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| Switched Systems Limited, P.O. Box 1472, Sheffield S20 7BW - Tel. 07968 288 550 - enquiries@switchedsystems.co.uk |
Introduction |
Introduction |
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Switched Systems Ltd are manufacturers of quality servo focusing systems for telescopes, suitable for retro-fitting to a wide-range of telescopes.
Our focusing systems provide the astronomer with a highly controlled and stable image suitable for regular eyepiece viewing and for astrophotography. Our focusers have been successfully used with various cameras and webcams (such as the Philips Toucam) to produce high-quality images of planets, galaxies and nebulas. The focusers can be fitted to most telescopes. Mounting instructions for 3 popular Newtonian telescopes (Meade 1.25", Helios 2", & Sky-watcher 1.25") and the Meade ETX series (ETX70, ETX90, ETX105 & ETX125) can be found on the Fitting page. Custom mounts for many other telescopes can be provided. See The Sky At Night Magazine March 2006 issue for an independent review of our products. |
Why Go Electric? |
| Focusing on most telescopes is a problem. As soon as one adjusts the focus, the telescope is disturbed causing the image to jump around. Our systems allows you to adjust the focus of your telescope with minimal disturbance to the image.
By way of example, the movies below allow you to compare image stability of a telescope focused manually and when motor driven. The examples were taken on a Skywatcher 114-500 Newtonian reflector telescope, the subject is an electricity pylon, and shows the difference in camera shake between the manual and the motor driven systems. |
| Manual focusing | Electric focusing |
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Please note, the actual image sharpness shown is a function of the video compression. |
Products |
| SSL design and manufacture two motorised focusing systems, suitable to upgrade the manual focuser on most Newtonian telescopes and certain Maksutov telescopes and Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes. The first system is an entry level electric focuser upgrade - The EFocuser. The second product is a computer controlled focuser suitable for being operated from a laptop via the RS232 (Com port) link. We also manufacture flexible shaft extension for the Meade ETX range of telescopes. |
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| EFocuser | PFocuser | Flexible shaft extender |
EFocuser - Motorised focuser |
| The EFocuser is our entry level motorised focuser. Using a hand held control box, the user can seemlessly alter the focus of their telescope with the minimal of disturbance. | |
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The focuser uses servo motors, capable of developing up to 3.5kgcm of torque. The focuser module has a continuously variable electronical speed controller, allowing initial rapid rough focusing and then fine focusing at reduced speed. The focuser can be retro-fitted to a number of telescopes, appropriate brackets are supplied with the motors. | |
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The EFocuser system is available at £45 + £2.50 p&p within the UK. For users of Paypal and Nochex just click the corresponding icons on the Purchasing page. We also accept payment with a personal cheque drawn on a UK bank, please contact us for details. |
PFocuser - Computer controlled electric focuser |
| The PFocuser is an electronic motorised focuser capable of being fully controlled from the PC, via the RS232 communications port. The PFocuser system is based around the DC-servo actuated electric focuser (EF) and is available both as an upgrade for our simple hand controlled focuser, simply replace the hand control box with the new control box to allow both hand control, and computer control of the focuser, and as a complete stand-alone system. |
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| Instructions for the system are available for download. |
| The PFocuser system is available without the motor module as an upgrade for the existing hardware at £65 + £3 p&p, or as a full system including the motor module at £80 + £3 p&p. For users of Paypal and Nochex just click the corresponding icons on the Purchasing page. We also accept payment with a personal cheque drawn on a UK bank, please contact us for details. |
Flexible shaft extension |
| The Meade ETX series of telescopes are particularly troublesome when it comes to manually focusing the telescope while trying to observe subjects close to the pole. Access to the focusing knob is particularly restricted due to the base of the system, on both the "RA" and "EC" versions of the telescopes. Our flexible shaft extension for the focusing knob, involves the removal of the standard Meade knob, and the replacement of this by our flexible shaft. This comes complete with an larger aluminium knob at the end of the flexible linkage allowing greater control. The photos show it fitted to an ETX90RA telescope. |
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| The flexible shaft extension is made from twisted steel cable, ideal to transmit the focus adjustments from the knob to the telescope. The cable is plastic coated to prevent scratching of the telescope. The large aluminium knob allows fine adjustment of the telescope focus. |
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| The existing focus knob may be removed with a small Allan (Hex) key, and the coupler on the flexible focus shaft slots on in place of the original knob, retained by a small screw. The extention is suitable for all models of the ETX series of telescopes, and may even be suitable for other telescopes, please discuss your requirements with us before ordering if it is for any other telescope, so that we may advise and supply the appropriate shaft connectors.
