WO FLT98 DDG - Auto Focus ability?

[WingnutR32]

Okay, so after having last week off on holidays, I was able to spend a LOT of time in my observatory. YAY!!!

Out of all the problems I managed to overcome, I was unable to get one sorted, focus.

I have a Williams Optics FLT98 (White + Gold colour one) with the Digital readout crayford style focuser with the 10:1 fine focus knob as well. What I found whilst imaging IC434 was that my focus was changing a fair bit.

I understand that the seeing was not perfect, and some of my exposures (particularly Luminance data) at 300seconds seemed to hit the full well depth of the QHY9-Ms chip, so that probably won't help.

My FWHM for the night started at 1.8 - 2.0 at 10pm, and then a few exposures in (maybe 10 minutes passed) FWHM was 4.8. It seemed that I had to constantly make changes to the focuser throughout the night which made it very hard to keep my exposure routine running in MaximDL.

SO, after all that waffling, I am very keen on helping DDG focuser on the FLT 98 by using some kind of automated focuser linked to MaximDL.

Who is keen to help me here? I am not experienced at all in pulling apart telescopes, so if that is involved, I would need to employ the help of someone to do that.

A new focuser with built-in automated focus controls would be nice, but if I can get something to utilize my current focuser, would be great as I cannot afford to spend much at all after pre-ordering the new AZ EQ6-GT mount from MyAstroShop.

Cheers
Sam

[DJT]

Hi Sam

There is an interesting thread on this here. http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=101375

Also looking at autofous for much the same reasons as you.

[WingnutR32]

Thanks David.

I have just thrown in the towel on this dang DDG focuser, time to upgrade :(

[pmrid]

I found the DDG focuser a complete dead loss for imaging - although if you're imaging with a OSC then you could squeeze by doing one manual focus. But with filters where you frequently need to check focus when you change filters, it was useless. SO I put a big motorised Moonlite on my FKT110 and love it.
Peter

[WingnutR32]

Thanks Peter, that is exactly what I am finding... It is woeful for mono ccd imaging. I have had a look at the moonlite's but I couldn't find any information regarding the FLT98 compared to the FLT110.

[naskies]

What information are you looking for? According to their website, this is the one to get for the FLT98:

http://www.focuser.com/cgi-bin/dman.cgi?page=productdetail&plugin=dstore.cgi&product=CF

The WO FLT98 fits these new refractors with Carbon Fiber tubes. It is collimatable and rotatable and has twin dove tail finder brackets. Customers pick the 4.5" travel Comp ring drawtube along with this flange. We ship the upper flange on the moonlite focuser to fit the existing WO lower flange part that remains connected / glued on to the Carbon Fiber OTA.


I've also heard that MoonLite are very responsive to emails. You could try asking them directly?

[WingnutR32]

Thanks Dave, yes Moonlite were very responsive to my email.

Unfortunately, Moonlite and yourself both came up with the same adaptor which is only for the Carbon Fiber version of the FLT98. I have the white tube with gold rings (post-2009). Feather Touch focusers have 3 different flanges for the 3 different FLT98s, just couldn't find them on the Moonlite site.

I have emailed Moonlite back to clarify whether they stock the 3 different adaptors.

[midnight]

Agree 100% there :thumbsup:. The stock DDG focuser on my FLT110 is a joke and will be dispensed of soon after reading Peter's comments on the Moonlite upgrade. It's really only good for visual purposes and the DDG electronic gauge has never really work consistently since the day I got it. Great concept though but....

Darrin...

[WingnutR32]

True Darrin. Great concept, but just not the greatest implementation.

I'd be keen to see a rack and pinion styled focuser from WO. The fit and finish of the stock one is great, just not an imagers friend.

I have emailed Andrews communications for a quote to supply and fit a motorised feather touch, but no response so far after a couple of days. Luke is probably a bit busy from a Xmas break.