Anyone successfully mounted a asi eaf focus motor to a bintel crayford focuser?

[h0ughy (David)]

As I said has anyone successfully mounted a eaf focuser to a bintel crayford focuser? The supplied universal bracket just doesn't work?

The area is curved and there is no bolts to secure it?

[Imme (Jon)]

I have, but it involved making myself a custom bracket and drilling in to the tube to mount.

Disclaimer - cheap scope as a tester!

[h0ughy (David)]

Originally Posted by Imme

I have, but it involved making myself a custom bracket and drilling in to the tube to mount.

Disclaimer - cheap scope as a tester!

Have you got some pictures of what you did?

[h0ughy (David)]

Has anyone else motorised the Crayford focuser?

[JA]

Originally Posted by h0ughy

As I said has anyone successfully mounted a eaf focuser to a bintel crayford focuser? The supplied universal bracket just doesn't work?

The area is curved and there is no bolts to secure it?

Hi H,

Looking at it it seems like a custom fit is the only way. Without pulling it apart or closely inspecting it, it is hard to say which screws on the bottom you could potentially use: perhaps the 2 Phillips head screws up forward. The 2 aluminium thumbscrews aft might be useful, but unfortunately they are used for other focuser tension or locking.

It would be possible to make or buy a suitable split collar or lens tripod collar/clamp which you could mount up forward around the cylindrical body of the focuser. Also another possibility is that given the Bintel and GSO focusers appear identical perhaps there is an off the shelf GSO brand motor bracket/fixture available which might work (not sure you'd need to check).

Do you know the external diameter of the focuser? If so you could target a suitable collar. I suspect it's in the 60-70mm-ish range so something like one of these might be useful in providing a fixture point for the base for your bracket or a further custom simple bracket. The screw thread is typical 1/4-20 camera tripod screw thread. BUT don't take my word for it: verify any details, sizes, diameters in the any advert.....

67mm Diameter...
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Camera-T....c101196.m2219

68mm Diameter...
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Tripod-M....c101195.m1851

80mm Diameter...
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Metal-Le....c101195.m1851

81mm Diameter ...
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Tripod-C....c101195.m1851

And there are some ugly white ones (sorry Canon)
66mm Diameter...
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/66mm-Met...frcectupt=true

There usually are also some sizes in the 70s, just keep looking if none suit

Best
JA

[Karlz (Karl)]

There is this I found when looking to see if it would fit my moonlite, it gives a list and sort of a how to fit. GSO crayford is in there.


https://www.yuque.com/zwopkb/hardware/eaf-support-list


edit I put my glasses on and said can not find screw hole to fit bracket... sorry

[h0ughy (David)]

Originally Posted by JA

Hi H,

Looking at it it seems like a custom fit is the only way. Without pulling it apart or closely inspecting it, it is hard to say which screws on the bottom you could potentially use: perhaps the 2 Phillips head screws up forward. The 2 aluminium thumbscrews aft might be useful, but unfortunately they are used for other focuser tension or locking.

It would be possible to make or buy a suitable split collar or lens tripod collar/clamp which you could mount up forward around the cylindrical body of the focuser. Also another possibility is that given the Bintel and GSO focusers appear identical perhaps there is an off the shelf GSO brand motor bracket/fixture available which might work (not sure you'd need to check).

Do you know the external diameter of the focuser? If so you could target a suitable collar. I suspect it's in the 60-70mm-ish range so something like one of these might be useful in providing a fixture point for the base for your bracket or a further custom simple bracket. The screw thread is typical 1/4-20 camera tripod screw thread. BUT don't take my word for it: verify any details, sizes, diameters in the any advert.....

67mm Diameter...
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Camera-T....c101196.m2219

68mm Diameter...
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Tripod-M....c101195.m1851

80mm Diameter...
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Metal-Le....c101195.m1851

81mm Diameter ...
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Tripod-C....c101195.m1851

And there are some ugly white ones (sorry Canon)
66mm Diameter...
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/66mm-Met...frcectupt=true

There usually are also some sizes in the 70s, just keep looking if none suit

Best
JA

Thanks for the suggestions but none of those will work, the diameter is 96mm I think. Might have to resort to cable ties and double sided tape

[h0ughy (David)]

Originally Posted by Karlz

There is this I found when looking to see if it would fit my moonlite, it gives a list and sort of a how to fit. GSO crayford is in there.


https://www.yuque.com/zwopkb/hardware/eaf-support-list


edit I put my glasses on and said can not find screw hole to fit bracket... sorry

I found similar in the zwo facebook site. Not very promising

[JA]

Originally Posted by h0ughy

Thanks for the suggestions but none of those will work, the diameter is 96mm I think. Might have to resort to cable ties and double sided tape

Just look for the right size split collar, there'll be one out there. I think there is a parallax telescope ring around that size ( I use it to support a Nikon telephoto). I will take a look later if you are sure about the size.

If you REALLY have to I would consider carefully using a Jubilee style hose clip with some 1mm thick hard rubber around the focuser body to protect it and then possibly take it from there. AS i said it would be my 100th choice: try and find a nice split ring for lens or telescope support.

Best
JA

[h0ughy (David)]

Will do but there isnt much wriggle move to put these things on

[JA]

Originally Posted by h0ughy

Will do but there isnt much wriggle move to put these things on

That's why a split collar lens support or telescope ring would be ideal. I just checked the one I mentioned on my 400mm lens and it is 95 to 96mm in diameter but would be Ok for slightly above 96 or even 97 with the felt changed or removed and it is only 19mm thick.

I'm not sure if it's the Parallax brand telescope ring: possibly not????

I use it to act as part of a double support arrangement for a heavy 400mm lens where the lens is supported by its integral tripod support foot as well as by a clamping collar (telescope ring) towards the rear of the lens near the filter drawer and then all coupled together by mounting these on a dovetail plate.

[h0ughy (David)]

OK I threw this together and while not really pretty it works. The diameter is 82mm of the focuser.

[h0ughy (David)]

And it fits, now someone smart needs to be able to replicate the basics of what I have and make it lighter

[JA]

Originally Posted by h0ughy

And it fits, now someone smart needs to be able to replicate the basics of what I have and make it lighter

3D print it possibly using some embedded brass thread inserts, otherwise search for an 82mm lens collar as discussed earlier.

Best
JA

[h0ughy (David)]

Originally Posted by JA

3D print it possibly using some embedded brass thread inserts, otherwise search for an 82mm lens collar as discussed earlier.

Best
JA

That's what a smart person who knows what to do would do. I'm just lucky I didn't use velcro

[Sayfog (Alistair)]

Just saw this thread, but I ended up designing my own the 3D printed adapter - been using it for about 9 months (in between all the clouds....) on my GSO/Bintel RC8 and ZWO EAF, the fit isn't perfect but its definitely close enough and I didn't feel like reprinting/redesigning it after I got something working.

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4568603