After having discovered that you don't really need an expensive refractor for HA solar imaging for use with the DayStar Quark, it was then time to look for a suitable, pre-loved scope. I was never comfortable with leaving my Esprit's out in the sun, another pro for solar imaging and maybe a tip for new comers like myself, no need for an expensive telescope. The Esprit 80 will still be used for full-disc mosaics but again, a cheap achromat doublet will work too and no worries about leaving it out in the sun for a couple of hours while you gather data for a video clip. The only catch really is the focuser, you can still use stock focusers with a bit of skill but an EAF will make it so much easier. With an EAF your focusing will be more accurate, no need to touch the scope and wait for the wobble to settle (hard to focus this way) and you can remote control with fine tuning and accuracy guaranteed. There are upgrade focusers out there that will fit some scopes but I used a decent quality focuser I already had with some mods.
Checking for back focus using a couple of eyepieces straight through on a DIY extension tube and also using a diagonal, there seems to be enough travel in the new/old focus body to work. This focuser was taken out of an old Dob I have, removed the flange and made the 3D parts in PETG, painted them. As you can see, the original scope tube has been extended with a 100 mm aluminium tube using a 3D printed T joiner and then connected the focuser to the other end of the ally tube with an adapter. Everything is mechanically fixed, M3 threaded into the metal parts and then 'pinned' into the 3D printed part. I have no doubt this will be strong. This new/old focuser body is made really well, no slop, Crayford design, CNC'd with 4 x roller bearings, for what I will be using it for, it is a vast improvement over the stock focuser for the 102/1000.
Final version of the Frankenscope will be painted and finished.
The EAF, it's working perfectly, happy days, just need the sun to show itself again
Frankenfocuser
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Re: Frankenfocuser
Nice mod! Thanks for sharing.
http://brierleyhillsolar.blogspot.co.uk/
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