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Stepper motor focussed advice


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I'd like to use the auto focus routine in my îmaging software. I presume I need a steeper motor based focusser for this. I have several scopes though and think this could end up being very expensive. If I get a moonlight focusser and motor plus all the bits to connect it to one scope does anyone know if I'd then be able to add other self made stepper motors to my other scopes and simply connect up the moonlights control box/usb connections and use that? Failing that, how easy is an and anduino based system to build? I think I've seen posts on here, but they seem to presume more knowledge re the

Anduino and electronics than I possess. Any help much appreciated. My scopes are listed in my signature and ideally I'd like all of them to have a stepper based system on them. I intend to put a moonlight on my SCT and that's why I was thinking along the lines initially mentioned. Thank you.

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If you already have a good focuser on your scope, then a bolt on solution lake the Lakeside works very well. At most you will have to bend yourself a bracket, but he does have brackets for quite a few standard focusers. I use his motors only as I have my own electronics design, but I have used the electronics also and found them excellent.

Robofocus is another possible solution, but their motors have lesser gear ratios, so not as accurate as the Lakeside. Lunatico in Spain sells motors and electronics as well, geared about the same as the Robofocus ones.

So, you do not have to resort to a complete solution, and you do not have to worry about electronics or Arduinos.

Final point is that a unit, such as the ones I mentioned, attaches to the 1:1 axis, not the 10:1.

All the best,

Per

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I use the Lakeside for different scopes from refractors to reflectors.  As Per says, you can get mounting brackets for a range of different focusers (or make them yourself).  All it needs is a simple re-calibration when you attach it to a different scope, so that it knows what the limits of travel are.

Chris

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SharpSky Pro is another option. I use one on my Esprit 80. Dave is very helpful if you drop him a line.

I also have Moonlite DRO focus/ rotator. Excellent & built like a tank. A Mcllelan motor (same as lakeside I think?) driven with my MountHub Pro and a motor from lunatico on my other Esprit.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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