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[katodog]

I can't understand why Meade doesn't make certain accessories for what has to be one of the most popular mounts they make. So, I decided once again to make something myself: an electronic focuser.

I rumaged around work for all my little motors, and none of them would work right, so I was stumped. I figured I'd have to buy the parts and build one, but then I remebered something.

I still had the motors and controller from my old DS114.

I thought about it and figured that if I connected power to the control panel, and had the motor and controller connected, it would think it was running one of the drive motors.

Once I figured out what to do and how to build it, I was set. A few trips down "plan B" lane and I was done.






The red box is a Craftsman screwdriver bit holder that got cannibalized for use as a control panel box. The bracket holding the motor to the scope is actually a bracket from a bathroom partition. The motor and the gear that's on the focuser shaft came from the DS114. That mount and tripod were crap right out of the box, so I never use them. Funny, though. The optical tube is awesome.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

As I always say...never throw out the small bits and pieces, as one day, they will come in handy.

I like to see retrofits and improvements of telescopic equipment. And quite a brilliant set-up you have created there.

You don't say how it performs.

Now all you have to do is to is mass produce them, and call them Katosbox.

[katodog]

You know, my wife said the same thing. But then I had to reply; Meade made the motor and controller, Accurate Partitions made the bracket, Craftsman made the box. I feel like OCC. Have everyone else make it and just put it together.

My cousin and I always come up with new gadgets or fixes for our equipment. We've already come up with Ed's Knobs, Ed's Transport Handles, Ed's Autostar Holders, Mark's Knobs, Mark's Camera Adapters, Mark's Focus Motors, and now Ed's Focus Motors.

We need to open up our own business and just tear apart the competition's stuff and rebuild with our name on it. We'd make a killing.

[katodog]

Woops, forgot to say how it works.

It actually works pretty good. The controller has four speeds on it, and the fastest speed lets me rack the focuser all the way out in about four seconds. The slower speeds will be perfect for whatever magnification I'm using. I just need some clear skies again to test it out outside.

And if I break it, I have another motor to cannibalize.

Every time I look though my garage I look at stuff and say "why am I keeping this?"

Guess I answered that question.