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Home > Motor Focuser & Bahtinov Masks > Stepper Motor Focuser PC USB Control Kit

Printable version

Stepper Motor Focuser PC USB Control Kit

Weight 0.00 gm

Price: £259.00
Incl. VAT 20% ( £43.17 )

Focuser type

Temp sensor

Product code: USBNFOCUS-115EDT3

Qty

This USB Autofocuser kit is made for us by Rigel Systems in the USA, connects to your PC and allows you to control your telescope focus automatically, by remote, without causing any vibration while focusing. The kit includes a bracket to fit your Altair Astro telescope.

Manual focusing is a time-intensive task. You need to continually monitor star images on your computer screen and tweak the focus throughout the imaging session. The telescope vibrates when you touch it, so you need to wait for the image to settle before tweaking the focuser again. That introduces more vibration and so it goes... This system allows software driven autofocus, letting you capture more frames in a much shorter time.

This is fast becoming essential equipment for serious imagers or visual observers who need to achieve perfect focus quickly. Users comment they can't imagine imaging without autofocus once they've tried it, and that each imaging session produces more subframes and better results. For example, you can now compensate for those little shifts in focus caused when you change filters and even changes in temperature which affect your scope's focus point.

The Rigel Autofocus system is definitely and without doubt, the most widely used motorised focusing system available today. Here's a link to a detailed review with some good photos USP-nSTEP Autofocuser review (Art Morton) (new window).

Features:

Extreme accuracy: The stepper motor is more accurate than other types of motors, allowing you to change focus in discrete, repeatable steps with no backlash. Stiction is eliminated, and electronic braking stops movement instantly to prevent over-running, an issue common with more basic DC motor focusers. This focuser can lift up to 3.5kg of equipment, which is ample for a camera and filter wheel.

You can adjust the focus in very small increments, or just increase the speed to bring a camera you've just attached to focus quickly. Control over fine focus is extremely accurate, allowing you to get absolutely perfect focus quickly, while using your camera software to view the size of the star point in realtime on your PC. Alternatively, the focuser can be used to autofocus with most astronomy software.

The widest software compatibility available: The focuser can be controlled via the included USB-nSTEP software, which is compatible with many astronomy programs through the ubiquitous ASCOM interface.

The USBnStep Autofocus system is compatible with any ASCOM compliant software, including

Maxim DL
ImagePlus
CCDSoft (if ASCOM compliant)
FocusMax (which will also interface with both MAXIM DL and CCDSoft).
Astro Art

...and the highly recommended FocusMax, a freeware program written by Larry Weber and Steve Brady for use with commercial telescope focusing devices used by amateur astronomers.

If you have software compatibility questions you can get more information from the USBnSTEP technical support Yahoo group Astrofocusinfo.

Easy to connect to your PC: The focuser kit comes with all required cables to attach to your PC's USB ports, and PC software on a CD ROM. Using a USB cable means you don't need to buy an RS232-USB adapter for your modern laptop either.

Engaging and dis-engaging the focuser is quick and easy: The stepper motor can be brought into contact with the focuser gear by turning two spring-loaded thumbscrews until contact is made. Engagement and dis-engagement takes seconds, and no permanent modifications or connections to the focuser are required. That means you can switch to manual, and back to autofocus instantly.

Multiple focuser adapter brackets for focuser compatibility: A robust metal bracket is used to connect the motor housing to your telescope focuser, and all hex screws are provided. (choose your options in the menu below). You can connect your USB-nSTEP focuser system to other telescopes by changing brackets and hardware. For example, you can use this motor focuser with Altair Astro 115 APO, Altair Astro Imaging Newtonian, Altair Astro 6", 8", 10" RCs and their Starlight Feathertouch focusers. Even if you have a unique telescope, or perhaps have made your own focuser, this system is relatively simple and easy to adapt, so if you don't mind spending a little time in your workshop tinkering, we can always provide you with a standard bracket for you to modify further.

Installation is very simple (USB nSTEP is probably the easiest-to-use motorised focuser on the market), and a quick setup guide as well as full instructions are provided.

Stepper Focuser Bracket compatibility:

(Choose from the option menu below)

Altair EDD 2" Dual Speed Taiwan focuser
Altair EDD 2.5" Starlight Feathertouch focuser
Altair APO 3.5" Dual Speed Taiwan focuser
Altair APO 3" Starlight Feathertouch focuser
Altair / GSO 8" RC Linear-Bearing focuser
Altair / GSO 8" RC Feathertouch focuser
Altair / GSO 10" RC Linear-Bearing focuser
Altair / GSO 10" RC Feathertouch focuser
Altair / GSO 8" F4 Imaging Newtonians & Std 2" Crayford (also includes GSO 2" Refractor and SCT Upgrade focusers without the Linear Bearing modification)

Optional accessories:

Temperature sensor: An optional temperature sensor is available (choose from the option in the menu below), which can be plugged into the focuser control module, allowing you to monitor your focuser/telescope temperature, to automatically compensate for focus movement due to temperature changes. This is ideal for FocusMax software users.

Hand controller: An easy to use hand controller is now available with high quality buttons and a speed selection dial for easy intuitive use. It's backwards compatible with the PC USB only auto focus system.

Additional brackets: Please email us to check availability. We are working on SCT and refractor brackets for various types of telescopes.