ASCOM control of DC focusser motors

Merlin66 (Ken) · #1 03-07-2006, 09:08 AM

Still trying to find a solution to controlling an Orion Accufocus motor from the computer; maybe getting closer. The ASCOM driver set includes the Meade generic focusser LX200 etc which is just a DC motor, so I figure if it can control one it could control another!!?? Or is it usinf something in the Meade controller electronics??
Anyone familiar with the "code" ASCOM uses to switch the motors???? Seems to be serial connect.

Hitchhiker · #2 03-07-2006, 01:10 PM

Merlin66, the Ascom platform has a Focusser 'object' that can be used to control a focusser (obviously).

A question to clear up in my mind what you are trying to do.

How are you connecting your focusser to the computer? (or are you connecting to the focusser socket on a Meade telescope?)

Here is a link to a pdf describing the LX200 (& GPS) serial command protocol:

http://www.meade.com/support/LX200CommandSet.pdf

Look for the focusser commands on page 3.

Merlin66 (Ken) · #3 03-07-2006, 01:30 PM

The Lx200 was by way of example. I'm trying to control the Orion Accufocus DC motor from a PC.

Astroman (Andrew Wall) · #4 03-07-2006, 01:42 PM

I would think you would need to hook up some sort of encoder to it too, so it knows where it is. Making it effectively a servo motor. Would be interesting project, if you can control a servo maybe there is something there. Or even relays to switch the buttons from forward and back.

Merlin66 (Ken) · #5 03-07-2006, 02:06 PM

Using a stepper you just need to have a park/home position and count the number of steps. Can use DSLRfocus to verify the outcome, but need to drive the focusser remotely from the PC. I see that Softmark have a USB stepper driver controller www.ar.com.au/~softmark/page38.html... may be part of the solution.