As the Meade ETX series of telescopes have different focus shaft diameters, please specify which model the shaft extender is to be used with when placing your order so that we can supply the appropriate shaft connector. |
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The Flexible Shaft Extension is available at £10 + £1 p&p within the UK. For users of Paypal and Nochex just click the corresponding icons on the Purchasing page. We also accept payment with a personal cheque drawn on a UK bank, please contact us for details. |
Fitting |
| Our motorised focusers can be fitted to most Newtonian telescopes that employ a rack and pinion focuser. They can also be fitted to certain Maksutov type telescopes such as the Meade ETX series. |
| Fitting instructions for 3 popular Newtonian telescopes (Meade 1.25" focuser, Helios 2" focuser, and sky-watcher 1.25" focuser) can be found by following the links below. Our focusers will also fit many other telescopes, for example the Orion GX250. Mounting brackets suitable for most telescopes can be custom made if dimensions are supplied prior to purchasing. If your telescope is not listed below, it is possible that a custom made mounting bracket can be manufactured. Please contact us providing information about your telescope and its focuser dimensions. Follow this link for further details of the dimensions and mounting requirements.
A case-free motor system is also available which fits the Meade ETX70, ETX90, ETX105 and ETX125 series of telescopes. A flexible shaft extension for the Meade ETX series of telescopes is also available, as a manual alternative to the motor focussing systems. |
| Meade 1.25" | |
| Helios 2" | |
| Sky-watcher 1.25" | |
| ETX70 | |
| ETX90 and ETX105 | |
| ETX125 |
Meade 4500 series telescopes |
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| The Meade 4500 series telescopes have a 1.25" focuser, with a 8.5mm diameter spindle. The manual focus control knob may be removed from the end of the spindle by unscrewing a small bolt in the centre of the control knob. The spindle is held in place by 4 small bolts in the pressure plate. |
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| The 4 bolts may be taken out, and the spindle removed from the focuser. The pressure plate forms part of the bearing surface, and so is retained when re-assembling the system with the motor drive attached. Once the spindle is removed, the motor / drive system may be attached using the shaft connector supplied. |
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| When attaching the motor drive to the spindle, ensure the holes in the pressure plate align with holes in the Aluminium mounting bracket supplied with the motor focuser. The spindle may not be replaced into the focuser, ensuring the teeth on the spindle engage with the teeth on the rack mechanism on the focussing tube. The degree to which the bolts are tightened determines the friction on the spindle, and the torque required to adjust the focussing mechanism. |
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| The motor focussing drive may then be plugged in to the hand controller, and the focus can be adjusted without causing the telescope to shake. The speed of the focussing may be adjusted from the hand controller, and the direction is determined by the toggle switch. |
Helios 2" focuser on 200mm diameter scope |
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| The 2" focuser on the Helios tubes is very similar to the 1.25" Meade focuser in many ways. The spindle is 8.5mm diameter, and the pressure plate is held on by 4 bolts in the same way as on the Meade. The knob is also similar in that it is held on by a screw through the centre of the knob. |
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| Once the focussing knob is removed, and the pressure plate taken off, the spindle and pressure spring are visible. The motor drive may then be attached to the spindle and attached to the focuser with the supplied bracket. |
Sky-watcher 1.25" focuser |
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| The 1.25" focuser on the Sky-watcher 114mm telescopes has a 5mm spindle, and the pressure plate is held on by two self tapping screws, shown in the photos. The focusing knobs have threaded inserts and screw onto each end of the spindle. |
