Ioptron CEM70 Mount Review + 3D Balance Tips & Fixes

Ioptron CEM70 Mount Review + 3D Balance Tips & fixes, my thoughts on this mount, plus some extra tips and advice in 3D balancing this mount, especially on the RA axis, for people, who even when balanced horizontally in RA, the mount still drifts one way or the other when scope pointed up with counterweights down.
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[@OlliesSpace]

Nice overview of this mount I have the CEM60 and must say I prefer the way the clutches work on the CEM70 as mine has these little screws you turn and can be a bit temperamental. Nice setup there BTW.

[@Astro_Shed]

Thanks very much Yes a new set up for this coming season and will do a video on my full new set up soon including my new piggybacked Williams optics white cat 51 👍

[@LogansAstro]

Great run through. I do like the improvements they have made from the CEM60. I have the CEM60 and CEM120 and from the look of it, the CEM70 and CEM120 are very similar. Haven't experienced the drift thing on my Cem120 but it is odd that they make the counterweight bar get pushed off center by that screw and I think your idea of a second one on the other is a good easy fix suggestion.

[@Astro_Shed]

Thanks Logan, yes it seems quite a common issue with the 70 owners with the balance, and could be such a simple fix 👍

[@Astro_Shed]

I may actually get the CEM120 if I get on well with this, as I am coming from an EQ8 and may feel I need the payload capacity back at some point….

[@mikaelwigstrand4902]

@@Astro_Shed thanks for a good reviviue. I don't know if you know that the ipolar port is connected to the saddle usb ports. it took me a while to find out as the manual leaves a lot to be desired.

[@Astro_Shed]

@@mikaelwigstrand4902 thanks, yes I did figure that out in the end 👍

[@anata5127]

What do you mean “didn’t experience drift”? Drift is measured when mount works without guiding. Do you do unguided imaging on CEM70 or 120?

[@anata5127]

Most complained about mount on PHD2 forum. My was unmitigated crap. Even after double fixing by IOptron was crap. I love explanation by IOptron: “we check periodic error of mount without load”. It is actually true and written in small letters in their manual. Periodic error was written on piece of paper, when I got it. It was officially better than AP Mach2.

[@Astro_Shed]

Sorry to hear about your poor experience with CEM70 ☹️

[@anata5127]

@@Astro_Shed Yeh, they are very unpredictable. Some people get great one, some people get total lemon. Thankfully, consumer protection still works and authorities deal with IOptron. Otherwise, it could have been 4K loss. Anyway, it is long gone. I have now proper mount and don’t blame everything on seeing, target altitude, filters, cameras, etc.

[@mschmalenbach]

Great video - I suspect my CEM40 suffers from this off-axis counterweight bar issue. What did you use for the shim?

[@Astro_Shed]

Thanks for the comment, I bought some 0.2 to 1mm metal shim pack each piece was 10cm square and can be cut with good scissors, off eBay..👍🏻

[@mschmalenbach]

@@Astro_Shed after watching your other video as well I set about my CEM 40 - no shims needed as it has a slightly different arrangement more in line with your suggested improvement for the CEM 70. Anyway, I now have my CEM 40 almost perfectly balanced in 4 dimensions.

[@Astro_Shed]

@@mschmalenbach glad you found it or some use, please consider subscribing if you haven’t already, if you have then much appreciated…👍🏻

[@earthLTD]

Your balance solution is okay if you always have the same setup. But I am always changing the configuration and site which changes the balance. That's why I added Ioptron's easily adjustable Z-axis CW. I drilled and tapped a hole in the side of a 10 pound CW to mount it. After getting the horizontals balanced, if there is a drift to the side, the 10 pounder can be easily rotated on the shaft to cancel the + or - drift. Once you get the hang of it, you can get perfect balance in seconds. Love your idea of using the shorter extension in my observatory. Searched but didn't find one. What's the link?

[@Astro_Shed]

Thanks for the comment, it makes no odds what scope and set up you have loaded, it’s all about getting the counter weight shaft centralised, to stop any drift, then any set up will be balanced in RA, with the weights on the shaft alone, moving up and down, DEC is different, that may well need a 3D Balance all the time and will vary with set ups…

[@mrh9635]

Great information. I had a few questions popping into my head as I watched but you'd answered most of them by the time the video ended. I'm only someone currently struggling to find a convenient dew/power solution for my C9.25 AVX for visual use but I aim to get to grips with these kind of set ups in the future. Would you consider going up to a 5 inch apo on that mount?

[@Astro_Shed]

thanks, and glad you found it useful….and that I answered your questions….👍🏻

[@Astro_Shed]

Oh yes, i have a 100mm on there now, it would easily take a 130mm too, it has a 31.5kg payload....

[@mrh9635]

@@Astro_Shed Would you want the 120 esprit or maybe something else for the upgrade in aperture?

[@Astro_Shed]

@@mrh9635 well I originally got the esprit 120, and when it came from the dealer it was badly marked and I sent it all back, and decided on the 100 instead, but would not rule out a 120mm in the future for sure, they are excellent scopes…👍🏻

[@mrh9635]

@@Astro_Shed Despite your problems with the Takahashi in another video, would you recommend them for visual use? I want an FC 100 doublet as my first refractor.

[@nickambrose8606]

Mine is OK. Rotating the filter wheel/camera for framing definitely throws off the 3D balance and guiding us up into 4” peaks so I have to move the 3D weight You should not need the dangling USB cable if you can get USBA out of the box on the OTA. I have a hub and just plug the hub into the leftmost USBA on the non-moving part (next to the 5A power port) and then the USBB port into my mini PC If I had the choice I’d likely go for an AM5 now honestly

[@mikaelwigstrand4902]

It is a lovley mount. But ometimes the lack of quality check from iOptron leaves you with poor (fucked) bearings, or even worse quality issues.

[@davidepiccol]

I have a question, it seems that cem70 has 2 RA locks, one with the switch and the other inserting the Allen wrench. what's the difference? because in the manual it says: with the Disengage the R.A. Gear Switch and insert the Allen wrench to lock the RA axis before loading the CW (counterweight) why should I do this? why not just lock the RA with the switch? it seems that you can damage the mount if you don't do as they say, do you think it's so delicate?

[@Astro_Shed]

Hi The Allen key is only inserted when shipping or when loading the counterweights so as to take the stress off the worm gears in case it’s knocked especially when loading heavy counter weights, as you could chip the teeth on the worm, the actual switch disengages the worm which is what you would use during use like balancing and so on You would never never use the Allen key inserted during use 😮 or serious damage would occur Hope that explains 👍

[@Astro_Shed]

It really is a great mount, but that is not explained very well in the manual, it is not a weak mount at all..👍🏻

[@skywatcherca]

Sir, why did you stop using the EQ8? Was there a reason or 2? Thanks for this video.

[@Astro_Shed]

No reason, I still have it, just a bit big and overkill for my set up, me I wanted to try one of these spring loaded worm CEM mounts…I highly rate the EQ8 mounts…👍🏻

[@skywatcherca]

@@Astro_Shed Thank you Sir.