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I just purchased a Rigelysis stepper focuser with temperature control for my ES 80mm FCD100 refractor, which has the 2.5" hex focuser. I think I have a problem though...
I believe the stepper motor attaches to the bottom of the focuser (correct me if I am mistaken). I have a dovetail attached to the standard L-shaped dovetail on the ES 80mm, which does not give a lot of clearance between the bottom of the focuser and the attached dovetail. Is there a way to get around this? I won't be able to move the dovetail up, because of the weight on the back of the scope...
Could I turn the focuser a bit so I have access to the bottom of it? Or would that cause issues? If anyone has any suggestions, I'd really appreciate it!
Clear skies!
-James W.
Telescope:Explore Scientific 80mm FCD100 Triplet APO Refractor Mount:EQ6-RPro Cameras:ZWO ASI1600mm Pro (Cooled) | Canon DSLR EOS T7i Auto-guiding:ZWO ASI120mm-Mini + Astromania 50mm Guidescope
I'm grasping here, but rotating the focuser should not be an issue as long you keep it there for as long as you are imaging an object (across days if necessary.)
Which Temperature device are you using? Or is there one built into the focuser?
Cheers,
JT
∞ Primary Scopes: #1: Celestron CPC1100 #2: 8" f/7.5 Dob #3: CR150HD f/8 6" frac ∞ AP Scopes: #1: TPO 6" f/9 RC #2: ES 102 f/7 APO #3: ES 80mm f/6 APO ∞ G&G Scopes: #1: Meade 102mm f/7.8 #2: Bresser 102mm f/4.5 ∞ Guide Scopes: 70 & 80mm fracs -- The El Cheapo Bros. ∞ Mounts: iOptron CEM70AG, SW EQ6R, Celestron AVX, SLT & GT (Alt-Az), Meade DS2000 ∞ Cameras: #1: ZWO ASI294MC Pro #2: 662MC #3: 120MC, Canon T3i, Orion SSAG, WYZE Cam3 ∞ Binos: 10X50,11X70,15X70, 25X100 ∞ AP Gear: ZWO EAF and mini EFW and the Optolong L-eXteme filter ∞ EPs: ES 2": 21mm 100° & 30mm 82° Pentax XW: 7, 10, 14, & 20mm 70°
Searching the skies since 1966. "I never met a scope I didn't want to keep."
Well, I don't have the hex focuser on mine (standard R&P here) but with my ED80 I've dispensed with the stock dovetail altogether. In my opinion, it doesn't seem to be the most secure feature on the scope. At least mine wasn't. Plus, I was having difficulty balancing with a guider scope and cams installed. I needed a longer dovetail bar. I got the longer bar and some rings for the scope. I do have room between the bar and focuser barrel for the bracket on the autofocuser.
I know this is likely not applicable to your particular model of ED80, but maybe it can offer some direction on what to consider. Would like to see pics of yours though.
Bryan Scopes: Apertura AD12 f/5; Celestron C6-R f/8; ES AR127 f/6.4; Stellarvue SV102T f/7; iOptron MC90 f/13.3; Orion ST80A f/5; ES ED80 f/6; Celestron Premium 80 f/11.4; Celestron C80 f/11.4; Unitron Model 142 f/16; Meade NG60 f/10 Mounts: Celestron AVX; Bresser EXOS-2; ES Twilight I; ES Twilight II; iOptron Cube-G; AZ3/wood tripod; Vixen Polaris Binoculars: Pentax PCF WP II 10×50, Bresser Corvette 10×50, Bresser Hunter 16×50 and 8×40, Garrett Gemini 12×60 LW, Gordon 10×50, Apogee 20×100
JayTee wrote: ↑Tue Jan 21, 2020 2:45 am
Pictures would be great.
I'm grasping here, but rotating the focuser should not be an issue as long you keep it there for as long as you are imaging an object (across days if necessary.)
Which Temperature device are you using? Or is there one built into the focuser?
Bladekeeper, I purchased those exact same rings, but I didn't like how the dovetail bar has to be so far back for it to work... and it is very close to the OTA. They also didn't seem as secure as the dovetail to me... if you notice, you couldn't move the dovetail forward because of the dew shield, and the dovetail is very close to the focuser. This would have the same problem, maybe worse, because it would move the dovetail closer to the focuser... I would have to get riser blocks but from the little I've seen, they seem expensive!
-James W.
Telescope:Explore Scientific 80mm FCD100 Triplet APO Refractor Mount:EQ6-RPro Cameras:ZWO ASI1600mm Pro (Cooled) | Canon DSLR EOS T7i Auto-guiding:ZWO ASI120mm-Mini + Astromania 50mm Guidescope