Focusaaf2 a simple winforms client application to drive the focuser. Please follow these steps to connect the focus motor and ascom driver. After the software installations are completed, the next step is to perform the ascom driver setup. Uses ds1820 temperature sensor for temperature focus compensation and rotary encoder for manual focus change. I already have the ascom platform and celestron driver installed in order to control the scope from apt but im not sure what i need to allow apt to talk to the arduino using ascom. Software ascom focuser driverfocuser firmware firmware and ascom driver have been updated.
Focus fast, reliable and accurate your telescope using a stepper or dc motor and our controller. For pcs running windows 10 os, the focus motor ascom driver should find and connect to the focus motor when it is plugged into a usb port on the pc. Section 4 ascom driver installation guide and hardware notes. For pcs running an earlier os than windows 10, the focus motor connection to the driver does not occur automatically. Do you sometimes get frustrated trying to fine tune your focus because the video image jiggles every time you touch the focuser. Ascom is a manytomany and languageindependent architecture, supported by most astronomy devices which connect to windows and now linux and macos computers. I have been using a robofocus focus controller for many years now to control a robofocus geared stepper motor on my various imaging telescopes. Ascom driver tutorial for arduino astronomy hardware using. The pcfc ascom driver provides a setup window that allows you to set the motor speed and pwm frequency as described above.
Therefore i had to write an ascom driver to sit between the arduino and the application software i needed to use. If you are interested in purchasing a ready built controller please contact the author. A stepper motor telescope focus controller diy based on arduino nanouno. Windows users will still need to download the fli software installation kit above for device driver installation. Platform 6 returns to a single installer for the whole platform, removing the need to install an update on top of the core platform and introduces a number of device interface changes to bring consistency to the information available. You can use the ascom moonlite focuser driver to control the motor. The evolution of technology in astronomy requires a system which will. Focusmax help 11 143 if you followed the above steps successfully you have now. Orion shoestring usb focus motor control interface orion. Arduino ascom focuser mark2 diy astronomer stargazers lounge. However, i do give isntructions on how to write it yourself here in my guide for writing arduino telescope. Alternatively you can use two free contacts on a computer usb or lan controlled relay switch 500ma. It connects to an external digital temperature probe, 0.
My focuser ascom problem is i believe sgp is sending a signal to my focuser to auto focus every frame. Arduino ascom focuser mark2 diy astronomer stargazers. I found adding an electric focus motor that attaches to the shaft of a focuser knob and connects to a hand held control provides me with vibrationfree focusing without the need to actually touch the telescope at all. Homemade diy focuser for telescope with computer control. Fortunately ascom drivers are well templated and easy to write. I dont really want to have to write a new ascom driver if one exists i can use and i normally program using java. A popular diy ascom focuser with more than 91,000 downloads. I havent tried building it with any of the free express versions of vs. Hello let me introduce my opensource project of ascom. This is a simplified version of the arduino focuser, no rotary encoder.
It comes with a handpad for manual electronic focusing and with an ascom driver for computer assisted focusing, see documentation for compliant. This driver has the ability to create several drivers giving the ability to control multiple focusers on the same system. Technical innovations robofocus a world leader in manufacturing observatory domes, dome automation equipment, and remote control devices for astronomers including robofocus. I have added additional code so the nano can interface with the ascom driver. Plugin support for theskyx is distributed in the software installation for theskyx andor theskyx daily build.
The sketch is a modified version of the one i wrote for the mk1 device with the code for the switch and rotary encoder removed. I had to decide on the format of the messages sent tofrom the. Focuser lock to prevent accidental change of focus. The fov can be set to match any imaging chip by changing the cdc fov and the camera simulator image size. It takes the unknown out of focusing, and is easy to re focus between filters, or refocus several times during a long exposure run as the world cools down. Pegasus astro dual motor focus driver driver for the pegasus astro dual motor focus controller. Fast optics and modern camera devices require automatic focusing in every small period of time as temperature can affect focal length and modify the. Building a ascom compatible focus controller using an arduino board. So i need to motorise my focuser so that i can focus remotely. It contains an overview of the closedloop focusing system absolute ascom driver and digital indicator required, images and model numbers. View the instruction manual for this product download 3264bit compatible drivers updated for windows 10 and earlier. Performing the setup will configure the driver to the focuser travel limits, the step resolution and direction. This architecture applies to both windowscom and crossplatform alpaca technologies. This is an arduino based motor focuser with ascom driver on the pc side.
