Limited spaces available per month for faster turnaround, and less downtime,
Please do leave a message or booking details, as we cannot always answer the phone when in the workshop. We are always working on mounts! We'll get back to you as soon as we can +44 (0)2392 570283
EU & USA and Worldwide pricing and how we can get your mount to us
starting at just £29 return
Please email sharon@darkframe.co.uk for all prices
inc. to the Rest of the World.
Please Note! Opening Hours: Monday 11am-5pm
Tuesday/Weds/Thurs 10am-5pm, Fri 10am-1pm GMT
NEW StellarDrive 8R ULTRA (0.16 ArcSec RMS*) - BTO
All Celestron rebuilds now feature our new StellarDrive SGv3 Gearboxes, which lowers drivetrain harmonics and improves both guided and unguided tracking!
New StellarDrive CG-XL - increased imaging payload over CG-X. - BTO
Pre-loved
StellarDrive AVX-RZ circa 0.5 ArcSec RMS - SOLD
StellarDrive EQM35 - circa 0.4 ArcSec RMS - SOLD
StellarDrive 6R - circa 0.3 ArcSec RMS - SOLD
2x Refurbished EQ6, in build - 1 pre sold/ estimated June '24
1x Refurbished HEQ5, in build - 1 pre sold/ estimated June '24
3x Refurbished Celestron AVX-RZ - estimated May '24
StellarDrive EQ8 2018 build 50kg imaging payload £1950 - AstroBuySell
StellarDrive EQ8R amazing tracking! Outperforms CEM120EC. See data £3250 AstroBuySell
OWNER ANNOUNCEMENT! Resale values of used StellarDrive mounts have been up to 25% higher or more than a stock mount, such is their reputation for consistent performance. Along with your existing certification, we now have free StellarDrive badging which you can apply to your StellarDrive mount since launch in 2017. We'll post it out to you, or will apply them for you when you have your Service due within 5-7 years from rebuild.
This unique offer applies only to previous owners of our StellarDrive 3P, 5P, EQM35, 5GT, 6R, 6GT, EQ8 and AVX, CG-X and CG-XL models, from 2017 on. We are contacting all owners as part of this rollout. If you have bought one of our StellarDrive mounts from a previous owner, please get in touch, quoting your mounts certificate number.
I
It's your existing EQ mount, rebuilt for consistent low sub-arcsecond tracking. Zero dropped frames, and more detailed images.
We are the only full-time dedicated UK based lab/workshop in the world, for computerised telescope EQ mounts. Since 2015 we have provided testing, servicing, repair and optimisation of the widest range of EQ mounts available. We precisely re-engineer far higher tolerances into your Sky-watcher/Orion USA and Celestron mounts, and other leading brands, for very cost-effective high-end comparable performance. We have independent customer PHD2 data across nearly every permutation of mount and telescope. This not only verifies the quality control standard we work to, but what potential your mount really has.
Our Multi-Award winning work, takes your existing equatorial mount and fully re-engineers it to perform as a high-end low sub-arcsecond imaging mount at full payload. Our work is not comparable to any DIY home-brew tuneup, or online video build. We do not supply tuning kits, as this is component reengineering. We utilise very precise superfinishing and measurement processes that improve tracking resolution and consistency.
Our proven rebuilds last for 5-7 years before a service update, so offer a far greater economic value over getting a new replacement mount. Anyone that tells you that a mount doesn't need servicing obviously has never opened one up! All lubricants expire and degrad tracking, usually within 7-10 years, even on higher end mounts. That's why you need to protect your investment before any wear or damage may occur. Regular servicing means your EQ mount could last you decades. Our proven rebuilds last 5+ years, longer than any home rebuild.
Zero Dropped Frames. You save a lot of time.
With clear dark skies getting longer to wait for, you don't want to waste hours of useless data with an unreliable mount. Typically we receive reports of up to 25-30% of images being lost or more every night, before our rebuilds. StellarDrive mounts make every exposure count.
Because our mounts have proven to be so consistent and dependable, some are being used for remote imaging in various locations around the world. This recent discovery has driven us even further to pursue new ways to make these mounts even better than before.
You may already own your next better mount.Our unique experience is truly vast. We have successfully re-engineered and modified more EQ Goto mounts than any anyone else in this industry worldwide to date. These are helping to produce some of the most amazing published Astrophotography in the UK, Europe, the USA and Worldwide!. This track record of consistently detailed output, has created a unique independent data resource of over 80,000+ hours PHD2 guide data. Proof indeed that demonstrates our engineering practices work. We publish that independent data here in our regularly updated Mount Performance Chart.
Take your existing Astro-imaging to the Next Level.
Your mount is the most important part of your imaging rig. If that doesn't work, then nothing else will work either. Our mount rebuilds, not only improve both guided and unguided tracking, but does it very consistently. The lower periodic error and reduced amplitude improves image detail and resolution from your existing gear. Fainter detail is revealed, because those weaker photons aren't being dissapated across the image sensor, effectively rubbing out quality. Isn't Physics great! You will see this result as tighter, rounder stars, richer starfields and amazing target detail, maximising the Dawes Limit of your telescope.
The maximum payload of your mount, is now your full imaging payload (up to OEM stated visual kg, meaning up to a third more) as either a StellarDrive or StellarTune EQ mount. No longer do you have to sacrifice up to half the stated payload, just so you can capture images reliably. Balance can be perfected, as is it now stiction-free. But importantly, our re-engineering reduces or eliminates any lost frames too, meaning increased data you acquire every session, saving hours of lost time per night.
We are also a Celestron Technical Specialist Dealer, and have developed drivetrain solutions to improve the tracking of AVX, CGEM-II, CG-X and CG-XL, notably via our SGv3 and SGv3.1 reduction gearboxes, as well as work on the venerable CGE-Pro's drivetrain. We also have a lot of upgrade experience with their range of EDGE-HD and RASA telescopes.
Each BRAND NEW (BTO) and custom rebuilt and fully optimised StellarDrive™ or StellarDrive ULTRA™ EQ mount comes with Two years FULL worldwide mechanical warranty and support.
Our work is backed up on all other rebuilt and StellarTune™ and StellarDrive™ customer used mount rebuilds from 01/2024, with a reassuring and industry-leading One year worldwide RTB mechanical warranty.
An up to 6 month* RTB mechanical warranty for older Restoration and Legacy mounts up to 25 years old in stock condition, subject to evaluation and condition. These mount warranties are unmatched in the industry for any used and resold mounts.
We can accept DIY, modded EQ mounts up to 10 years for rebuild as a StellarTune or StellarDrive EQ Mount (subject to owner declaration). All other mounts over 10 years old are classed as restoration or legacy work, and therefore may take longer to do, depending on condition. For mounts older than 10 years, please get in touch via email first and supply photos for appraisal and a fixed price quotation, and will do our best to help where we can.
0Example EQ mount tracking performance is not guaranteed and is indicative based from customer supplied data. Tracking Performance is also dependent on users ability, location, weather conditions, and also subject to the age and condition of the Donor Mount, where applicable. Any customer adjustment post-rebuild, may affect performance.
*All mounts are graded from 0-5 on arrival, then benchmarked prior to rebuild. Grade 0-1 are rejected, and may be subject to an evaluation charge before return. If in doubt, please send images of mount prior to order. The mount has to be fully functional for tuning, or it is a repair which adds time and cost. Repairs/Spares parts are not included in the price of our service or rebuild products.