Motor driven helical focuser.

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Rusted
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Motor driven helical focuser.

Post by Rusted »

Hi,

This is nothing new but is very helpful on longer H-a telescopes when you can't take the imaging monitor to the focuser.
An "inexpensive" Skywatcher DC motor drives the helical focuser's knurled ring, by friction, via a timing belt.
A scrap of aluminium angle profile is clamped to the AOK Swiss etalon adapter and supports the motor.
I used a 20T timing pulley, 280t GT2 belt and 64mm Stainless steel hose clamps.
No tools were required other than a 5mm drill for the angle piece. Crude but effective.

https://youtu.be/_S2rpBx2zNI

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Re: Motor driven helical focuser.

Post by marktownley »

Impressive, simple and effective. Looks like it works well! I like it!


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Re: Motor driven helical focuser.

Post by rsfoto »

As Mark already said. KISS method.


regards Rainer

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Re: Motor driven helical focuser.

Post by hopskipson »

Very nice and simple design. You have inspired an idea I have. I want to motorize the "Richview" tuner on my Solarmax 90 DS etalon. Where do you find the parts like the motor, pulley and drive belt for your project? Thanks for the inspiration.


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Re: Motor driven helical focuser.

Post by Martin_S »

I motorize all my focusers, here are this weeks cloudy sky projects. Most of my motor focusers cost around $7AUD to make . Mind you having a small lathe and milling machine does help a bit.

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H alpha : ,Skywatcher 120mm F8 open frame refractor, a tilted 2" 7nm H-alpha filter as a sub energy rejection filter, Baader TZ4 telecentric focal extender, Player One energy rejection filter, Combo Quark Chromosphere, Naked PST etalon for double stacking, ASI74mm camera
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