should have the counterweight shaft added even if you do not use weights on the shaft.  If two instruments are mounted on a twinarm head then the counterweight shaft is recommended only if the DIFFERENCE between the two loads is > 10 LB.  For use of the Dob-Driver motor unit shown below, you should get a counterweight shaft whether you use a single-arm or a twinarm mount because the balance is more important then and your desire to "play" with multiple devices on this mount will surely be a force you will have a hard time to resist.  20mm (.785") dia. by 250mm (9.75") length.  10mm male thread screws into mount arm, free end has 6mm female thread for adding even more parts or a weight or yet another instrument bracket - $30

Mizar Universal Plate for TMB, AP, and Takahashi tube rings - $50

Quick Exchange dovetail clamp for Vixen/Celestron/Mead etc. dovetails (up to 2" rail widths) - $77
  (Note- these are the higher quality ones from Baader Planetarium, vs. Celest & Vixen)

Instrument-tube rails for Vixen/Celest/homemade etc. 2" wide dovetail fits clamp above.  $48

Heavy-Duty Quick Exchange dovetail clamp for up to 3" rail widths - $159

Hardshell plastic case fits mount, adapter plates, clamps, weight shafts, foam fitting - $65
(Note- this case does not accomodate the drive unit when mounted)

Markus comments on xxL... Thanks to Dave, who asked for a Giro Mount handling his 8" TMB Apo, this is about 3 times larger than the well known GR2 DX azimuth Mount.  This Mount is a real loading monster.  Up to C16, 5-8" Apos, stronger mounted than on my Astrophysics 1200 Mount.  I must reverse my impression, the loading is at least 200 pound for shorter telescopes, like Ritchey Chretien or Cassegrain scopes and I would have no problem to set up 10"F/9 TMB Apo on this mount.  With a strong enough Pier or Tripod I would go deep, that I would load on this mount a 12"F/15 D & G Optical achromat.  Thick stainless-steel shafting.  New feature! - variable arm shaft position allows users to shift the tube positions left or right to any position to clear the mounting legs with tube pinted near zenith, or shift the position of left-and-right instruments to achieve best balance without use of counterweights!  The bottom side of the head goes into our piers or any other large tripod or pier using 3/8-16 or 10mm standard heavy-duty bolts on the bottom center (larger available), and tube-assembly couplings too, all accept any Astrophysics and Losmandy and Takahahsi plates or Tuberings.  And custom adapters to your own personal Tripod or Pier on request.  DDR2-GR2xxl drive unit also available.
GR2 XXL T  $895  Check it out, this is a SUPER BARGAIN price compared to the other mounting options out there!

Custom adapter between a special black-annodized GR2 DX mount head with a Vixen/Celestron 10mm base thread, and Bogen heavy-duty tripod with its' 3/8"bolt thread.  Typical price is only $48-$99 for custom-machining like this but it is usually not needed except for very-particular customer needs.  The 6061-T6 aircraft grade aluminum adapter is actually mated in two parts - but the seam is barely visible naked eye - due to the precision machining provided by Paul Schulden at Tech2000.

Composit photo of 20 images, showing the many ways we adapt telescope mountings, rings, and drives to Giro mount heads and tripods.  It is a piece of cake!  We mean easy, your cake probably looks more tasty than this photo.

Part Engineering & design and product engineering/design/fab are available via our parent corp. Techni-Digital Design, Inc.

DDR2-GR2 $610  Also available on xxL mounts
  Clamps on to any existing Giro mount head, hex key provided with a very nice installation and operation manual, and carries all of the features of Dob-Driver II by Tech20000.  All accessories are available for Dob-Driver II such as Roboscope PC-link and ccd autoguider interface.  Dual-axis drive corrector and HRG-2x is already istalled as standard for super smooth tracking.  According to Rolf, the President of Tele-Optic "the device tracks impressively with high accuracy - you did a great job!

Goto with a Tele-Vue Genesis-101 and Gibraltar tripod.  Our 12v battery is the counterweight.  Everything moves with the mount head -no cable tangles!

Twin Solar tracking at Astrofest '01, with white filter on Genesis-101 and Coronado filter on Tak Sky-90.  GR2 twinarm head & Giro Driver.

With a C8 on the Giro head and Dob-Driver II tracking.
DDR2-GR2 for Giro.

Tech2000:  Thanks I received it!  One wide field, one high-power light bucket, is a dream to use!  This pic using a C8 on a Giro mount with your superb GiroDrive.  -Oldfield

TECH2000, 69 Ridge St. South, Monroeville, OH 44847
PH: USA 419-465-2997  FX: USA 419-465-2484  EM: tddi@accnorwalk.com
http://homepages.accnorwalk.com/tddi/tech2000/