For many months I have been working on the design of a scratch built (no TV rotor conversion) rotor and it is now operational. The goals for the rotor project were - rugged robust construction, very accurate, low cost, relatively easy to construct, fast, no gear train, no brake, strong enough to handle a pair of small beam antennas such as the Elk 2M/440L5 and 440L8 (Arrow antennas would probably work but I do not have any), run off 12V DC, small, light, at least 450 degree rotation, easy to control the heading, and easy to set up and take down for portable or indoor operation. Things that are not included - the ability to handle large antenna arrays and weatherproofing. The rotor meets all the design goals. In the video the antenna turns through 450 degrees in 19 seconds. You can check the accuracy by looking at the alignment of the front element of the 70cm antenna with the left side of the window blinds on the back wall at the start of the video. After rotating 450 degrees left and then 450 degrees right it is right back where it started. It is very cool or at least I think so. One item finally completed on my bucket list.
The video is HD and looks great full screen. Perhaps only a ham would think it looks great.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPhavWyShMo
The controller is exactly the same as used in the iPoint project.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnc4-XcEXEQ
73 W9KE tom ...
P.S. I am not trying to sell anything.