sloz1664

Hi Ted,

I purchased the pulley and belt from:- https://www.hpcgears.com/n/products/1.pulleys_belts/pulleys_belts.php

You could also try:- https://www.beltingonline.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=213&gclid=CjwKCAjw5fzrBRASEiwAD2OSV0B9sUJZY2HMfTLUrBucMSQb7aHcK8ODQMNPoxKaluk_VZBvHZZu0hoCXBMQAvD_BwE

Steve

I have built three MyFocuser units for each of my three scopes and use Nema 17 stepper motors, one being a 27:1 geared unit and is directly affixed to my WO Star 1:1 focuser control side. It easily holds my filter wheel, OAG, Lodestarx2 and Atik 383 without slippage. I would never fit the geared Nema 17 to the 10:1 micro focus side of a focuser, any mishaps and the torque of the Nema 27:1 motor would seriously damage the fine gearing of the micro focuser. My other two focusers are driven via toothed belts.

Steve

Hi Barnes, and a very warm welcome to the lounge

Steve

Hi David, and a very warm welcome to the Lounge

Steve

Hi Hugh,

Thanks for the update. I've now received all the components to build the project. Hopefully should start building Friday.

Kind regards

Steve

Totally agree with all comments regarding full dome installation. With exceptions of:- Use Cat6 cable for future proofing, even optic cable if you can install it. Minimum three ducts with two spare "pulla wires" in each duct, in case you need to add any additional cables.

Steve

Hi MrL, and a very warm welcome to the Lounge

Steve

Any chance of Charon next time? Seriously, Pluto is extremely difficult presently as you have stated. Think of the long lonely nights Clyde Tombaugh endured whilst gathering evidence of the existence of Pluto.

Steve

Hi, and a very warm welcome to the Lounge

Steve

Hi, and a very warm welcome to the Lounge

Steve

The problem with autofocus is that you have to be reasonably focused in the first place to get it to work effectively.

Steve

11 hours ago, tomato said:

Thanks Steve, they ended up like that to support the ducting, plus some other off cuts from making the shed warm room base. They significantly reduced the number of mixes needed to fill the base section. 

Absolutely, I did similar, any old rubble I had lying around went into "the pit"

Steve

Thats a damn fine hole & I like the Feng Shui layout of the blocks as well

Steve

Just now, Whirlwind said:

If you have a relatively large amount of backfocus to play with a helical focuser between the corrector and the imaging set up can work wonders...

I use a Baader Variable Locking T2 Extension in my imaging train. The tilt stems from the CCD sensor.

Steve

12 minutes ago, Gina said:

Just thought of that myself - I could, couldn't I?  Just a matter of setting the time for night-time and testing an imaging run.

Either that or just tracking the stars in real time, close to the zenith.

Gina, why don't you sort out your meridian flip during the day. You will not lose any imaging time.

Steve

Rather nice images Gus and to say they are affected by atmosphere, as they are low in the sky, makes them even more appealing.

Steve

Absolutely despise getting back spacing correct for that ultimate flat field. I have an AA80 triplet and added a rather expensive focal reducer to the imaging train. Not only did I need to adjust the back spacing but I had a slight tilt as well. After adjusting, tweaking, refocusing, checking the image ang going through the same tedious routine, whilst being tired, cold and in a cramped condition, is not a pleasant experience. If the devil had appeared, whilst I was agonising over my scope and offered to miraculously sort the issue, my soul would have been forever his.

Steve

Lovely NB image and nicely processed

Steve

Thanks for update, Hugh. I'll order the additional parts. Also, I received part of my Embedded Coolness order. It has been stated as 1 of 2 packages and funnily, it's been sent from Australia.

Steve

Hi Hugh, 

Thanks for all the work you have put in so far. BTW software wasn't invented, it came out of Pandora's box and manifested itself into many guises. Luckily I have a spare Velleman board and I have been testing my circuit via Levesdome & SGPro. Which has proved successful.

I have lots of LED's with 47k resistors installed, so that's not a problem, just waiting for the breakout boards from Embedded Coolness to arrive.

I have found the full shutter circuit diagram I will use on my Dome. Obviously your wireless design will separate the circuit between the Velleman board and the relays/motor and 12v battery.

Shutter control circuit.pdf

Steve

Hi Don, and a very warm welcome to the Lounge

Steve

19 minutes ago, kirkster501 said:

Indeed Dave (and Vlaiv). Don't let my issue here put you off.  My MESU has been operating flawlessly since I bought it in 2016 and guides and slews beautifully and has never missed a beat.  I am 100% confident this matter is not the mount, it is IT or balance related.  

Some clear patches about at tea time here in Nottingham.  If they hold for tonight I will be able to Polar Align and do some more testing and fiddling.

 

Hi Steve CO has given a clear night until 11pm 🤞

Just a thought, how are you running your Mesu in sgpro and PHD2. 

Steve

Hi Steve,

In the PHD2 "Brain" advanced settings, go to the Algorithm's tab and unclick the Enable Backlash Compensation. 

Although once I have calibrated in PHD2, I save my settings and do not calibrate again for a month or so, unless I alter my rig.

Steve

I can see the tree, top left, but what is the patterning bottom right?

Stev