Kineoptics Helical Crayford focuser review

Discuss any astro equipment that does not have its own forum, such as focusers, finders, chairs, etc.
Post Reply
User avatar
Kanadalainen
Milky Way Ambassador
Articles: 0
Offline
Posts: 1849
Joined: Sat May 11, 2019 8:05 pm
4
Location: Winnipeg, Canada
Status:
Offline

TSS Awards Badges

TSS Photo of the Day

Kineoptics Helical Crayford focuser review

#1

Post by Kanadalainen »


Hi All,

I have obtained a new scope. One of the interesting things about the DIY dob is that comes with a prototype for the Kineoptics HC-2, a helical focuser.

Kineoptics website is here: http://www.kineoptics.com/HC-2.html

To be honest, I have never used one before, but do have a Crayford Moonlite to compare it to. What I have found is that the helical focuser is growing on me. :)

1. The nice things this focuser has is its very light weight, and an extremely low profile. The beauty of a low profile is that the design allows for a very small secondary. Also, the design is very minimalist - with little intrusion of the focuser tube into light path of the business end of the scope. As its a Crayford, its smooth. Also this is a very inexpensive focuser @ $107 USD or so. Its so light that my scope has an extra balance weight up top to provide overall balance.

2. What may not be too good about the design:
The ID of the draw tube provides the bearing surface for the crayford mechanism, and it can accumulate dirt, which can lead to a grainy feel when focusing in and out. There is no fine focus per se.

How does it compare to my Moonlite Crayford?

Honestly, I found that in my dob, I could achieve as fine a focus as I can with the Moonlite in the XT10, and then lock that down with the lock screw.

Overall, the helical focuser design emphasizes low profile and low weight, and my first inclination was to replace it. After a couple of sessions, I have decided NOT to replace it.
They are a nice piece of kit.

Thanks for reading to the bottom,
Ian
Attachments
IMG_1155.jpg
Ian

Fracs: Stellarvue 70T f6; SW 120mm Esprit f7; "Mark Mk. II" - 60 mm Tasco f6; C80 frac f 11.4
SCT: C8 Edge f10 or f7 with reducer
Dob: 14.5" homebuilt strut dob (f4.5 ZOC mirror), Nexus II, Moonlite focuser
Mounts - Ioptron Skyguider pro, Astro Physics GTO900
Cameras and lenses - ZWO 2600 mc, 290 mm mini, Canon 60D modded with Rokinon 10mm 2.8; Rokinon 135mm f2

Skysafari 6 Pro, Astro Pixel Processor, Pixinsight - using Mac tablet and ASIair pro to run the AP rig.

"Mothers! It is there!" - Rafael Gonzales-Acuna, 2018.
User avatar
Bigzmey United States of America
Moderator
Moderator
Articles: 8
Online
Posts: 7548
Joined: Sat May 11, 2019 7:55 pm
4
Location: San Diego, CA USA
Status:
Online

TSS Awards Badges

Re: Kineoptics Helical Crayford focuser review

#2

Post by Bigzmey »


Thanks for the insights Ian. I see that this is not your typical helical focuser which usually have short travel. Nice that there are some options for DOB focuser replacement out there.
Scopes: Stellarvue: SV102ED; Celestron: 9.25" EdgeHD, 8" SCT, 150ST, Onyx 80ED; iOptron: Hankmeister 6" Mak; SW: 7" Mak; Meade: 80ST.
Mounts: SW: SkyTee2, AzGTi; iOptron: AZMP; ES: Twilight I; Bresser: EXOS2; UA: MicroStar.
Binos: APM: 100-90 APO; Canon: IS 15x50; Orion: Binoviewer, LG II 15x70, WV 10x50, Nikon: AE 16x50, 10x50, 8x40.
EPs: Pentax: XWs & XFs; TeleVue: Delites, Panoptic & Plossls; ES: 68, 62; Vixen: SLVs; Baader: BCOs, Aspherics, Mark IV.
Diagonals: Baader: BBHS mirror, Zeiss Spec T2 prism, Clicklock dielectric; TeleVue: Evebrite dielectric; AltairAstro: 2" prism.
Filters: Lumicon: DeepSky, UHC, OIII, H-beta; Baader: Moon & SkyGlow, Contrast Booster, UHC-S, 6-color set; Astronomik: UHC.

Observing: DSOs: 3106 (Completed: Messier, Herschel 1, 2, 3. In progress: H2,500: 2180, S110: 77). Doubles: 2382, Comets: 34, Asteroids: 255
Post Reply

Create an account or sign in to join the discussion

You need to be a member in order to post a reply

Create an account

Not a member? register to join our community
Members can start their own topics & subscribe to topics
It’s free and only takes a minute

Register

Sign in

Return to “Other Accessories”