Orpington Astronomical Society

Astronomy => Technical => Topic started by: Tony G on Oct 17, 2006, 20:26:04

Title: auto focuser
Post by: Tony G on Oct 17, 2006, 20:26:04
Hi all,
Just wondered if anyone had an auto focuser that I could borrow for a few days to look at closely, as I'm looking for one for my scope, but at this present time the manufacturers say that there is no focuser on the market to fit mine, :(   so i hoping that there maybe one that I could adapt to suit mine. (I'm not going to adapt the one that is loaned, if anyone has one, its just to see if I could do a little engineering myself and adapt something. Below are a couple of images of the focusing knob at the back of my scope, so if anyone can help, it would be appreciated.

(http://static.flickr.com/106/272513732_28709211a5.jpg)
(http://static.flickr.com/90/272513726_7d65346dd4.jpg)


Tony G
Title: auto focuser
Post by: JohnP on Oct 20, 2006, 15:25:53
Hiya Tony,

When I had my old Tal-2m (before the MN56 & LXD) I made a two speed electronic focuser based on a DC motor & a few relays/ diodes. I mounted it to the focusser of my Tal-2m & it worked great - it was certainly good for focussing using a Toucam & X3 barlow.. I've sold the Tal now but took the focusser off (I may one day adapt for the MN56) - You are welcome to play with it if you can come up with a way of adapting to your scope... A few pictures are below:

(http://homepage.ntlworld.com/john.punnett/graphics/oas/efocus1.jpg)

(http://homepage.ntlworld.com/john.punnett/graphics/oas/efocus3.jpg)


cheers,  John
Title: auto focuser
Post by: Mike on Oct 21, 2006, 23:41:54
Yony,

Contact Arthur at Ambermile - http://www.ambermile.co.uk/ - He may be able to get teh Artemis auto focus to work with your kit.
Title: auto focuser
Post by: Tony G on Oct 24, 2006, 22:19:00
Thanks for the offer of your focuser John, but looking at the photos I think it would need a lot of adapting, but I've found an Orion focuser @ www.scsastro.co.uk for £42 and looks the most promising and cheap as well.
Thanks as well Nike, I mean Mike (slip of the finger) for the other info, but it looks like there is to many of those circuitme board thingymebobs for my liking.

Tony G