#1  
Old 29-06-2019, 09:32 AM
Hemi
Registered User

Hemi is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Darwin
Posts: 608
Arduino Focus

I bought an arduino kit mega kit for my 11 year old boy to get interested in micro electronics and programming. Unfortunately did not succeed, so the kit left unused....he is now 13. So dad started playing with it about 6m ago.

Several blinking led projects later and I managed to get a little motor controlled from a little joystick! Wow.

Choosing a commercially made motor focus is very difficult imo. There are many, many bewildering options and they are mostly very expensive. Multiply that over several scopes brackets/adapters and my search always reached a dead end without purchase.

I recently discovered this thread. Pretty cool I think. I’ve got it working of sorts with a prototype breadboard circuit and and my larger board (arduino mega) but I’ve ordered the parts on the thread. $50 dollar ascom compliant motor focus is pretty amazing. And as the thread suggests, suitable for arduino novices.

I though I would share it.

https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/5...us-controller/

Cheers

H
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 29-06-2019, 04:10 PM
phomer (Paul)
Registered User

phomer is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Maribyrnong
Posts: 158
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hemi View Post
I bought an arduino kit mega kit for my 11 year old boy to get interested in micro electronics and programming. Unfortunately did not succeed, so the kit left unused....he is now 13. So dad started playing with it about 6m ago.

Several blinking led projects later and I managed to get a little motor controlled from a little joystick! Wow.

Choosing a commercially made motor focus is very difficult imo. There are many, many bewildering options and they are mostly very expensive. Multiply that over several scopes brackets/adapters and my search always reached a dead end without purchase.

I recently discovered this thread. Pretty cool I think. I’ve got it working of sorts with a prototype breadboard circuit and and my larger board (arduino mega) but I’ve ordered the parts on the thread. $50 dollar ascom compliant motor focus is pretty amazing. And as the thread suggests, suitable for arduino novices.

I though I would share it.

https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/5...us-controller/

Cheers

H
Herni,


I did something similar, I bought an Arduino Uno with the thought of using it for an automated dew heater, and it sat there for over year. I was in the process of applying myself to my original purpose when my MicroTouch controller USB died so I modified my original plans to use it as a replacement focus controller.


I have not implemented all the features, such as temperature control as I never used them, but I recently started using it and it seems to be working better than the original. A real challenge to design and write a program when I have only ever dabbled in C code but enjoyable when it works.



Paul
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 30-06-2019, 01:08 PM
garymck (Gary)
Registered User

garymck is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Geelong
Posts: 788
I've built 2 of those motor focusers works perfectly.

Gary
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 30-06-2019, 01:23 PM
Hemi
Registered User

Hemi is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Darwin
Posts: 608
Thats great Gary,

what did you do for the housing? What scopes? any pics?

Which motor did you use?

Where did you order your parts from: I got mine from AliExpress but they take for ever to deliver!

Hemi
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 30-06-2019, 04:56 PM
garymck (Gary)
Registered User

garymck is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Geelong
Posts: 788
Hi,
got all the parts from Ebay from local suppliers - did not want to wait for stuff from Ali Express. No pics I'm afraid, but one is on an Esprit 100 and the other a 12" newt.

The motors are geared steppers - nema 17 , I'll get the model numbers tomorrow.

Another simpler one you could do cheaply is here:
http://www.scopefocus.info/scopefocus-ascom

I've built his rotator and fitted it to my Esprit 100 along with the motor focuser from Cloudynights.

Heaps of Arduino stuff for scopes - I've also done an arduino/ascom controlled flat field device from a tracing board that is controlled from both SGP and Voyager.

cheers
Gary
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +10. The time is now 10:03 PM.

Powered by vBulletin Version 3.8.7 | Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Advertisement
Testar
Advertisement
Bintel
Advertisement