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| Once the focusing knob is removed, the motor may either be coupled onto the screw thread, or the threaded part of the spindle may be removed with a small hacksaw if a more permanent arrangement is required - however, we except no responsibility for any damage to the telescope, or the voiding of the warranty is this is carried out. |
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| Removal of the two self-tapping screws allows the pressure plate and the spindle to be removed. The motor may then be attached to the spindle, ensuring the two holes in the pressure spring align with two holes in the bracket supplied. |
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| The two screws may now be used to re-mount the spindle, and the motor, on the focuser. The amount to which the screws are tightened governs the torque required on the focussing spindle. |
ETX 70 EC focuser fitting |
| The Meade ETX series of telescopes are particularly troublesome when it comes to getting the system in focus, as the focusing knob is mounted at the back of the telescope, and is difficult to reach when at high angles. The ETX70 Scopes have a 3.5mm focussing shaft. The frameless version of the motor, sits on the shaft and nestles loosely against the side of the telescope. |
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| The system moves in and out with the focusing shaft as the system operates, but the side of the telescope prevents rotation of the motor. The motor is small enough to allow high elevations to be observed without obstructing the telescope. The system is necessarily a loose fit, which does lead to a very slight lag on direction change when focussing. |
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| The motor system is small enough to allow the telescope to be positioned vertically, without removing the motor - useful for high elevation gazing, where the Meade focus knob cannot be easily reached, or for packing the system away. |
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| The existing focus knob may be removed with a small Allan (Hex) key, and the 3.5mm shaft coupler on the focuser slots on in place of the original Meade focus knob. |
ETX 90 / 105 EC/RA focuser fitting |
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| The Meade ETX series of telescopes are particularly troublesome when it comes to getting the system in focus, as the focusing knob is mounted at the back of the telescope, and is difficult to reach when at high angles. The ETX90 and ETX105 Scopes have a 5mm focusing shaft, and a 8.5mm mounting hole in the back of the casing, shown left. The frameless version of the motor, right, has a locating pin. |
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| The pin allows the system to move in and out with the focusing shaft as the system operates, but prevents rotation of the motor. The motor is small enough to allow high elevations to be observed without obstructing the telescope. The pin is necessarily a loose fit within the locating hole, and does lead to a very slight lag on direction change when focusing. |
| The existing focus knob may be removed with a small Allan (Hex) key, and the 5mm shaft coupler on the focuser slots on in place of the original Meade focus knob, with the location pin fitting into the hole at the back of the telescope. |
ETX 125 EC focuser fitting |
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| The Meade ETX series of telescopes are particularly troublesome when it comes to getting the system in focus, as the focusing knob is mounted at the back of the telescope, and is difficult to reach when at high angles. The ETX125 Scopes have a 4mm focusing shaft. The frameless version of the motor, sits on the shaft the bracket rests loosely on the 'shelf' at the top of the telescope to prevent rotation of the motor in use. |
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| The system moves in and out with the focussing shaft as the system operates, but the bracket prevents rotation of the motor. The motor is small enough to allow high elevations to be observed without obstructing the telescope. The system is necessarily a loose fit, which does lead to a very slight lag on direction change when focussing. |
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| The motor system is small enough to allow the telescope to be positioned vertically, without removing the motor - useful for high elevation gazing, where the Meade focus knob cannot be easily reached, or for packing the system away.
