Re: ATM Moving Mirror Focuser

[akelly@ghgcorp.com (Albert F. Kelly)]

>More recently (early 90's) I built a large eyepiece turret for the Danciger
32" 
>scope which incorporated a 3-screw focuser in its base. This used 1/4"
>roller chain
>and sprockets instead of a timing belt & could easily support the 10+ pound
>weight of
>the turret and 4 2" eyepieces. Not a trivial thing to build, though!
>
>Andy Saulietis / DTG Alt-Az-Fp Drive Systems

Guys,
        I have been the primary beneficiary of Andy's designs over the last
few years and I can testify that this turret that Andy built is one of the
most wonderful devices I've ever used with a telescope.  Andy didn't mention
that it also has a built-in Paracorr and a four-position filter wheel!  The
turret is fairly heavy, but our 32" scope is built to handle a decent
payload.  If I had a devil's choice to make between saving the turret (with
its wide-field and three Nagler eypieces, OIII and H-Beta filters, and
Paracorr) and the rest of the scope from being crushed by a roadgrader, I
would actually have to think about it!

Al Kelly