News from Starlight Instruments
Starlight Instruments is proud to announce the release of its newest Digital kit for Electronic Focusing.
This new digital kit is a WiFi system that can be operated with a Smart Phone or IPAD. If you have a smart phone/IPAD, there is no need for a bulky hand control.
The digital kit comes standard with a digital hub and motor. If you want to use this system via WiFi, you will order the WiFi option which allows you to control your focuser via Smart Phone or IPAD. You can upgrade to this option at anytime. This option is a circuit board upgrade which you plug-in the option into the main hub circuit board for the upgrade.
This digital kit can also be upgraded with an external Thermistor which allows you to more accurately use temperature compensation.
Another option for the Focuser Boss II is that you can upgrade the main circuit board to control 2 focusers simultaneously. With most astronomers having more than 1 telescope, this will allow them to control 2 telescopes at the same time, or you can control your guide scope and your telescope at the same time.
We designed the Focuser Boss II to work with all existing motors. So if you have an existing Feather Touch digital unit or the Micro Touch digital unit, you can upgrade to the Focuser Boss II and use your existing motors. If you want to upgrade to the Focuser Boss II from your existing Feather Touch or Micro Touch digital unit, you will need to contact us because I only have the Focuser Boss II listed on the website with the motor.
This system works on ASCOM 6.0 or newer.
Please click the link below to view the products from our website.
Newest Addition: Feather Touch® 3500 Series Focusers
We are pleased to announce the newest addition to our line of focusers - the Feather Touch® FTF3515 Focuser. The 3.5 inch internal diameter focuser has a draw tube travel length of 1.375". This large size focuser can be used to hold almost any type of viewing accessory including a 3.0" Wynne corrector. This focuser will work on large Newtonian and larger Ritchey Chretien telescopes. This robust focuser was designed to safely lift and hold 18-20 lbs of viewing equipment without shifting or sagging.
The FTF3515 Series focuser has the same design as the FTF3545 that is used on large refractor style telescopes. It is ideal for applications which demand precision imaging while also managing a heavier weight capacity.
If you have custom requirements and/or needs, please do not hesitate to contact us with details -- our precision machine shop can get your parts made to the most demanding tolerances!
This focuser comes with our Fine Focus Reduction Unit which allows very accurate focusing. It is typically a 10:1 planetary reduction assembly that makes focusing extremely precise and easy. We were the original developer of this type of system for telescope use and have been making and improving these for longer than any other manufacturer. These units have undergone continuous improvement and we believe they are, quite simply, the best in the industry.
The smooth and precise feel of our Fine Focus Reduction Unit is the key, and it allows our users to focus precisely with unparalleled accuracy, speed, and reliability.
The 3500 series focusers can be rotated easily relative to OTA via a rotating locking collar.
Our standard female locking collar allows us to design and machine almost any type of adapter to attach the focuser to almost any scope.
The rack and pinion design uses a precision fine pitch ½ inch wide Brass rack and matched hardened Stainless Steel pinion.
Our original Brake Feature is included to allow for easy load adjustment of the weight on the focuser. This feature also allows locking the pinion/draw tube when needed.
The end of the draw tube uses a 4.1x24 tpi male thread which allows for a female threaded end cap or a 2.0" or 3.0" compression ring end cap to be used to attach different types of viewing accessories.
And, as with our other focusers, this focuser uses internally machined light baffles for superior light-reducing.
| SPECIFICATIONS | |
|---|---|
| Thread: | 4.1 x 24 tpi M on Draw Tube (End Cap Side) |
| Draw Tube Travel: |
34.93 mm | 1.375 in |
| Diameter at Back Side (Eye Piece) of Draw Tube: |
92.71 mm | 3.65 in |
| Draw Tube Drive Mechanism: |
Helical Rack and Pinion 72 Pitch |
| Reduction Ratio: |
10:1 (Approximately) |
| Travel per Pinion Revolution: |
21.46 mm | 0.845 in |
| Lifting Capacity: |
8-9 kg | 18-20 lbs |