[Astroman (Andrew Wall)]

Hi all,

Anyone here know how to attach a bracket on a Bintel 8" f/4 Newtonian focuser, so a stepper motor could be added for automated focusing?

I have a set of gears to go from a stepper motor to the knob on the focuser, which will give me a 2:1 ratio. I tried to do this on the 10:1 knob but there was too much play and was giving irregular focusing, I had a bracket I made up but it was very rough, and had to hold it on with another set of rings, I don't really want to do this on the other side as there is not enough room. I had hoped that the existing screws on the focuser could be used, or can they?

Anyone with a Bintel 8" f/4 scope been able to motorise the existing focuser?

EDIT: Or should I do away with the belt drive and attach the stepper motor directly to the shaft? would the stepper have enough torque to move it?


Appreciate all the input.