calli

Just to let you know that I also managed to install the ASCOM Platform and can now control the focusser via Bluetooth(!) from PC also! My additions to the sketch (for the dew heater) did not break something it seems :-) I would like to have a generic command line in your FocusAAF.exe, that way I could also control my heater. Great Stuff! Carsten

Hi folks, I am a bit concerned about the motor and its bearings due to the pull of the belt. I am not sure if it is designed to take these lateral forces? What are your long time experiences? Carsten

On PC you could theoretically (I did not test it so far) use the ASCOM drivers from Dave. On my mobile I wrote a APP which you can get here: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/4898693/FocusserAPP.7z Its for my combined DEW Heater but I guess it will work for the original Sketch as well. Carsten

No you just don't use the USBtoSerial connection but connect the TXD/RXD Pins crossed(!) and VCC and GND to the Bluetooth module (usually they came preconfigured at 9600baud 8N1 check this!). On Arduino Pro or such without a proper USB connector this shares pins with the Sketch upload, so you have to disconnect the Bluetooth Module for Sketch updates. All other connections stay the same. An Arduino has plenty ports to use ;-) Have a look at my image above. The BT module is bottom left, 4 wires red VCC, black GND, the others TXT/RXD. As soon as the physical connection is there and the config BOTH in sketch and on the BT module is corect you should be able to connect. However... On my Win8.1 PC it was a pita to get the BT working. These options are all scattered around. But now it works (after some 20 Minutes, the Android was like 10 seconds...) Carsten

I was actually considering this. I have a neat little IR from a old Sony cam. There are many projects and libraries for IR . however i then decided to go for Bluetooth because that opens control from PC and mobile or tablet and at least my mobile is always in site. The focusser sketch (maybe use the Mark 1) is easy to understand and expand . just ask here if you need help. Carsten Carsten

Yea, sorry for beeing unclear here. WHICH client app? Are there free ones? Carsten

Ha, just tried it "for real" (but at daylight). SOOOOO great! Only a minimal vibration from my glued belt and my printed pinions, but still much better than shaky-hands-carsten-try-to-hold-breathe-focussing. Now design and print a housing for the motor driver and solder some cables. Carsten PS: For the temperature compensation of focus.... How is this calibrated? And which software is doing it?

Getting a bit crowded in my box... I managed to combine my Dew-Heater sketch and the AAF sketch and control it by my mobile phone. I added a connector to the fousser and a bluetooth module. Now with the mobile phone as control box I wanted the absolute temperature back... I guess I will change that. Of course then the AAF can also use that temperature. Because I am waiting for the belt, I searched my RC-Heli stuff and found a T5 belt from my (sold ong times ago) methanol engine 50er TRex. I did cut it (overlaping) and glued it with CA. I did not expect much but after pressing the connection I cant ripp it by hand... Carsten

Ok, got it! Here is the APK and the MIT App Inventor 2 Sources. The App Inventor is a graphical online/cloud APP maker. You programm with logic bricks. Easy but can get messy for more complicated things... Click on "Connect" to connect via Bluetooth. I used one of theese cheap Bluetooth modules for Arduino. Be sure to match the serial speed for the Ardunio AAF Sketch and the BT module. This way you can control the AAF fine and coarse. The Send button and the logging is only for debugging. Now I have to get that into my DEW Heater Box and combine it with the heater control... Best, Carsten

Yep. Thats the plan. Carsten

I think I can use H# and M# for getting the effect. Now I have to get that into the Android app... Carsten

Hi Dave, any chance you can include the sync move command again? As addition, so the ASCOM can use the asynchronous ones and for controlling "by hand" we have the sync command. The reason why I dont want to make my own sketch is that of course I want to use the upstream version and not have to change or backport when I want to use either handcontrol or ASCOM. I can try to put it in and send you a patch of course. Maybe we can discuss this more. I think a synchronous version of T which only sends a OK when the position is actually reached would be also sufficient. And I have to experiment more with the H# command maybe this can solve my problems also. I will upload the CADs to thingyverse of course. Carsten

Hi, I am on my way to build another incarnation of that nice project. CAD is quite ready and I also printed the first parts. I printed the mount and the motor plate seperately and fixed it with bolts and nuts. So I can better "iterate" over versions to recover my bad design skills :-) And i don't need any support structure printed. I am also trying to make a simple Android APP to control the focusser via Bluetooth. I used so far AppInventor 2 for it but it can be a beast doing more complex things with it. So far I can control it but the feedback ist not very good, because I did not found a good method to sync button pressing and the arduino sketch (original AAFM2). I seems to me that we could need some syncronous commands also in the Sketch, so that a MOve command will not immedeately return an OK but only when it actually reaches the desired position. I tried something with H# command but so far not with good results. Also the decelleration close to reach the end position is not a feature I like for the "Handcontrol". I could easily modify the sketch but of course I want to keep it compatible and have the possibility to use ASCOM or manual control by a android device. At the time I am waiting for the belt. I used a T5 belt becaus thats what I can print more easy. BTW: I tried to get the motor running with AStepper and Stepper libs but failed (normally I use poluluo drivers and NEMA motors). What is the secret of this thingy? With the AAFM2 sketch it runs smooth.... Cheers, Carsten PS: I am sure I forgott something, so be prepared for more postings as I cant edit so far. Seems I can now!