Arduino Ascom focuser Mark2

[richyrich_one]

Look for this line in the sketch, change the 25 to 0 if you want to remove the effect. (I did the same )

const int     speedThreshold = 25;             // motor speed Hi if steps to go is higher than this

[msh1]

problem solved thanks guys its all working now

Edited February 26, 2015 by msh1

[richyrich_one]

You could try increasing this value from 2000 to say 3000 and see if that improves it. It could be that the delay is just too small. If it works then have a play and see what the lowest value is that works for you.

const int     motorSpeedHi = 2000;             // Motor step delay for Hi speed (uS)

[msh1]

its now connected up to the williams z71 working great now just need a clear night

mark

[msh1]

 tried it out last night works perfectly got the lowest fwhm ever considering it was windy , i just used the aaf2 program next is to try a autofocusing program

thanks 

mark

[tekkydave]

tried it out last night works perfectly got the lowest fwhm ever considering it was windy , i just used the aaf2 program next is to try a autofocusing program

thanks 

mark

APT does autofocus.

[msh1]

APT does autofocus.

yeah i know dave just looking if there are any stand alone programs 

[Davey-T]

There's this

Dave

http://www.focusmax.org/

[RogerTheDodger]

Finally got my pier rebuilt after moving house, so parts are on order to make one for each of my scopes.

[RogerTheDodger]

Yay the bits have arrived! (mostly) so I can start work. I bought the Nanos and the motors direct from China, £10 total for two of each.

[RogerTheDodger]

Got the electronics for the first one assembled and working with the test program, but trying to  connect to it from Nebulosity throws this error when I select Properties... any ideas?

[tekkydave]

Got the electronics for the first one assembled and working with the test program, but trying to  connect to it from Nebulosity throws this error when I select Properties... any ideas?

ascom_error.PNG

The driver has not registered correctly. This sometimes happens, there is a workround on my SF page here: https://sourceforge.net/p/arduinoascomfocuser/wiki/Manual%20Driver%20Registration/

[msh1]

just built another focuser for my c6 

thanks dave for doing this project 

mark

[tekkydave]

just built another focuser for my c6 

thanks dave for doing this project 

mark

You're welcome. I've hardly used it myself

[RogerTheDodger]

The driver has not registered correctly. This sometimes happens, there is a workround on my SF page here: https://sourceforge.net/p/arduinoascomfocuser/wiki/Manual%20Driver%20Registration/

Hi Dave, I had to do the registration to get your tool to see it, but Neb throws the error. No biggie, I can just use your controls.

[tekkydave]

Hi Dave, I had to do the registration to get your tool to see it, but Neb throws the error. No biggie, I can just use your controls.

If my test program works ok then the driver is correctly registered. Must be an issue with Nebulosity. Can you load the Focuser Simulator driver or any other Ascom drivers from Neb?

[RogerTheDodger]

Yes, the ascom sim works ok.

[tekkydave]

Yes, the ascom sim works ok.

Did you create a c:\trace directory for the driver to send trace files to. Also check you have the com port and an initial position set

[RogerTheDodger]

Finished the first one... 

I got teh pulleys from Motionco, they have a very useful util to choose the centre distances and belt length http://www.motionco.co.uk/cd_calc.php?submitted=2&tooth_type=2.032&pulley_one=10&pulley_two=48&length=80

[zfedoran]

I'd like to try putting one of these together. As others have stated, a gaze in the direction of my mount would likely cause it to shake. Having an ascom driven focuser would likely help me to achieve better focus than I can manually.

The only problem, I don't know where to purchase the gears and belt. Does anyone have any recommendations for a Canadian source?

[Mick J]

The only problem, I don't know where to purchase the gears and belt. Does anyone have any recommendations for a Canadian source?

I would look on eBay, the smaller gear 20tooth is quite common and used in 3D printers, you may find belts and other gears.  good luck.

[k9wis]

this is a great project...I finally retired from my job as an embedded systems programmer and have been eyeing up my old newtonian..an autofocuser looks like it might be a great start project. I was always hesitant about using the arduino, guess it was just an unfounded bias by those of us who who felt we had to start from scratch..but since playing with the arduino and raspberry pi I decided life it too short to keep redesigning hardware...lol...so plans are a small stepper on the focuser knob, some sort of arduino, and a control cable to start, maybe go wireless later.

I'll keep you posted..

Brian K9WIS

[k9wis]

I buy a lot of my robotics supplies from ADAFRUIT, SparkFun or Hobby Engineering..both have websites..if you need heavy duty stuff check out Grainger.

Brian K9WIS

[tekkydave]

this is a great project...I finally retired from my job as an embedded systems programmer and have been eyeing up my old newtonian..an autofocuser looks like it might be a great start project. I was always hesitant about using the arduino, guess it was just an unfounded bias by those of us who who felt we had to start from scratch..but since playing with the arduino and raspberry pi I decided life it too short to keep redesigning hardware...lol...so plans are a small stepper on the focuser knob, some sort of arduino, and a control cable to start, maybe go wireless later.

I'll keep you posted..

Brian K9WIS

I started the project partly to learn about Arduinos as well as the Astronomy & Ascom aspects. I never expected so many others to build it too. Good luck.

[tekkydave]

All the great people on SGL who have built the focuser so far:

Dave_D

Baffa

wuthton

Mick J

russellhq

mindburner

Davey-T

iwannabswiss

silios

SUNJiaLin

blackdragon72

redtail

SnakeyJ

cthorpey

golyo73

richyrich_one

sloz1664

msh1

RogerTheDodger

Thanks guys :-)