bintel SCT focuser automation

[graham.hobart (Graham stevens)]

hi- I bought one https://www.bintel.com.au/product/bi...h-sct-focuser/ these...
and also something similar to this from ali express...
https://www.bintel.com.au/product/sk...c-focus-motor/

But I have no idea how I can connect the two.
Advice please
Graz

edited link for focuser

https://www.bintel.com.au/product/bi...h-sct-focuser/

[Leo.G (Leo)]

The top link you provided leads to thus:

Page not found

The link you followed may be broken, or the page may have been removed.

Makes it a bit hard to get any idea of the problem.


https://www.bintel.com.au/product/bi...h-sct-focuser/


If you edit your thread and remove the "of" at the end of your first link it will then work


I can't see the attachment point of the remote focuser but I'm going to guess you have to remove one of the knobs from the focuser itself and attach the motor drive unit to the shaft via the collar on the end. As for the remote unit having a suitable bracket to screw into place I'm going to guess it won't without some type of connector plate. It will be a trial and error type fit I'm guessing because the device is designed to fit directly on the Skywatcher focusers which are different I believe to the Bintel unit. I only have Skywatcher refractor focusers laying around, not SCT units but I'm guessing they are much alike as standard.

[chrisp9au (Chris)]

My solution was fairly simple but it works!
I have a box of cogs, bearings etc; stuff that will come in handy one day!
The pics should explain everything, not pretty but...

[Leo.G (Leo)]

Nice job Chris and that's why I have little gear sets I strip from defunct printers laying everywhere. They often get used in my astro-butchering projects.
Remote focusers are always an issue unless you spend the big money. I have fitted one to a Williams Optics Synta refractor focuser WO said couldn't be done. It took an engineer friend machining some small studs and a lot of brain power, something I'm not commonly known for.
I'll put a photo later (maybe now if it's already uploaded to a photo site).


https://i.postimg.cc/cCqnxFfN/IMG-1028.jpg


https://i.postimg.cc/k4RSP06c/IMG-1027.jpg


In saying that, I haven't even tried it because I have this near new RC8 which requires a different solution and I haven't had the old Skywatcher 6" achromatic refractor out or connected the new Raspberry pi 4 up with a motor driver to control it. One day........
Oh, I'm going to do lots of things "ONE DAY", I just don't think any of it will be within the next week or two.

[graham.hobart (Graham stevens)]

yes thanks for that advice. I have fitted focusers before and the question is really the screws on the focuser body to utilise for the motor mounting hard wear-they're seem to be 3 choices plus the lock mechanism.

[graham.hobart (Graham stevens)]

Here we are

[Leo.G (Leo)]

At a guess I'd say the two larger outer diameter screws, they hold the body together. Fit studs with nuts to lock it together and extra nuts to hold your remote plate in place.

The centre screw (I don't have the Bintel focuser but believe my GSO is very similar) is what holds a small nylon block in place to keep tension on the rotating shaft. The lock knob applies the actual tension but the screw locates the block.
I'll have to strip one of mine down, I have a spare one for the 8" RC.

[5ash (Philip)]

My fix was to attach the motor to a bracket and connect it via a rubber belt to the fine focus control. My focuser is the premium gso focuser which is similar to the bintel one. Might be a bit messy but works well. Attached pics of it attached to my c11.
Regards philip

[5ash (Philip)]

Originally Posted by chrisp9au

My solution was fairly simple but it works!
I have a box of cogs, bearings etc; stuff that will come in handy one day!
The pics should explain everything, not pretty but...

Looks a good fix for visual but still retains the image shift common in the regular SCT focuser, which makes fine focus for photography tricky.
Regards philip

[chrisp9au (Chris)]

Thanks Philip, only doing visual.
I'm at an age where the KISS principle rules!