MORNING STAR OBSERVATORY
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    • ---------------
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Arduino Moonlite Focuser

This project was originally built several years ago using an Adafruit V1 motor controller with an Arduino UNO that was programmed with the e. j. holmes Arduino Focuser sketch. But I can't find an INDI driver for it, so I reprogrammed the Arduino with the Orly (andico.org) focuser sketch that's written for the same hardware but uses the Moonlite protocol, which does have an INDI driver.
Compiling and uploading the new sketch in the Arduino IDE went without error and the MoonliteDRO driver is now controlling the focuser.

​The only changes I had to make to the hardware were moving the stepper motor wiring from the M3/M4 terminals to M1/M2 on the AdaFruit board, and I added a heatsink to the associated L293 driver IC as recommended on the andico.org page.

Picture
The Arduino and Adafruit motor controller combo is housed in a Radio Shack project box. It is connected from the motor controller to the motor with a 4-conductor cable which plugs into an RJ-11 connector on the motor.

I mounted a coaxial power connector on the project box and connected it to the external power input of the Adafruit motor controller so I can connect an external power supply.

The only modification to the Adafruit board was moving its power LED to the box lid.

Moonlite focuser adapter

Picture
The stepper motor and shaft adapter installed on my Moonlite focuser. The mounting bracket for the motor is cut from a 4" piece of right-angle aluminum stock. It is attached to the Moonlite focuser with one brass screw. I now have a 3-D printer so I plan to print a custom mounting bracket one of these days.

Picture
Closeup of the shaft adapter and clutch. It is basically three pieces: (1) the left side motor adapter, (2) the center shaft lock, and (3) the right side Moonlite adapter.

(1) The motor (left) side portion of the shaft adapter is a short piece of .625" aluminum rod with a 5mm center bore and set screw to secure the motor shaft. The right half of it has been turned down to 3/8" and threaded to 3/8-32.

(2) The shaft lock mechanism is the same as used on my C-11 to lock the mirror supports and screws onto the 3/8-32 motor adapter threads.
​
(3)
The Moonlite (right) side of the adapter is also .625" diameter and has a 1/4" diameter shaft extending from the left side that inserts into the shaft lock mechanism. The right side slides into the Moonlite in place of the knob, and is turned down to 15mm in diameter and 10mm wide to match the knob that was removed. This side also has a 5mm bore to match the focuser shaft and is secured with another set screw.

Picture
To unlock the motor and manually focus the Moonlite just loosen the thumbnut.
  • Tightening the shaft lock mechanism (clockwise) on the 1/4" shaft engages the motor.
  • Releasing the shaft lock mechanism (counter-clockwise) allows the 1/4" shaft to rotate freely for manual focusing.

Picture
The focuser motor mounted to the moonlite. The motor was repurposed from an old EQ-3 kit I had years ago.

​I
placed a rubber washer between the mounting bracket and the Moonlite to keep from scratching the focuser's finish. The Moonlite already had a threaded 8x32 hole to attach the bracket. There's also a second rubber washer between the motor and mounting bracket on the screw securing the motor.

Astro-Tech AT6RC Focuser Adapter

Picture
To mount the stepper motor to the Astro-Tech Crayford I made a radius block that attaches to the bottom of the focuser using two existing screw holes. To this I attached a cross bar with a plate to hold the motor.

Picture
I made a new focuser-side shaft adapter to mate the Astro-Tech focuser shaft with the existing motor adapter from the Moonlite setup.

Picture
The new shaft adapter for the Astro-Tech replaces the adapter for the moonlite shaft. The other adapter parts are common to the Moonlite adapter.

