Orion Accufocus for Crayford?

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

I am very interested in getting the Orion Accufocus but I understand that the Flexi-drive connection will probably not fit the GS Crayford Focuser shaft.

Has anyone solved this simply, or is it a matter of having to make an adapter?

Also, does the cable use a telephone jack? I will need it to reach much further than the stock one.

Any help would be greatful.

[janoskiss (Steve H)]

Not exactly the answer to your question Ken but here it goes anyway...

I fitted the new 10:1 microfocus Crayford to my 12" and it's fantastic. Don't feel the the need to motorise it at all. Fine touch and allows very precise focusing. Nice and simple with no wires or batteries, and extra bits hanging off the scope. $119 from Bintel. What a bargain!

[Astroman (Andrew Wall)]

Whats the diameter of the GS shaft? The hole where the shaft goes into on the Accufocus looks to be around 8mm, I will measure more accurately at work today. It will work if you can get a sleeve to go onto your focusers shaft so it fits snuggly into the accufocus. The accufocus has two grub screws to hold onto the focusers shaft.

[janoskiss (Steve H)]

There is also the issue of attaching the housing of the motor to the focuser. On a R&P you are supposed to use the screws behind the pinion gear, but on the Crayford there is nothing like that. Might have to fix it to the OTA instead. Or use duct tape!!!

[Merlin66 (Ken)]

Its a 8mm fitting. On my Genesis, when I removed the focusser knob I found the shaft was a tapered fit!! from about 10mm down to 8mm, so it would not fit!! Ended up making a small length of 8mm shaft and screwed it into the end of the pinion shaft then fixing the drive unit; also need a small extension plate to match the screws in the focusser housing. Such is life.

[Astroman (Andrew Wall)]

I just measured the inside diameter of the coupler and it came to 8.5mm.

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Thanks Guys!

In response:

Originally Posted by janoskiss

Not exactly the answer to your question Ken but here it goes anyway...

I fitted the new 10:1 microfocus Crayford to my 12" and it's fantastic. Don't feel the the need to motorise it at all. Fine touch and allows very precise focusing. Nice and simple with no wires or batteries, and extra bits hanging off the scope. $119 from Bintel. What a bargain!

I need the Accufocus to be able to focus from about 5 meteres away from the scope Steve, but thanks anyway.

Originally Posted by janoskiss

There is also the issue of attaching the housing of the motor to the focuser. On a R&P you are supposed to use the screws behind the pinion gear, but on the Crayford there is nothing like that. Might have to fix it to the OTA instead. Or use duct tape!!!

Originally Posted by Merlin66

also need a small extension plate to match the screws in the focusser housing.

Already got that sorted. Going to copy Leons method of a great bracket! Thanks.

[janoskiss (Steve H)]

Originally Posted by ballaratdragons

I need the Accufocus to be able to focus from about 5 meteres away from the scope Steve, but thanks anyway.

I see. I can picture it now. The monster EQ a la Bert with focuser at two stories high.

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Umm, yeah. That too Steve. I won't be able to reach the focuser up that high from being at the lappy even if it was right next to the mount!

It's a long way to the top if ya wanna Rock'n'Roll