FT focuser motorization with Orion Accufocus

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Marco Michelassi
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FT focuser motorization with Orion Accufocus

Post by Marco Michelassi »

Hi all !
I'd like to show you my personal,home made motorization
of the FT focuser equipping my Lunt 100 :

http://imageshack.com/a/img661/5885/9ZX5o6.jpg
http://imageshack.com/a/img910/3129/sVJoBZ.jpg
http://imageshack.com/a/img537/6692/rfkFZy.jpg
http://imageshack.com/a/img908/6545/F2R0RO.jpg

The motorization is a cheap Orion Accufocus,
as far as I know the cheapest on the market,at least in my
tax-afflicted country.
Unfortunately it couldn't be adapted with the provided hardware :
not so bad,I made it by myself with simple aluminium and some screws,
in such a way that leaves the undeniable advantage of rotating the focuser at will.
The plastic adapter,coming with the Accufocus,allows me to lock/unlock the motor,
so that I can switch between visual and imaging use in just few seconds,
tightening/loosening the friction as well.
The motorization itself is now connected to a FCUSB adapter,via an RJ cable made by myself,
with a cheap mono jack.
That's it,maybe the most useful realization I've bben making for my scope !


OTA : Lunt 100 DS BF 3400
Mount : Skywatcher Az-Eq6 custom
ZWO-ASI174MM
Visual setup includes Baader Mark V Binoviewer-Zeiss prism and several pairs of Orthos
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Re: FT focuser motorization with Orion Accufocus

Post by marktownley »

Cool mod!


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swisswalter
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Re: FT focuser motorization with Orion Accufocus

Post by swisswalter »

Hi Marco

that is a great adaption


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Rybak
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Re: FT focuser motorization with Orion Accufocus

Post by Rybak »

Good job Marco! I use just the same motorfocus of Sky Watcher on Megrez 90. Cheapest and simplest solution.
Attachments
motorfocus.JPG
motorfocus.JPG (89.29 KiB) Viewed 3151 times


Aleksey

-------------

Lunt LS100THa, Coronado SolarMax II 90 Filter + BF 15 on WO Megrez 90, PST + SW 1025 mod, Quark + SW150/750 in test mode
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Re: FT focuser motorization with Orion Accufocus

Post by _Zakalwe »

Ditto! Great little motors.

I use one on a Baader Steeltrack. It's controlled with a Hitec Astro controoler, which gives me PC control. The baader come with the correct tooth profile machined into the focus know for the cambelt.

Image

Image


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Marco Michelassi
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Re: FT focuser motorization with Orion Accufocus

Post by Marco Michelassi »

Well done too !
Great focuser the steel track,apart from the teflon grains.
And what's more,you've got a profitable motorizatio at a little price,
especially if we consider that the Baader motorization fro the steeltrack is,IMHO,
absolutely overpriced.
One question :
You own a Lunt 60,isn't it ?
Was it a standar crayford equipped one or the FT version P-Tuned?


OTA : Lunt 100 DS BF 3400
Mount : Skywatcher Az-Eq6 custom
ZWO-ASI174MM
Visual setup includes Baader Mark V Binoviewer-Zeiss prism and several pairs of Orthos
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Re: FT focuser motorization with Orion Accufocus

Post by _Zakalwe »

Marco Michelassi wrote:Well done too !

One question :
You own a Lunt 60,isn't it ?
Was it a standar crayford equipped one or the FT version P-Tuned?
I was the standard Crayford, which I think is nowhere near good quality enough for a scope of this price tag. However, the FT version, lovely as it may be, is overkill. It add 25% to the price and for an imager like me, it will never be asked to carry the load that it is capable of. The Baader Steeltrack Newtonian focuser was £200, and is far superior to the standard GSO Crayford. Nearly as good as a Moonlite and a lot more cost effective than the FT.


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