my moonlite cr2 focuser has arrived

[h0ughy]

yes and I am stunned, it is a work of art!! ordered Friday and delivered today in Australia - absolutely amazing (and so is the Aussie Dollar against the green back). Will have to wait for a rainy day to fit it. Well I be its raining the rest of the week, oh well as long as it clears on saturday to test it.

[Lee]

Which merchant was that??!! I ordered a focuser on Friday from within Australia and still haven't seen it..... :rolleyes:

[h0ughy]

direct from moonlite

[wysiwyg]

They are bloody nice units, I have two myself they ar both with the dc motor option, one for the SCT 9.25 and the other for the ed80.

Is yours with the dc motor and hand controller? as I was very impressed with the focuser the controller they suplly is crap, cheap plastic and crappy. you would think they could match the quality of the HC to their unit.

Sorry for the b i t c h ing, well done you will love it!:thumbsup:

[Dennis]

I think that the electronics “black box” for motorising the focuser is a bought in add-on from Rigel Systems (http://www.rigelsys.com/).

You can also get the James Lacey “LazyFocus DC Motor Interface (http://www.lazyfocus.com/)” for software assisted focusing.

Cheers

Dennis

[Orion]

Can you show us a pic of it Houghy?

[gbeal]

Is it ASCOM compatably Hough, can you use it to auto-focus?

[h0ughy]

ok THERE ARE NO MOTORS ATTACHED - I WAS NOT THAT RICH!! It has the standard tri knob dual focuser and boy is it smooth. Scott and I had a play with it last night (actually opened it after he captured comet leonos). the best bit I dont have to drill a single hole - it is already drilled and tapped with mounting hex screws for the vixen R200SS. I will do some pictures later when we doctor the scope!!

[Dennis]

Here are a couple of photos of the motorised version for the Tak Mewlon 180. The motorised model is ASCOM compliant too.

Cheers

Dennis

[h0ughy]

this is the unit and the universal mounting kit taken from the moonlite web site - exact colour and even though I didnt order it I was given the tri knob version and got the 8" mounting kit

Qty Description Sub Total


1 MoonLite Dual Rate Crayford Focuser (Model CR2) $305.00
1 Universal Install Kit for CR1 and CR2 Focusers $45.00 in US dollars delivery was 44 dollars and I got it within 4 days!!

[wavelandscott]

I've got Moonlite focusers on two of my scopes...I like them a lot.

Ron from Moonlite was very good top work with and they were suprisingly fast in getting stuff shipped to Sydney from the US...

Congratulations on the new gear, I hope it brings you great joy!

[h0ughy]

:scared::scared: I fitted the new focuser onto the vixen yesterday, not an easy task as there wasnt much room to use the hex key inside the scope, but I didnt have to drill a single hole:thumbsup:. it was then that I broke out the new baader MPCC and the astronmik CLS filter and put it together then attached it to the cooled 350D.:sadeyes::sadeyes:thats when it happened, you only have to breath on it and the focus slips!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It is a beautiful focuser, but it now puzzles me as to why it doesnt have a locking knob:shrug:. I know I should have investigated this before I bought it - well actually I thought I had in reviews like http://www.astromart.com/articles/article.asp?article_id=231 and http://www.pixel-shooter.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6032 and yes looking very hard inthe photos of the second link you can see a locking knurled nut. I have sent off an email to Ron from moonlite to see if he can fix my problem. i do not recall an option of having to order a locking knob when I ordered my unit?

[iceman]

Beautiful looking gear! I'm considering (only remotely) replacing the focuser on my 12" with a low-profile moonlite, so that my DSLR could reach focus.

Maybe one day.

On the ED80, the standard crayford does the job. It's not ideal but with care and patience (and ImagesPlus focus tool) I seem to be able to get critical focus. Trying to lock the focuser without having it shift is the biggest hassle.

[Dennis]

Hi Dave

Hmm, that is most unwelcome news! Granted that my MoonLite is the Tak motorised version, specified at 8lbs carrying weight, it easily holds the following combo:

Tak x0.8 Reducer/Flattener
SBIG CFW8A colour filter wheel
SBIG ST7E ccd camera

For the MoonLite Dual Rate Crayford Focuser (Model CR2), the Moonlite website states:

“Vertical lifting capacity is 8 lbs. and is user adjustable for even greater capacity if needed”.

Contact them to see what you should be adjusting, it sounds like you should be able to fix this?

