Electronic Focuser.. Progress so far.. - Page 2

elusiver · #21 25-07-2005, 09:50 PM

thanks for the pic asimov.. will have a look through my jaycar and rs catalogues as well.. we'll wait n see if the rj-11 cable works first.

el

davidpretorius · #22 25-07-2005, 10:05 PM

hi lex,

are you running windows 98?, keen to see how you go with this!

elusiver · #23 25-07-2005, 10:13 PM

nop.. both my home systems and my lappy run xp pro.. my work lappy runs 2k..

so yes.. the motor does work with 2k and XP

but it uses the parallel port.. i'm not even gonna think of trying to make something thats usb..

el

davidpretorius · #24 25-07-2005, 10:21 PM

definately very interested in how you got around this, without giving any secrets you may want to keep to your chest of course.

thru printer port with xp pro way to go. the toucam will be in the usb

elusiver · #25 25-07-2005, 10:49 PM

with a fair bit of searching

i'm not gonna take credit for something that i didn't code myself.. trick was to use a worldwide google search

.. ended up finding some code in chinese.. and even though i couldn't make head to tails of alot of it.. ended up working in the end

el

davidpretorius · #26 27-07-2005, 10:09 AM

Hi,

As my toucam is currently plugged into the parallel port for the long exposure stuff and 1 usb port for general avi capture, that leaves the three usb ports the only option for telescope control. Did a search and found

http://www.usbmicro.com/

There is a stepper motor set up

http://usbmicro.com/odn/documents/197.html

I will have a look at whats involved and get back to you all

elusiver · #27 27-07-2005, 01:44 PM

dave.. looks good..

bit of a pain getting the phase sequence for motors though.. but i'm sure u should be able to get it for the one u'r using. Actually.. i think i might have a couple spare steppers in my junk box at home that u could use.. but u'd have to find out all the details.

So you'd probably got from the USB controller out to a darlington(uln 2003) array then to the motor coils. Definately doable.

el

davidpretorius · #28 27-07-2005, 02:20 PM

haven't got any motors or controllers yet, may take you up and buying some of your old ones. I spose my first step is to investigate controller first etc

elusiver · #29 04-08-2005, 09:51 PM

Update! The software is just about finished

Just some final testing then figuring out how to make an installation package

But this is pretty much the final layout. All controls are working and it's now saving the presets when you exit the program(got the text file thing sorted

). I think next week will be a killer at work as we're re-launching our website so realisticly I'd say work beginning on the mount maybe the following week, but have a couple of ideas on the drive(thanks rajah!) buzzing round my head.

el

acropolite (Phil) · #30 04-08-2005, 09:58 PM

BTW David, There are plenty of stepper motors out there, for free, in old printers. I have a circuit diagram for an interface for Epson stepper motors (which are quite common).

#31 13-08-2005, 03:23 AM

I was thinking of building something similar using the DEC motor on my EQ5 mount. However since I dont need it to be puter controlled, I was intending to incorporate the clutch and gears that comes with it.

regards

[1ponders] (Paul) · #32 13-08-2005, 11:25 AM

El if you get the chance to have a look at a JMI NGF-CM focuser. To switch from motorized to manual is simplicity itself. The motor is mounted internally but you should be able to work out something similar. There is s screw on the bottom of the housing that when you unscrew it slightly the the bottom of the housing drops down (its under spring pressure) and disengages the motor gear from the fosuser gear. When you want to use the motor again you just tighten up the screw to re-engage the two gears. You would loose your counter but there would be no pressure on the stepper motor at all, it being disengaged

Wombat_In_Space (Darren) · #33 18-11-2005, 11:53 AM

El here are the photos of how I mounted the stepper and driving the focuser via belt drive, I haven't yet tested the computer control side of it yet I am hoping to get to test it this weekend.

RAJAH235 · #34 19-11-2005, 12:46 AM

Looks good. Has it's own 'inbuilt clutch assy.'. Simple too.

L.

davidpretorius · #35 19-11-2005, 07:52 AM

Well done Wombat, better than my piece of wood!!!

I have found that when running my direct coupled 1.8 degree stepper on the crayford at 1/2 step, i have ample amounts of steps to focus.

It feels like there are 10ish positions where the focus is spot on. I would need to test on a really still night, Bird was happy with the range I got without gearing

Wombat_In_Space (Darren) · #36 20-11-2005, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidpretorius

Well done Wombat, better than my piece of wood!!!

I have found that when running my direct coupled 1.8 degree stepper on the crayford at 1/2 step, i have ample amounts of steps to focus.

It feels like there are 10ish positions where the focus is spot on. I would need to test on a really still night, Bird was happy with the range I got without gearing

Well till I test it fully i have chossen to run a small size diference in the pullies I may go to running the same size pulley on both ends so it would end up 1:1

Wombat_In_Space (Darren) · #37 22-11-2005, 07:02 PM

Well I finished the manual control box for the electronic focuser now need to find out why the computer control side of the unit is not working.

davidpretorius · #38 22-11-2005, 07:22 PM

is the computer on????

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wombat_In_Space

Well I finished the manual control box for the electronic focuser now need to find out why the computer control side of the unit is not working.

Wombat_In_Space (Darren) · #39 22-11-2005, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidpretorius

is the computer on????

Yes the computer is on as I am typing on it

davidpretorius · #40 22-11-2005, 07:43 PM

is your keyboard there or are your fingers joined to your hands???

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wombat_In_Space

Yes the computer is on as I am typing on it