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Arduino Ascom focuser Mark2


tekkydave

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I had a go at making a remote focuser to use with my 127MAK a while back http://stargazerslounge.com/topic/202282-ascom-and-arduino/

At the time It was a purely manual device with a 5-way switch to set the direction and speed with a rotary encoder to do fine adjustments. I wanted to turn it into an Ascom-driven device so I can use it remotely from my PC. It also needed a better way of attaching to the scope tube as I was using an old belt to keep it in place which wasn't always reliable.

So, since then I have got to grips with writing Ascom drivers which isn't as painful as you might think. I chose C#, which I already had a grounding in and used Visual Studio 2010 and the Ascom Platform & Developer Tools. I have a working device based on an Arduino Nano and associated sketch. The sketch is a modified version of the one I wrote for the mk1 device with the code for the switch and rotary encoder removed. I have added additional code so the nano can interface with the Ascom Driver. I had to decide on the format of the messages sent to/from the nano by the driver but apart from that most of the work in the driver is already done for you in the template. I plan to document the driver, sketch and circuit diagram in due course.

I have also decided to move the components to a smaller box to make it easier to fix to the scope.

I needed a way to fix the device that was secure and simple. The dovetail bar on the ota projects back a little from the mount when it is clamped up and I made it longer still by removing it and replacing it reversed back to front. I had a mild brainwave and decided to cut up some old cork place mats to make a simple dovetail clamp/mounting plate.

I started by cutting a cardboard template then used that to cut out the cork mats. I needed two with the dovetail shape cut out and two with just the profile of the ota.

post-28249-0-57129500-1402863183_thumb.j

The next step was to drill out the centre of a toothed cog to fit over the focus knob on the ota. With the mk1 device I was simply putting the belt over the focus knob and relying on friction to stop it slipping which wasn't always reliable.

post-28249-0-87008100-1402863528_thumb.j

post-28249-0-63774800-1402863839_thumb.j

I then glued all the cork pieces together to make a single lightweight block which will slide over the end of the dovetail and which I can mount the focuser device on.

post-28249-0-13259900-1402863742_thumb.j

post-28249-0-63102300-1402863784_thumb.j

The next step will be to mount the rest of the components in the box and mount it on the cork block.

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I have created a sourceforge page to host the software & documentation. This is the first time I have used SF so I don't really know what I'm doing :grin:.

https://sourceforge.net/projects/arduinoascomfocuser/

At the moment all I have done is upload the Arduino sketch and the Visual Studio solution.

The VS solution contains 3 projects:

AAF2 - the Ascom driver

AAF2Test - a command line test program

FocusAAF2 - a simple Winforms client application to drive the focuser.

This was built using Visual Studio 2010 and you will need the Ascom platform 6.1 and Ascom Developer Tools installed. I haven't tried building it with any of the free 'express' versions of VS.

I'll be adding documentation to the wiki over the next few weeks including parts list, schematic plus anything else I think is relevant. The code still needs some work but I've put it up as-is so you can take a look. Ive used Subversion for source code control as its what im most familiar with. If you need a client I can recommend TortoiseSVN which makes life easier as it integrates into the Windows Explorer.

Edited by tekkydave
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Its by far the best DIY project ive done

Heres mine for my C9.25

I'm going to look at making a smaller more portable version for my 127 as well, something that is removable for a start.

Looking good, may have to un-ashameable rob some ideas

post-9689-0-32219100-1402943749_thumb.jp

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The biggest issue I have had is how to fix the focuser to the ota. There are no easy mounting points on the 127 and I don't fancy drilling holes. Hence the cork block solution. It may be temporary for now and will probably make way for a better connection to the dovetail but commercial clamps are expensive, around £60 last time I looked. Maybe I need to find someone with a 3D printer :grin:

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This looks like a great project, I'll certainly have a go. I've never used an Arduino but I've been itching to have a go.

If you could do an idiots guide for getting an Arduino talking to Ascom it would be greatly appreciated.

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The best place to start is the Ascom website. It has some very clear explanations of what Ascom is all about. There are also some links to videos that show you how to create a driver. Thats how I picked it up. I intend to create a standard installer for my driver but I dont get much time to spend on it at the moment.

