Focusing drive.

[wayland]

Hi. Can anyone please advise me on a focusing remote motor drive system to be installed on a LX 90? To be run with a web cam in place.

Cheers.

[Cornelius Varley]

JMI Motofocus from RotherValley Optics. The unit can be controlled from a computer using a JMI pc control or a Shoestring Astronomy FCUSB unit.

Peter

[Merlin66]

With a bit of ingenuity you can couple a SW electronic focuser motor via a belt drive to the focusing knob....you can still use the SS adaptor for remote USB control.

[wayland]

Wow! The JMI model looks just the job. As to the belt drive option, this may be a good idea for another project. Many thanks lads.

[SteveP]

Since you intend to image with it, my personal preference would be to avoid using the stock Meade focuser knob if at all possible and attach a motorised Crayford onto the rear of the OTA. There's more than sufficient back focus to not have to worry about it. It's probably a more expensive option but well worth the extra

HTH

Steve

[Merlin66]

Steve,

if is were a LX200 I'd agree but this is a basic Lx90 ( sorry Wayland:o)

[SteveP]

Hi Merlin

I take your point. I do feel though that Meade scopes, or more accurately Meade LX optics, are let down so much by the focuser mechanism ... and the mount requires hard graft to make it work well for long FL imaging. I speak from experience!

Steve

[wayland]

Thanks lads. Right over my head of course. So the Meade has a weakness with the focuser drive!!! Well I am a retired mechanical engineer and cant resist a challange.

Cheers.