Diy telescope remote and autofocus project for astrophotograhy with nebulosity. Download same drivers but without ascom for users who already have ascom installed. Same features, more powerful motor outputs, in a very compact size. Two separate focusers can be supported provided each driver has a unique ascom id and a gamepad button can be used to select the active focuser. It is identical to the fcusb in all respects except for its usb identifier. Dslr driver for canon an nikon i started this project to integrate ascom. Diy ascom focus driver download if you could do an idiots guide for getting an arduino talking to ascom it would be greatly appreciated.
The shoestring astronomy store focus motor control products. A stepper motor telescope focus controller diy based on. Camera lens belt drive stepper focus system for computer controlled auto focus, motorize your camera lens or helical focused telescope with our 0. Software instructions operation moonlite offers both non ascom software programs and a universal ascom driver to operate all moonlite focusers and controllers. Ascom robofocus focuser driver platform 6 returns to a single installer for the whole platform, removing the need to install an update on top of the core platform and introduces a number of device interface changes to bring consistency to the information available. Installs a combined control program and driver for the technical innovations robofocus focuser. Buzzer can be connected to indicate some user interactions, so there is no need to pay attention on any blinking leds. Ascom absolute focuser developed using arduino nano board and visual studio 2008 for ascom driver. They use similar commands and one ascom driver works with all. I plan to document the driver, sketch and circuit diagram in due course. Software windows application or fully compliant ascom driver create using stripboard layout or using pcb design tested with indi moonlite driver under ubuntu and ekos tested on macbook with thesky and moonlite driver manual or full automated remote control eg focusmax ascom driver tested with focusmax, nebulosity 4. A notch in the drive belt for the rack on the bottom of the focus tube also helps prevent slipping, but only when engaged, if the motor is over this position it still slips occasionally. Everything what you will need for asi camera control, imaging, guiding and processing at one place.
Diy ascom focus driver i have been using a robofocus focus controller for many years now to control a robofocus geared stepper motor on my various imaging telescopes. Feathertouch ascom software setup starlight instruments. This is an updated robofocus control program with a builtin ascom driver. For instructions on installing, setting up and using your feathertouch ascom driver, download this user manual. Arduino firmware and ascom driver can be found at the bottom of the page. Feathertouch ascom driver needs ascom platform see link below. Ascom and arduino diy astronomer stargazers lounge. Focus fast, reliable and accurate your telescope by using the focuscube 2 the evolution of technology in astronomy requires a system which will assist the focusing of the telescope with great accuracy. Dual motor focus brings a decade of experience in astrophotography and telescope focusing concepts. It interfaces to the computer via usb and comes with an ascom driver. The simplestever arduino focus controller atm, optics. Do it yourself telescope focuser with an ascom driver. Astroberrydiy provides indi drivers for raspberry pi devices such us. Windows, mac and linux usb drivers, ascom drivers, latest firmware and camera control and processing software for all zwo devices.
Focus simulation is also accomplished by connecting the camera simulator to an ascom focus driver. The diagram below shows how ascom differs from traditional astronomy instrument control architectures. Newtonian telescope how to find focus dslr astrophotography. This was built using visual studio 2010 and you will need the ascom platform 6. Page 6 ascom driver and thirdparty software if you wish to use the fcusb with thirdparty focus software, a free ascom driver for the fcusb is available for.
Thirdparty software that supports the ascom focuser standard will also work with the fcusb using the fcusb ascom driver not guaranteed to work for all systems. Ascom driver setup the purpose of the setup is to configure the driver software to your specific focuser installation. Starlight instruments when only the best focusers will do. An ascom switch emulating driver is also available for script control in acp or other programs with ascom scripting. Installation instructions, ascom 6 sp1, focusmax 3. The ascom component in backyardeos is mainly used to controlled motorized ascom compliant focusers. Fully ascom compliant driver and windows application support. I had to decide on the format of the messages sent tofrom the nano by the driver but apart from that most of the work in the driver is already done for you in the template. I have control panel set to focus on start and on filter change. Links to the project are at the bottom of this page. Fully ascom compliant driver and windows application support tested and works with focusmax, apt, nebulosity, scopefocus multiple hardware build options, easydriver, uln2003, drv8825, l293d, l298n, raps128, st6128, a4988 and other driver boards. The image screen capture or selected is blurred depending on the focuser position relative to a predefined focus point.