Toying with another idea!

asimov (John) · #1 08-06-2005, 12:41 AM

I've found I dont bother using the Synta DEC motor on my eq5 mount, so I took it off all-together awhile back.

I've been thinking of sticking it on the R&P focuser on the refractor. I can then use the hand-paddle, but instead of moving the scope in DEC I'll be focusing remotely instead!

Anyone thought of this? & if so, does it work? I cant think of a reason why it wouldn't.....Can you?

johnno · #2 08-06-2005, 12:56 AM

Totally agree John,
I cant see why it wouldn,t work,Sounds like a good idea to me in fact I have a couple of el cheapo motors And might try one myself,on my ED80
I think a button to switch the power on and off,might be a little better and more reliable than the slide switch,(on mine anyway).I would still use the slide switch to change direction,but useing the slide switch to turn it off at exactly the right moment might be a little dodgy.
Regards.John

RAJAH235 · #3 08-06-2005, 01:01 AM

What can one say? See Mike's post 'Motorised Focuser'.

L.

asimov (John) · #4 08-06-2005, 02:48 PM

Yes Laurie, I checked out all the photo's of the motorized focusers. I just fiqured seeing I've got this motor I dont use, may as well try to find an application for it somewhere other than it's intended use. I have 3 scopes I wanna eventually get a motor-focus on....so I wont be forgetting that you make them!

ving (David) · #5 08-06-2005, 03:12 PM

@ laurie!

RAJAH235 · #6 09-06-2005, 08:29 PM

L.
Must be getting older!!!

Luvya ving.

slice of heaven · #7 09-06-2005, 08:45 PM

Strgazr27 did exactly that
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...ead.php?t=1487
Posts 3 to 6

asimov (John) · #8 09-06-2005, 09:25 PM

Well. I've been sitting next to the scope for near on 5 hrs. trying to come up with firstly, a way to mount the damn motor....secondly, how to drive it. There's no existing screws in the OTA to mount a bracket to, apart from the screws that hold the focuser assembly to the tube...hmmmm....I dont want to un-screw those in case it 'un-squares' the focuser assembly..I spose I could just use 1 screw..

I have 2 choices re: driving it. 'O' ring belt or gears. Using gears mean coming up with a clutch system if I wanna coarsely manual focus.

Dont mind me folks....I'm just basically thinking out loud.

Thanks Slice by the way, re:Strgazr27 mod.

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #9 09-06-2005, 10:59 PM

Hehe! I use the motorised finger-focuser method.

Thumb moves up, focus in.
Thumb moves down, focus out.

Works every time and the batteries don't go flat. Doesn't make any noise either.

asimov (John) · #10 10-06-2005, 12:13 AM

You got a point Ken!

cometcatcher (Kevin) · #11 10-06-2005, 01:07 AM

Yeah but the last method is subject to vibration, depending on how much caffeine/sleep the "motor" has had.

asimov (John) · #12 10-06-2005, 01:19 AM

RAJAH235 · #13 11-06-2005, 12:50 AM

I resent that noisy remark, Ken. My units are extemely quiet, & I haven't changed the 2 x AA's since 2003.

L.
ps. Just kidding.

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #14 11-06-2005, 01:34 AM

Hehe,

I'm just jealous of motorised focusers,
and motorised tracking
and motorised gotos
and laptops
and . . . .
and . .

asimov (John) · #15 12-06-2005, 12:02 PM

Yeah...I'm even jealous of motorised EQ mounts at this stage!

#16 26-06-2005, 05:23 PM

Asimov,

That's a great idea!!! I'm like you would love a moto-focuser (for imaging). And hell I dont use my DEC moto much either prefering to manually control it even when imaging.

Please let me know how you go

regards

asimov (John) · #17 26-06-2005, 05:59 PM

G'day Rob. this project is on my list of "to-do's" But I've been thinking I hardly need it, with the radial arm set-up I've got on it now. The arm work's great. But 1 day soon I will do it, just to see how it go's....I'll keep you posted.