Orion Accufocus

barees63 · #1 29-01-2006, 09:56 AM

I've been looking at the Orion AccuFocus electronic focuser adapter for R&P focusers has anyone here got one of these? They are advertised in AS&T (by sirius-optics) at AUD95 and in the US they are about USD49, I've read a few reviews of them and they sound quite good, looks like they'd fit a GSO focuser without modification (or with minor modification to the bracket at most)..

I'm real interested to hear if anyone has tried one with a GSO scope?

But I think I going to go for it, I just need to find out the cheapest (eg best shipping) place to import one from..

janoskiss (Steve H) · #2 29-01-2006, 12:11 PM

You won't do much better than $AU95, with postage and US-AU$ conversion, so why not just get it from SO?

barees63 · #3 29-01-2006, 12:28 PM

I might in the end if they ship to NZ, but postage from Australia to New Zealand can be more expensive than from the US (I don't know why), AUD95 is fairly high considering the real price is under USD50 (AUD65)..

barees63 · #4 30-01-2006, 07:27 AM

well, I bought one off AstroMart, around AUD80 including shipping for "New in Box". If it works out I'll post a mini-review with installation pics if anyone's interested..

janoskiss (Steve H) · #5 30-01-2006, 08:31 AM

That would be great. Thanks!

netwolf · #6 30-01-2006, 07:36 PM

ya Bruce, pls post some details. Will this work only with the R&P Focuser or can it be adapted for a Crayford also. I have an R&P And was thinking of upgrading but the reviews of this on Cloudynights forums are very promising on a R&P focuser. Also does one need to get the helical 2" to 1.25" adapter also for this, does it add any benfits.

Regards
Netwolf

anthony2302749 · #7 30-01-2006, 10:05 PM

Have you looked at Rigel Systems nFocus plus motor http://www.rigelsys.com/.
It avaliable in Australia. I use one on my ED80

barees63 · #8 31-01-2006, 10:09 AM

What advantages would a motorised Crayford have over a motorised R&P focuser?

janoskiss (Steve H) · #9 31-01-2006, 10:33 AM

That Rigel one is pretty expensive compared to the Orion one. I imagine you would still get image shift with an R&P, motorised or not. I can't see why the Orion one couldn't be made to work with the Crayfords.

On the subject of Rigelsys, anyone know who sells their products (I'd like to get a quickfinder).

davidpretorius · #10 31-01-2006, 11:10 AM

i am having huge problems working out what the motorized crayford is sooooo expensive!!!

I am about to build a hand controller for focussing (my computer linked one is ok, but i think a hand controller would be better) , and thought i could adapt the r&P rigel one instead for a crayford. It is a 4mm shaft on the crayford, which throw in a coupler, and some stabilizing legs, then i can't see why they try and charge so much

netwolf · #11 31-01-2006, 12:54 PM

The rigel one says it will work with GSO crayford focusers, like the ones on the Meade Lightbridge (specifcally mentioned). I am guessing it maybe better to buy a GSO Crayford and then add the Nfocus from Rigel. But a cheaper upgrade for my current system would be to just get the Orion AccuFocus + helical adapter and upgrade to a crayford later.

Regards

davidpretorius · #12 31-01-2006, 01:00 PM

i assume the basic versions attach to the actual wheel of the R&P focusser, if they can be attached to the shaft and still have enough range for fine tuning, it might be worth adapting it?

has anyone got a better picture of it or some specs. The 1.8 degree stepper motors i ripped out of a 5 1/4" disk drive and then directly coupled 1:1 with the shaft of the focusser gave me 10 steps where it was very hard to notice any change in focus. It was very precise!!

I think i will still investigate building a stepper driver and a few push buttons to try and run the 1.8 degree stepper via battery

barees63 · #13 31-01-2006, 01:39 PM

David - Were you asking about the AccuFocus? My understanding is you remove one of the knobs then couple the motor to the shaft via an included coupler. The actual motor mounts to the focuser via an L-Shaped bracket that attaches via two of the bolts that hold the little plate underneath the (R&P) focuser.

NetWolf.. I don't believe you require the helical adapter but I could be wrong, anyway - all should be revealed in a couple of weeks when I actually get my grubby little hands on it.

davidpretorius · #14 31-01-2006, 02:45 PM

that sounds more promising. if it is geared to attach to the shaft then it should n't matter whether it is r&P or a crayford. Some mods may be needed to get the focusser to get a solid base on a crayford, but that should be easy.

I would love to check out some photos when she arrives Bruce

barees63 · #15 31-01-2006, 02:57 PM

In the meantime: http://www.cityastronomy.com/accufocus.htm

[1ponders] (Paul) · #16 31-01-2006, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by janoskiss

On the subject of Rigelsys, anyone know who sells their products (I'd like to get a quickfinder).

Try BATSC/Bintel Steve.

janoskiss (Steve H) · #17 31-01-2006, 03:11 PM

BATSC don't exist no more and Bintel only sell the Telrad (which I've got already), but for an 8" scope or smaller, the Rigel quickfinder would be more suitable.

Come to think of it maybe Andrews has them. I've seen them on a couple of their Dobs members here posted pics of.

lost_in_space · #18 31-01-2006, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by janoskiss

BATSC don't exist no more and Bintel only sell the Telrad (which I've got already), but for an 8" scope or smaller, the Rigel quickfinder would be more suitable.

Come to think of it maybe Andrews has them. I've seen them on a couple of their Dobs members here posted pics of.

Andrews does have them, I got one with my new scope.

[1ponders] (Paul) · #19 31-01-2006, 06:15 PM

I'm pretty sure they still sell the focusers with motor Steve.

netwolf · #20 31-01-2006, 07:05 PM

Paul,
please confirm does Bintel sell Orion Accufocus?

FYI cloudynights thread on Helical vs Accufocus.. It seems some people are very happy with what the accufocus can do for your average R&P focuser.
http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthrea...ev=#Post790953
and the Helical review at Astromart..

http://www.astromart.com/articles/ar...article_id=347

Would it not be better to use both, best of both worlds. Motor focus and helical for fine adjustments.. all for USD $100 pretty cheap.. for those of us on a budget.

Regards
Netwolf.