The existing focus knob may be removed with a small Allan (Hex) key, and the 4mm shaft coupler on the focuser slots on in place of the original Meade focus knob. Many thanks for Darren for providing the photos |
Diagram of the system mounting |
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| Please supply the sizes specified so we can prepare a bracket to fit your system. In the case of a system with two holes, for example the skywatcher, please let us know. |
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SSL focusers mounted on |
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| The system is fitted here to a 6" Event Horizon Telescope - Thanks to Rich for the photos. |
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| System fitted to an Orion GX250, photos curtesy of Pete - Thankyou. |
Testimonials from customers |
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Hi Dave I received the Motor Focuser Kit today safe and sound! Tonight I fitted it onto the Sky Watcher telescope and tried it out. (The sky is clear at the moment) It's simple to use and very effective! The times that I have tried to focus manually with a Barlow Lens and webcam only to lose the object...this motorised focus unit certainly does the trick and the speed adjuster makes it so much easier to focus dead on. Very pleased, Dave - Thanks! Best Regards Steve |
Dear Dave Used the focuser for the first time last night and im very impressed makes focusing at high mag so much easier.Would i be able to find a longer cable somewhere that connects the focuser unit to the hand set thats the only thing i really need a longer cable so i could focus the scope whilst im sitting at the computer monitor. But its a well made piece of kit Many thanks Martin |
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Many thanks for your kind comments guys. Longer cables can be ordered at cost. |
Purchasing |
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The focusing motor comes complete
with the hand controller, and a 0.75m connecting cable. The focuser
runs from a single PP3, 9V battery in the hand controller, and the speed
control allows focussing speeds from fast, to a slow 'jog' mode. Mounting
brackets are available for the 3 telescopes shown (Meade, Helios and
Sky-watcher), and brackets will be custom made at no extra cost to dimensions
supplied for other focusers on different telescopes. The system is available
at £45, and may be purchased securely by credit card, via Paypal,
by clicking on the credit card symbols below.
Motor heads are also available for Meade ETX125, ETX105, ETX90 and ETX 70 telescopes, please specify which system you require at the time you place your order. Every system comes with hand controller and cable. We accept Paypal from Paypal members - click on the link below. We also accept Nochex payment service, which allows secure payment to us even if you are not a member of the Nochex service. For orders outside the UK please contact us for further information regarding shipping costs. Payment may also be made by cheque if required, email for details. We do not accept money orders or direct transfer - sorry. |
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| ETX Flexible Shaft Extension £10 + £1.00 p&p | ![]() |
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| EFocuser £45 + £2.50 p&p | ![]() |
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| PFocuser without motor £65 + £3.00 p&p |
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| PFocuser motor (complete system) £80 + £3.00 p&p |
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Disclaimer |
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This simple disclaimer says by using any device we provide to you, you will not hold us responsible for damage caused due to improper or questionable use of the system. The systems we provide are designed and manufactured to be robust and provide worry-free operation, but whilst we try, it is impossible for us to predict every possible way that customers will try to use these systems in the field. Therefore, before using any system provided by us, please be sure you read and agree to this disclaimer. By using our system for the first time you are tacitly agreeing to this disclaimer, therefore it is best if you read and understand it before first use. If you have any questions about the correct system operation, then please contact us before you attempt to use it. Your system has been fully tested individually, and verified before dispatch.
IF YOU DO NOT AGREE WITH THIS DISCLAIMER THEN PLEASE RETURN THE SYSTEM UNOPENED AND IN AN UNUSED AND ORIGINAL CONDITION FOR A FULL REFUND INCLUDING YOUR SHIPPING COSTS. IN NO EVENT SHALL WE BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR DAMAGES, INCLUDING ANY GENERAL, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF THE IMPROPER USE OF OR THE INABILITY TO USE THE SYSTEM (INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO LOSS OF DATA OR DATA BEING RENDERED INACCURATE OR LOSSES SUSTAINED BY YOU OR THIRD PARTIES OR A FAILURE OF THE SYSTEM TO OPERATE WITH ANY OTHER DEVICES), EVEN IF SUCH HOLDER OR OTHER PARTY HAS NOT BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. Please note that Switched Systems Ltd. have a policy of continuous improvement to their products and as a result specifications may alter without prior notification. E.&O.E. We do however wish you many years of trouble free operation of our systems. |
| Switched Systems Ltd © 2006 |