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Motor Focuser


Sam

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Posted

After an annoying evening of trying to focus my 8" Newt with the webcam attached and having it wobble every time I touched the focuser I decided to look at a motorised focuser - even worse than that I decided to build one myself.

It's powered by the 12V powertank with a reversible switch.

I haven't had a first light on it yet and by looking outside it won't be tonight. But I've had a good number of tests with it inside. The controller has three buttons for different speeds but my memory of school boy electronics has not worked too well so only one speed works (that's full speed) but it's very slow so is great for the fine control. I have a rudimentary friction control to allow the motor to be disengaged for coarse adjustments of the focuser.

It's held on with electrical tape at the moment but I'll get some double sided tape (the strong stuff) to make it a bit more secure.

Here's the pictures:

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cheers

Sam

Posted

Hi Sam,

It looks pretty good for a Mark I version. Double sided tape for the Mark II. Computer control for the Mark III? :(

Where did you get the cogs and bits from?

Mike

Posted

Hi Sam,

It looks pretty good for a Mark I version. Double sided tape for the Mark II. Computer control for the Mark III? :(

Where did you get the cogs and bits from?

Mike

Cheers Mike, the gearbox thingy comes from Maplins. :D

Posted

Fixed the speed control problem, now there's three options, full, a bit slower and quite slow (seems a 2200 Ohm resistor was a bit of an overkill :(:D ).

Sam

Posted

Are you thinking of producing them for sale?!?

No way! I would never guarantee my work (just ask Mrs LB). :(:D:lol:

Posted

Nice one LB... how much did that copper coloured oversized washer cost :lol:

Billy....

:(:D about 2p if I remember correctly.....

Posted

Shame. I'm sure your work would be far beter than mine! My wife always asks her dad before asking me to do anything.

Posted

When coppers (coins not plods) were proper copper they made half decent and cheap heatsinks as well... not so good now they are only copper plated steel... but on the other hand they do make stronger tuppeny washers... :(

Billy...

Posted

I've just added the double sided tape (same thing that number plates are held on with) to hold the motor to the telescope. It works surprisingly well! (usually these little projects don't go so smoothly!). The only thing I need to add is a little spring to hold tension on the focuser wheel, that will help with disengaging it to do coarse focus adjustments. Quite pleased with this little project - actually looking to the moon coming back so I can test it out! :(

Posted

Hi Sam

Nice piece of kit!

These gearboxes are really useful, I am using the same one to test a clock drive with a cordless drill gear (there are some pictures on my website, haven't got one to hand to post).

Have you looked at the stepped-down d.c. motors that could replace the gearbox with a just a motor?

Cheers

Danny

Posted

Hi Sam

Nice piece of kit!

These gearboxes are really useful, I am using the same one to test a clock drive with a cordless drill gear (there are some pictures on my website, haven't got one to hand to post).

Have you looked at the stepped-down d.c. motors that could replace the gearbox with a just a motor?

Cheers

Danny

Wow Danny, you've done quite a few projects. I'm probably not going to mod my motor focuser any more than it is as it seems to do all I need at the moment - though if the rubbish weather continues then.......... :(

Sam

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