Page created 1/1/2021
Last updated 5/1/2023
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  • Home
    • About
    • Contact
  • Astrophotography
  • The Observatory
    • The New Observatory
    • - About the ExploraDome
    • - About the Lancaster Dome
    • - Building the Lancaster Dome
    • Some Days Are Better Than Others
  • Equipment
    • Cameras >
      • Celestron 5-1/2" Schmidt Camera
      • Orion Starshoot Pro
      • QSI 683WS
      • Raspberry Pi Allsky Camera
      • ZWO ASI120MM-S
      • ZWO ASI178MM
      • ZWO ASI183MC
      • ZWO ASI294MC Pro
    • Eyepieces
    • Filters >
      • Orion Nautilus Filter Wheel
    • Mounts >
      • Orion HDX-110 (EQ-8) >
        • New HDX-110 Setup
        • Orion HDX110 EQ-8
    • Observatory Computers
    • Telescopes >
      • Astro-Tech AT6RC
      • Celestron C-11 XLT
      • Orion ST-80 Refractor
      • Zhumell 152mm Refractor
  • Projects
    • Arduino Focuser
    • Celestron 5-1/2" Schmidt Camera Mod
    • C11 XLT Mods
    • Orion SSPRO Camera >
      • Disassembled Views
      • Noise Reduction Mod
      • Temp Controller Mod
    • Ultima 8 Mods
    • Zhumell Refractor Mods
  • Non-Astronomy
    • Amateur Radio >
      • Boat Anchor Radios >
        • BC-348N Receiver
        • Collins 51J4 HF Receiver
        • R-392 HF Receiver
      • DIY >
        • Station Boom Microphone
      • Ameco >
        • Ameco AC-1
        • Ameco OCM
        • Ameco PT-2
        • Ameco R5A
      • Heathkit >
        • Heathkit SB-102 Station
      • Knight-Kit >
        • Knight Kit Span Master II
      • Yaesu FT-817 >
        • Yaesu FT-817ND
        • LDG Z-817 Autotuner
        • Windcamp LiPo Battery
    • Antique Radios >
      • Building A Radio Workbench
      • Radio Dial Neon Clock
      • Radios >
        • Crosley 11-104U
        • Echophone EC-1
        • Eddystone EC-10 MK I
        • Eltz Radione 2
        • Lafayette KT-200 Shortwave Receiver
        • Panasonic RF-5000A
        • Silvertone Model 4465
        • Troubador Model 2401 Walnut Bakelite
        • Troubador Model 0-71 Ivory Deco Bakelite AM/SW
        • Truetone Model D1011 Stratoscope
        • 1938 Zenith 6-S-254
    • Geiger Counters >
      • AN/PDR-27G Radiac Set
      • Lionel CD V-700 Geiger Counter
      • RCA WF-12A Geiger Counter
    • Test Equipment >
      • DIY Test Equipment >
        • DIY Curve Tracer
        • DIY Signature Tracer
      • Military Test Equipment >
        • BC-221-AF Frequency Meter
        • LM-21 Frequency Meter
        • TS-323/UR Frequency Meter
        • TS-465 C/U Sweep Generator
        • TS-505D/U VTVM
        • TV-3C/U Tube Tester
      • Tube Testers >
        • Alternating Current Sink
        • Drug Store Tester
        • EMC Model 200 Tube Tester
        • Hickok Model 6000A Tube Tester
        • Hickok OZ-1 (550X)
        • Precise Model 111 Tube Tester
        • Precision Model 10-12
        • Supreme Model 385
        • TV-3C/U Tube Tester
      • VTVMs and Multimeters >
        • B&K Model 290 Hi-Low FET Multimeter
        • Hickok 225K VTVM
        • Hickok Model 370 FET Multimeter
        • McMurdo Silver VOMAX 900
        • Micronta 22-220 FET Multimeter
        • Simpson 360-2 Digital FET DMM
        • TS-505D/U VTVM
      • Hickok >
        • Hickok 19X RF Generator
        • Hickok 225K VTVM
        • Hickok 288X RF Generator
        • Hickok Model 370 FET Multimeter
        • Hickok OZ-1 (550X)
        • Hickok 6000A Tube Tester
      • Simpson >
        • Simpson 360 DMM
        • Simpson 360-2 DMM
        • Simpson 480 Genescope
      • Supreme Instruments >
        • Supreme 385 Automatic
        • Supreme 560 Vedolyzer
        • Supreme 560A Vedolyzer
        • Supreme Model 561 AF/RF Generator
        • Supreme's Model 562 Audolyzer
        • Supreme Model 562 Audolyzer circa 1941
        • Supreme Model 562 Audolyzer circa 1946
        • Supreme Model 563 Audio Generator
        • Supreme Model 576 RF Generator
        • Supreme Model 666 AF/RF Generator
      • Other Test Equipment >
        • Heathkit IT-28 Capacitor Tester
        • Rider 162 Chanalyst
        • Tektronix 326 O'scope
        • VU-Data Model 941B Oscilloscope
    • ---------------
    • Fossils
    • Rocks and Minerals
    • Star Trek >
      • Star Trek Rock Mood Lamp
      • Star Trek Communicator