Sent from my Samsung G4S using Tapatalk.

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This looks like a great project, I'll certainly have a go. I've never used an Arduino but I've been itching to have a go.

If you could do an idiots guide for getting an Arduino talking to Ascom it would be greatly appreciated.

Totally worth having a go, for my C9.25 the bits required to change out the focuser & the motorised focuser came to nearly £800. I put mine together for just over a £100. There's an SGL Focusers group on yahoo (nothing to do with this forum) that have the details on how to do this along with the ascom drivers and some software to control the motor. Once I'm home later I can post some links

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Ill be adding full details of my Arduino on the sourceforge wiki including circuit and parts as soon as I can.

That would be great. Arduino and ascom sounds a great combination for diy.

Sent from my Samsung G4S using Tapatalk.

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Parts list has been added to the wiki on the sourceforge page.

https://sourceforge.net/p/arduinoascomfocuser/wiki/Home/

Next job is get a decent schematic. I had one drawn for the Mk1 focuser using gEda on Linux. When I went to look at it again some of the annotations (pin numbers, signal names etc) had disappeared. Hopefully I will get it done at the weekend.

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Hence the cork block solution. It may be temporary for now and will probably make way for a better connection to the dovetail but commercial clamps are expensive, around £60 last time I looked. Maybe I need to find someone with a 3D printer :grin:

Rather than a 3D printer (using a commercial "shop" seems to work out at about 10p per cm³ ) what I've started using are HDPE kitchen chopping boards as a raw material. These come in nice convenient flat sheets of various thicknesses and are easily workable with hand tools and can also be heated, if you're careful, and molded into rough-ish shapes.

The only drawback so far is that I haven't found an adhesive that sticks them reliably, so thickness needs to be added by mechanical attachment: screws, etc.

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Rather than a 3D printer (using a commercial "shop" seems to work out at about 10p per cm³ ) what I've started using are HDPE kitchen chopping boards as a raw material. These come in nice convenient flat sheets of various thicknesses and are easily workable with hand tools and can also be heated, if you're careful, and molded into rough-ish shapes.

The only drawback so far is that I haven't found an adhesive that sticks them reliably, so thickness needs to be added by mechanical attachment: screws, etc.

Top tip of the day.

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Parts list has been added to the wiki on the sourceforge page.

https://sourceforge.net/p/arduinoascomfocuser/wiki/Home/

Next job is get a decent schematic. I had one drawn for the Mk1 focuser using gEda on Linux. When I went to look at it again some of the annotations (pin numbers, signal names etc) had disappeared. Hopefully I will get it done at the weekend.

Thank you very much, I'm off shopping.

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Thank you very much, I'm off shopping.

If you dont want to solder directly to the nano pins you may need some 0.1" crimp connectors and a crimp tool. [emoji2]

Sent from my Samsung G4S using Tapatalk.

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Rather than a 3D printer (using a commercial "shop" seems to work out at about 10p per cm³ ) what I've started using are HDPE kitchen chopping boards as a raw material. These come in nice convenient flat sheets of various thicknesses and are easily workable with hand tools and can also be heated, if you're careful, and molded into rough-ish shapes.

The only drawback so far is that I haven't found an adhesive that sticks them reliably, so thickness needs to be added by mechanical attachment: screws, etc.

Great idea. Im still finding cork crumbs all over my office after making the cork block. It is extremely light though but may not stand up to wear and tear. [emoji2]

Sent from my Samsung G4S using Tapatalk.

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If you dont want to solder directly to the nano pins you may need some 0.1" crimp connectors and a crimp tool. [emoji2]

Sent from my Samsung G4S using Tapatalk.

I put my Nanos in sockets.

Edited by Gina
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For anyone chomping at the bit, soldering iron in hand here is a sketch to show how to connect the stepper motor control board to the nano. This will work with the sketch I have posted on the sourceforge site. If you want to use different pins on the nano you can simply change the pins defined in the sketch.

post-28249-0-22132300-1403160219_thumb.j

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