Focuser Search

[KathyNS]

I am searching for a new focuser. My focuser payload is 4 lbs.

My current GSO Linear Bearing focuser, which is supposedly rated at 8 lbs won't handle the payload. The Crayford tension backs off on its own, so I constantly have to crank it back up. It loses traction on the west side of the meridian, when the payload is upside down. So I am looking to be very conservative on payload ratings.

Antares / Orion 2" Low-Profile Dual-Speed Hybrid Reflector Focuser. https://www.ontariotelescope.com/Antare ... p_770.html

They say it's kind of Crayford-ish with a linear bearing, but the description and photo look more like a rack-and-pinion. They say it will hold 16 lbs. So is it any good for AP? What's the backlash like? Any slop in the drawtube?


2" BDS-NT Baader Diamond Steeltrack® Focuser https://www.baader-planetarium.com/en/a ... track.html

A Crayford, but with diamonds in the drive shaft for extra traction. Payload is 6 kg (13 lbs).

Feather Touch® Rotatable 2.0" Diameter Rack/Pinion http://starlightinstruments.com/store/i ... duct_id=61

The Cadillac of focusers, apparently, but the price is steep. I'm not sure I can afford this. Payload is 13 lbs. Their Crayfords are nice, but payload is only 8 lbs.

Any thoughts or other recommendations? TIA

[helicon]

That last one is over $600...but I'd bet the performance might be worth it Kathy. My AR152 has a 2" MoonLite focuser (as swapped out by lowjiber whom I bought the scope from) which is about $300. ML claims that the CF focuser can take heavy accessories, but I can't find any data about the specific payload.

https://focuser.com/products.php

[KathyNS]

I should have thought to add Moonlite to the list. However, their focusers are only rated for 6 lbs. Maybe their 6 lbs is more honest than the 8 lbs of the GSO I have now, but that seems to be cutting it a bit too close.

[rpineau]

I've used Feather Touch focuser for years (I have 3 of them right now on refractors and a RC) and they are indeed expensive .. but you then just forgot about the focuser , that's how good they are.
I use mine with the following imaging train : Pyxis 2" gen3 + adapter + FLI CFW2-7 + FLI ML 16200 .. zero movement.

Regards,
Rodolphe

[dritter]

Don't buy the Antares/Orion low profile. My MN190 originally came with one. It is horrible. Almost everybody who gets one with an MN190 replaces it.

The cadillac of the bunch is the FeatherTouch for sure. I have two of theirs. One of them is the 2" crayford (FTF2015BCR), it works really well and can easily handle the payload I place on it. That is what I put on my MN190. (We discussed this one a while back, if I recall correctly).

The other FeatherTouch I now have is a 3.5" rack-and-pinion. I don't know the part number off hand but it works very well too. It came to me on a 5" refractor.

No idea about the Baader, never used one.

I have tried a Moonlite on a friends scope. For visual it was really good. But no idea how well they work for AP. Lots of people say they are good though, so they do have a positive reputation.

[KathyNS]

My new FeatherTouch Crayford focuser has shipped. Hopefully, it will get here in a couple of weeks. (The Post Office is swamped with pre-Christmas levels of parcels, due to everyone shopping online during the lockdown.)

I was going to get the rack & pinion FeatherTouch, but it uses components of the 3" focusers, and would not have fit my scope without extensive modification. The Crayford is a direct replacement for my current GSO LF. The FeatherTouch's weight capacity is listed as the same as the GSO, 8 lbs, but I have more confidence that it will actually hold the rated weight without slipping. The GSO won't hold 4 lbs.

I already have a RigelSys motor for the FT, so it should be a quick install.

[yobbo89]

i just check some images online , looks like a nice focuser kathy .

[KathyNS]

I received my FeatherTouch focuser today. Installing the Rigelsys motor was a bit of a pain, but I got it done. I installed the focuser on the scope - a perfect fit!

I did some manual focusing when it got dark tonight with a Bahtinov mask, just to get the focal point dialed in. SGP did an autofocus run successfully with the settings for the old focuser. For efficiency, I want to do the autofocus setup properly to set the step size, but I'll do that tomorrow night. Right now, I have a session running, and it looks good.

[KathyNS]

Well, I broke the curse, and got two nights in a row of good imaging starting the day I got a new piece of equipment! Bwah-ha-ha! I'll pay for it now!

I definitely like the Feathertouch. The night before last, I ran it without the tension/lock knob in place due to a mechanical conflict with the focus motor. It still worked well enough to focus well on all subs, including west of the meridian, where the old GSO had trouble. For last night's run, I reconfigured the motor to the other side of its bracket, allowing me to install and access the tension/lock knob. I just had to reverse the autofocus outputs, easily done with a checkbox for that purpose. It ran beautifully on both sides of the meridian, with good focus and a tight temperature/position graph.

[Gordon]

Great to hear it's working for you!

I know the 'focuser slip' problem is a real pain! I did a quick measurement on my Explore Scientific Rack and Pinion focuser the other night. ZERO backlash either way and that was with the scope pointed towards the zenith and the camera and EFW in place

[mbenjaminz28]

I should have thought to add Moonlite to the list. However, their focusers are only rated for 6 lbs. Maybe their 6 lbs is more honest than the 8 lbs of the GSO I have now, but that seems to be cutting it a bit too close.

Their 2" models can only hold around 6lb, but their 2.5" models are closer to 10 pounds. I use the CHL2.5" on my 12" Meade which holds a Sbig Stt3200/FW8S/Starchaser SC2/AO-8a no issues at all, heavier than most amateur setups.