Cheers

Dennis

[h0ughy]

I have sent an email off to Ron Dennis asking this point. Although I dare say that it could be adjusted (one or both of the recessed hex screws int he base) the locking knob would have been better:( . Note I did only get this at the beginning of the month when the AUS dollar was above 92 cents US) so for me its a record that i fitted it within the same month:rofl:. I just hope some good can come of this, I would hate to have to go back to ther R&P old focuser:mad2:

[h0ughy]

I thought you already had one Mike?:shrug:

[iceman]

That was on my old 10". :(

[h0ughy]

mmm I thought you took that off to sell, oh well:shrug:.

[h0ughy]

"Compression ring style draw tube and 1 1/4" adapter option only $40.00.
MoonLite now offers a brass compression ring draw tube and adapter option for CR1 and CR2 Newtonian focusers that . The 2" compression ring draw tubes come in 5 sizes, standard 2" travel size, a 1.75" travel version, and a shorty 1.5" travel size, plus extra long travel sizes in 2.37" and 2.75" versions. All include a 1 1/4" adapter that also has a brass compression ring. The adapter is extra deep and is threaded for 2" filters. The option must be picked at the time of ordering the focuser, as it is not sold separately as a user installed upgrade.
Note: Optional compression ring draw tubes add 3/8" of additional height to accommodate the brass compression ring. " I remember reading this and this part was ordered as I took particular notice to the "need greater weight/holding ability of heavy EPs, cameras, and accessories such as bino viewers". perhaps that where I over assumed too much and should have asked for a locking knob anyway. So I beleive that this could have been my fault all along, my own naivety and assumptions?

[Dennis]

Hey Dave

It can be quite tricky purchasing goods over the internet without having had the opportunity to handle them and inspect them first hand. Often, when you are able to pick something up and play with it, your mind is jogged into considering other factors previously submerged in the bland views of the 2 dimensional space and text of the web.

I hope you are able to resolve this. Otherwise, I’m sure someone out there would be glad to purchase an almost new unit!

Cheers

Dennis

[h0ughy]

Ron Newman from Moonlite contacted me today, he said for me :

" You have to adjust the pressure /lifting capacity of the focuser to meet your needs. All Crayford focusers work under a pressure type load design and can be set for a very light touch / low load capacity, or a heavier touch/ high load capacity. It is up to the user to adjust the focuser for the required load. They are basically set light to medium for typical Newtonian use when shipped.

To adjust a Newtonian focuser------ Turn up the pressure by turning the 2 set screws under the moonlite logo in a clock wise direction only abut 1/20th of a turn then test with the heaviest load you will be using. repeat if you need a little more, but a very small amount will yeild a good amount of lifting capacity. All Crayford focuser require some kind of pressure adjustment to be made regardless of brand. It is just how Crayford focusers work."

so thats exactly what I will do this afternoon!!

[EzyStyles]

let us know how you go houghy as im interested in a moonlite also. Also, from the pics you have attached with base plate etc, it looks abit high to reach "in-focus" with a 350d? you might have to move your primary mirrors closer abit. Although if you are planning to use both filters inplace at once with the baader mpcc, that does help abit with in-focus.

[Sentinel]

By the experiences read in this thread, I am glad I took heed to the advice given to me by a 'guru' when I bought my Feathertouch.

Pay more and get the brake my friend.

[h0ughy]

no eric you only put on what you need, so easy to get focus. i left out the large one;)

[h0ughy]

Yet to see this out with the adjustments - do tonight

[h0ughy]

here is the focuser - I adjusted the tension screws and it made a big difference - but i am still unsure as to whether it will stay where I focus it to for a length of time.

[Orion]

Looks great and I hope it doesn't slip!

[h0ughy]

yes there is a fix Offered by Ron
"See attached photo of what the shaft lock option looks like. It uses a mini brass compression ring system on the regular knob side that locks the shaft with out pressing on the drawtube like other lock systems can. Other traditional lock systems tend to move the image when pressing against the drawtube, that is why this new design locks the shaft so the image is not disturbed."

so its in the post this afternoon, hope I get it back next week?

[iceman]

Just in time for the weather to clear?

[h0ughy]

so it is going to be crappy until I get it back - well I wont panic then

[h0ughy]

well its on its way to get the lock added

[spacezebra]

Hi David

Nice MoonLite!!!!

You are such a copy cat:P

Cheers Petra

[h0ughy]

show me yours then!!!:P