Kevin,
my understand is that the project is work-in-progress and there is no single place to get easy everything necessary, at least for the time being.
However, let me tell you, as someone who is excited to get the project running as soon as possible and who is outside the UK (but in Europe), my experience so far:
1) 2 x TM-2600 M3 motors: those are "Designed in the UK, Made in Taiwan" and I guess that's why I was not able to find them outside the UK. So, I purchased them from the link provided couple of posts above. Not a pleasant experience though:
1.1) the weight of two such motors with packaging is 7.5 kilograms and the cheapest shipping even to another European country cost me 30 USD (and it was very slow, basically the parcel was traveling with trucks across Europe)
1.2) even the motors are "brand new" one of mine looks like it was used or at least mounted once, i.e. having small scratches on its body and mounting elements, but that's not really a problem - probably even after the first mount I will make the same if not even worse marks on it.
The other one look really like new, no scratches on its body and mounting elements, but it has even worse problem - there is big crack in the motor housing body - the alloy looks so strong and massive, I cannot imagine what kind of force can cause the crack - maybe it was some structural defect in that particular alloy of the housing body. Anyway, in normal circumstances I would return that one, but because of the heavy weight and shipping costs, ended up with just putting silicone glue to seal the crack to prevent water (from rain, etc) entering the motor body when it's mounted outside.
I don't know, if I had bad luck or quality control of those motors is questionable... or maybe they do not consider those "cosmetic" defects a fault...who knows...
2) if you ask me (that's my opinion and others can correct me if I am wrong), you can use any 2 identical DiSEqC motors that support DiSEqC v1.2, which protocol defines the commands to instruct the motor to move X degrees in one or another direction. Possibly, the only limitations are speed, in case there are DiSEqC 1.2 motors that are not moving fast enough to track the ISS and maximum weight such motor can move - because especially the one of the motors is very heavy loaded - it carries the other motor, the joiner bar and the dish. Last, consideration here is the "joiner bar" itself as it will be most likely different one (needs different holes) for each motor model/brand, see point 3.
3) the "joiner bar" : currently you need to make one for yourself, there is no even such bar ready available for TM-2600 M3 motor. that I guess is another point to just use another motor model altogether. in fact for TM-2600 M3, the joiner bar contains complicated shapes that need to be cut in the metal, which is disadvantage in making such bar easily. So, by taking measurements on my TM-2600 M3 motors and with help by Brian (giving me some measurements of the "proof-of-concept" bar they made), I designed (with help of a friend) computer 3D model in STEP format of that bar, which is compatible with HAAS CNC milling machines. Maybe that's actually machine-independent, I don't know, not an expert in the field. However, manufacturing even a single piece turned out to be very expensive and I am looking for another manufacturer with such machines. I don't share the computer model I made here, because it's not proven to be correct - that will be clear after at least one piece is made. Anyone with access to CNC machine compatible with 3D model in STEP format, feel free to contact me. I am attaching few pictures of my 3D computer-generated model.
- 01_bar.jpg (35.77 KiB) Viewed 8167 times
- 02_rear_face.jpg (30.19 KiB) Viewed 8167 times
- 03_rear_face_mesh.jpg (44.79 KiB) Viewed 8167 times
4) Other parts you need:
4.1) Arduino Nano V3 - that's the blue board on top of the green one on the picture in the Wiki:
https://wiki.batc.tv/DigiTwist
At least I found it only from China - costs 1.85 USD shipped, but it takes 30-60 days to arrive. So, if you don't have one, considering it's cheap, grab few, because until they arrive probably the project will progress further.
4.2) 2 x RT5047A : that's the DiSEqC controller on the board. It's Taiwanese chip and not available in Europe - at least I was not able to find it - available in the US and China though - I got it from China, because it's 3 times cheaper than getting it from the US: 5 pieces from China cost me 3 USD shipped. I don't know what was the motivation RT5047A to be used, because for example LNBH26 is made by STMicroelectronics, i.e. European company and it's Dual-chip, i.e. instead 2 you need just one and cheaper than 2 x RT5047A (and that taking RT5047A price in China, 2 x RT5047A are like 4 times more expensive than LNBH26 if buy from US). So, there are cheaper and better available parts, unless RT5047A was not selected for some special reason(s).
4.3) "hex key with extra long arm" : size "6", that means 6mm between any 2 parallel sides of the hex shape. it's needed to remove one bolt on the motor. I am going to attach some pictures that speak by themselves. However, just to mention that the "extra long arm" (it's about 160mm) helps to go above and beyond the motor body, which makes it really easy to unscrew the bolt without effort and risking to break something. I am mentioning all of these for 2 reasons - I did not have any tool to unscrew that bolt (maybe there are many and different tools for such job and people here already own the necessary tools) and while the bolt on the motor is M8, size "6" of hex key is for M10 to M12 bolts (when I look tables online). So, that makes me think the bolt on the motor is not exactly standard M8 one, if I am using hex tool size for M10-M12 bolt to unscrew, but it's perfect match. Also, i think it's good information for people that will buy just one such "hex key" for this particular task. I purchased mine in a local store for only 1.90 USD.
5) As far as I can tell all other components on the board are standard and available everywhere, e.g. resistors, capacitors, etc. So, you just need to wait the PCB to become available and buy the necessary components as any other BATC kit.