RoboFocus and Temperature compensation

[Zathris]

I am in the market for a focuser and am leaning towards a RoboFocus. I like the idea of being able to for a small investment have a focus motor on each of my scopes and just plug it in as I switch from scope to scope. I see they have a temperature sensor, does that mean it can be programmed to adjust it self as the temperature changes my focus? In short is this a focus and forget setup?

Zathris….

[Rick Keppler]

Originally Posted by Zathris

I am in the market for a focuser and am leaning towards a RoboFocus. I like the idea of being able to for a small investment have a focus motor on each of my scopes and just plug it in as I switch from scope to scope. I see they have a temperature sensor, does that mean it can be programmed to adjust it self as the temperature changes my focus? In short is this a focus and forget setup?

Zathris….

That all depends on what you mean by 'it can be programmed'. If you have a computer hooked up to the unit and are running the software which comes with it or software such as FocusMax, then yes. There is no built in software/firmware.

[Zathris]

Originally Posted by Rick Keppler

That all depends on what you mean by 'it can be programmed'. If you have a computer hooked up to the unit and are running the software which comes with it or software such as FocusMax, then yes. There is no built in software/firmware.

Perhaps programmed is a poor choice of words. I use an Sbig camera and CCDSoft to image. I would like to know if RoboFocus can be used to focus and keep the scope focused automatically through out the exposure run of several hours during changing temperature?

Zathris....

[optwebman]

You can set up a script to run after you calibrate your focus change as referenced to temp drop and then the unit, as in the other post runs using FocusMax or Robofocus control software. Another manual feature I like is when using a wide field refractor I can monitor my focus via the guide chip on SBIG camera @ 400x and bump the RF a 1/1000" or so and get right back on track during the exposure. This way it leaves me in the loop to monitor the progress of my focus while I'm babysitting the exposure.

OPTwebman

[neilfleming]

You can do it that way, but you are better off using FocusMax, along with CCDCommander to do automated focusing through the night.

...Neil