robo-focus

robo focus - electronic focuser control

robo focus

this is far better then i expected at any price. it far exceeds my expectations and was easy to install. this product is quiet and lifts my sbig ccd imager like it was not even there. when i called to ask a few questions about the installation and the product, they answered every question in detail. i highly recommend this product for any one needing fine focus control and for those who do a lot of imaging. what a difference this item has made in my telescope and performance. this product, using several popular software packages can even support auto focus. i now can say goodbye to my focusing problems.

manufacture by = technical innovations (http://www.homedome.com)

cost = @ $ 395 us dollars (12/2005)

vendor/supplier = technical innovations ( below are some pictures of my installation and the description available at the time of my purchase 12/2005 which outlines the product)

robo-focus added to my jmi ngf- 55d replacement focuser for meade lxd75 sn-10at

click image to enlarge

introducing robo-focus
robo-focus is a remote focus driver to be installed on your existing telescope focus mechanism. it provides digital control and feedback of the focus position using a stepping motor controlled by a microprocessor.

to use the robo-focus from a remote location, you send commands from your computer to change the focus position, and receive back digital position information. you'll check the results by taking a ccd image to judge if the focus is now where you want it. if you are in the observatory, you can also change the focus by using buttons on the robo-focus control unit while looking through the eyepiece.

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what does this mean for you?

with robo-focus, you can make tiny changes to the focus setting so that you can finally take full advantage of the resolution of your optical system for either visual or imaging applications. you can repeat a focus setting at will, and you can always get back to a setting that you found was optimal. and you can make focus changes from your control room or in the observatory.

when you change your optical setup (say, by adding a barlow), with a simple data point entry you can set the focus to almost exactly the correct position, subject only to the refinement of actual observing. robo-focus makes ccd focusing particularly easy. many users find that they can focus perfectly in only 3-5 minutes after taking only a half dozen fast star images.

robo-focus features and photos

focus to less than 0.001 inch

automatic backlash correction

remote control via computer

digital readout on pc screen

full manual operation

fits either rack & pinion, crawford, or schmidt-cassegrain focusers

optional four-outlet 120 vac power box, which can be controlled remotely

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your ability to adjust focus in steps of less than .001 inch means ultra-fine images in the eyepiece of your telescope. whether your scope is small (6" for example) or triple that size, our stepping motor will smoothly, quietly and precisely move the focus knob for you. even the steadiest of hands cannot achieve such fine focus.

another major advantage of robo-focus is its automatic backlash correction. backlash in focusing is the result of slack in the mechanical system, and shows itself as difficulty in making fine adjustments — a slight move "in" requires a larger move back "out" to repeat the same position. robo-focus automatically finishes all moves in the same direction (all user adjustable, of course). this automatically removes almost all the effects of slack in the mechanical system. the result is that even an s-c focuser can produce focusing approaching the precision of the finest zero-backlash (crayford, etc.) focussers.

a third benefit of robo-focus is on-screen command of your focus setting, so you do not have to touch the scope to adjust the focus. with the robo-focus control program installed on your computer, you have a variety of on-screen data and commands such as the ability to move a chosen number of steps in either direction, or to move to a particular location. we've even kept the size of the control screen very small so that it takes the least space possible.

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image of robo display width=314 height=134

you can recalibrate your robo-focus at any time. you can control backlash compensation, adjust communication settings, and change the labels on the four outlets of the remote power module on the configuration screen.

image of robo display width=472 height=315

of course, robo-focus remembers its position (and all other settings) even if the power is turned off/on. the control program operates under windows 95/98/nt®. because it is open source, you can write your own control software if you wish.

temperature compensation

many scopes, especially s-c types, experience a focus shift as a result of temperature changes such that 5-7 degrees f can unfocus a scope. the rf3 robofocus can automatically compensate for this shift. it features a built-in sensor that measures the temperature. the control software determines the proper focus and commands the focuser to move. the software provides for the storage of the scopes temperature characteristics, and provides the ability to account for its temperature performance.

credit=description from http://www.homedome.com/ pages 12-2005

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robo-focus

this site was last updated 05/11/2008