SW motor focus on Moonlite CR2

[CraigT82]

Hi all, I fancy adding do motor focus to my moonlight CR2 but am too tight to shell out for the Moonlite unit. Anyone bodged a SW motor focuser to work with a CR2? I'm thinking just a rubber belt, from motor pulley to focuser knob, that can be pulled off easily to allow manual focusing?  

Cheers

[Starlight 1]

I use the same way as you put on here ,SW motor focus added a pulley and belt to drive focuser knob on a Tak 106ED.

[CraigT82]

Thanks that's good to know, you can't buy any chance point me to where you sourced your pulley/belt from please? 

Cheers

[Starlight 1]

I not going to be much help , So I just looked on the net and see this about the best I can do ,http://www.beltingonline.com/timing-pulleys-bars-272/t2-5-pulleys-279/

[Starlight 1]

You will have think on were you are going to fit the motor and take the size to get the right pulley+ work out belt size   t2 is thin and take about 7mm belt/ t5 about 12mm belt/saft size 5mm on SW motor.

[saac]

I attached my SW focuser directly to my Moonlite CR1.  Manual focusing can still be achieved using the remaining focuser control  - the connection provides slip so no need to remove anything for manual focus. I used a similar arrangement for attaching a 2nd SW focuser to my SW  Equinox 80.  Recently added the Hitecastro focus controller to the mix, works well so far.

 

Jim

 

Edited May 13, 2016 by saac

[CraigT82]

56 minutes ago, saac said:

I attached my SW focuser directly to my Moonlite CR1.  Manual focusing can still be achieved using the remaining focuser control  - the connection provides slip so no need to remove anything for manual focus. I used a similar arrangement for attaching a 2nd SW focuser to my SW  Equinox 80.  Recently added the Hitecastro focus controller to the mix, works well so far.

 

Jim

 

Hi Jim, did that flexi coupling  come with the kit or did you buy it yourself? How is it attached to the CR1 knob? Or does it turn through friction like a clutch?! 

[saac]

Craig, yes the flexi coupling is part of the SW Focuser kit.  The silver knob you see attached to the black flexi coupler is also part of the SW Focuser kit as are the brackets. You remove the original Moonlite knob to install the electric focuser directly to the Moonlite spindle.  It's a simple push fit onto the spindle of the Moonlite focuser, then secured with a grub screw (supplied). Just remove the knurled control knob on the Moonlite first.  Mine is the single speed Moonlite CR1 but installation should be similar.  The real cool part is that the combination allows for slippage when you turn the free end of the Moonlite focuser for manual control- it can't drive the motor in reverse so it moves the focuser tube instead - it's like a clutch when operated manually.  If you want I can post a photograph showing the installation on the SW ED80 tomorrow, let me know if any use to you.

 

Jim

 

[CraigT82]

Thanks Jim! That all makes perfect sense, no need go a photo thanks.  I've just ordered the SW unit!

Craig

[Uplooker]

Really not a good idea to drive a Moonlite CR2 by the fine focus control knob, I appreciate that saac / Jim is using a CR1. The planetary bearings will not take the potential torque. It is also impotant to setup your controller with your min and max focus points to prevent damage to focuser and equipment.

Edited May 13, 2016 by Uplooker

[saac]

Should be able to use the left hand (non fine focus) control knob as the attachment point.  That would have the added benefit of keeping the fine  control knob free and still available for manual control.

 

Jim

[CraigT82]

So I have managed to Bodge the SW motor focus onto my CR2.... Have retained manual focus control by swapping a grub screw for a thumb screw, so I can just loosen the connection between flexi coupling and CR2 shaft. Only downside is I now can't use the focus lock, never used it up to now anyway! 

[Peje]

Im lazy LOL. The adaptor plate quality is pretty grim though, not what I expected given the price.

Edited June 29, 2016 by Peje

[Peje]

On 14/05/2016 at 00:00, Uplooker said:

Really not a good idea to drive a Moonlite CR2 by the fine focus control knob, I appreciate that saac / Jim is using a CR1. The planetary bearings will not take the potential torque. It is also impotant to setup your controller with your min and max focus points to prevent damage to focuser and equipment.

Could you provide more info on this?

[CraigT82]

Setting the min/max points on a Crayford focuser isn't too important, the shaft will just slip on the draw tube at max/min focus (as long as you haven't got the tension turned right up!)

Edited June 29, 2016 by CraigT82

[Uplooker]

1 hour ago, Peje said:

Could you provide more info on this?

Yes, the fine focus shaft transfers the motion via planetary "gears", actually ball bearings, they will not stand up to the stress

[Peje]

42 minutes ago, CraigT82 said:

Setting the min/max points on a Crayford focuser isn't too important, the shaft will just slip on the draw tube at max/min focus (as long as you haven't got the tension turned right up!)

I suspected as much, thanks.

3 minutes ago, Uplooker said:

Yes, the fine focus shaft transfers the motion via planetary "gears", actually ball bearings, they will not stand up to the stress

Sorry I wasn't very clear, it was the setting max/min I was asking about. I'm using the Moonlight motors so this won't be an issue for me

[RuralBill]

Forget the skywatcher DC motor and go for one of these, superb quality and at a great price, around £230 for the whole kit, I have one and it brill.

the motor has 8500 steps per Rev of the coarse focus shaft, so plenty fine enough for ant focuser, and the manual encoder button on the controller is a great touch, when you turn it moves as if you are actually turning the focus knob, and if you press down it changes to 1/10 the speed...

you wont beat this system for the money, I am just about to buy another for my second set up.

 

http://pegasusastro.com/products/dmfc/

cheers

Bill

 

 

[Peje]

14 minutes ago, RuralBill said:

Forget the skywatcher DC motor and go for one of these, superb quality and at a great price, around £230 for the whole kit, I have one and it brill.

the motor has 8500 steps per Rev of the coarse focus shaft, so plenty fine enough for ant focuser, and the manual encoder button on the controller is a great touch, when you turn it moves as if you are actually turning the focus knob, and if you press down it changes to 1/10 the speed...

you wont beat this system for the money, I am just about to buy another for my second set up.

 

http://pegasusastro.com/products/dmfc/

cheers

Bill

 

 

Out of curiosity, how does this compare to the Moonlite one?

[RuralBill]

1 hour ago, Peje said:

Out of curiosity, how does this compare to the Moonlite one?

Well I am biased, but far better, apart from the fact that the moonlight has a clutch, which the Pegasus does not.

but the software is superb, it has Ascom driver, and as I said before the manual encoder knob is so realistic, it's just like turning the actual focus knob, you can run more than one instance of the software, so you can have two running side by side on different scopes, also I had one commissioned by them which has dual voltage outputs (12v and 5v switchable) so I can run my Starizona motor from there controller, as the Feathertouch and Starizona motors are only 5v, they only charged me €5 extra for the mod.

there is 8500 steps per Rev of there motor, which I have fitted to my William optics ZS66

also there controller will run a 12v DC motor too, at the flick of a switch it turns into a DC motor controller and runs on a simulated step control, win win in my book, and not just for the low cost.

Bill