Connecting and Setting Options


Focusers are selected and connected on the Sequence Window in the equipment group box.


Options can be set when the focuser is in a disconnected state by clicking the  icon.  These options will vary by manufacturer.  For ASCOM focusers this will bring up the ASCOM properties dialog for the selected focuser.  This properties dialog is generally where the COM port is specified as well as other device dependent information.


To connect the focuser click on the connection icon .  Once connected the icon will change , click this icon to disconnect.


Focuser Control Panel


Description: The Control Panel provides control of the Focuser.  Many of these controls are also duplicated in the Focus Control Module. These values can also be preset by using a profile or by opening a sequence.



Focus Travel (In / Out slider)


This is for display purposes only and shows where your focuser lies within it's range of travel.



Focus Information


Displays information about the focuser


  • Current position: The position of the focuser in steps.
  • Temperature: The current temperature the focuser (NA if the focus controller is not equipped with a temperature sensor).
  • Last Focus Temp: The temperature at which the last focus run occurred.
  • Last Focus Time: The time at which the last focus run occurred.



Focus Control 


Contains options pertaining to manually moving the focuser


  • In (Fine/Course Buttons): Allows the focuser to be moved inward by the number of steps specified below the button.
  • Out (Fine/Course Buttons): Allows the focuser to be moved outward by the number of steps specified above the button.
  • Steps: The number of steps that the In/Out buttons will move the focuser.
  • Zero: Moves the focuser to the 0 position, you will be prompted to verify this move.
  • Go To: Allows a position to be set and the focuser to be moved to that position.  
  • Stop: Stops any motion of the focuser.



Focus Options


  • Reverse focuser direction: Reverses what is considered In and Out movements
  • Focus Reminder: See Manual Focusing Reminders
  • Use auto focus: See Auto Focus
  • Auto adjust focus per filter: See Auto Adjust Focus Per Filter
  • Temperature compensation: See Temperature Compensation
  • Focus Point Settings: 
    • Focus: Moves the focuser to the the specified focus point (per filter).
    • Set Focus:  This will set the focus point of the currently active filter to the current position of the focuser. Alternatively, you can set focus points for filters in the Filter Setup Dialog.



Frame and Focus


Allows for taking a loop or a single image that is not saved.  Useful when focusing or framing your target.  This is also accessible via the Frame and Focus Module.  Also see Manual Frame and Focus


  • Bin/ISO: Sets the binning or ISO of the image.
  • Exposure: Sets the time in seconds for the image.
  • Start: Starts an imaging loop.
  • Take One: Takes a single frame.



Other Button


The Other button brings up a special menu seen below:



Controls:

  • Set absolute focus position for first filter use:  Checking this option will cause the focuser to move to the absolute focus position set for that filter.  The filter change can be for anything (the first event, AF override filter, Plate Solve override filter, etc.).  Whatever filter is set first will cause the absolute position of that filter to be set.  This is most often used with the "adjust focus per filter" option and it is important to note that the first (and only first) filter change will not behave in the way that all subsequent filter changes will behave.  Normally, the focuser only moves by an amount equal to the difference between the old and new filters focus positions (the delta).  Checking this option will not use any delta, but set an absolute position.  This is useful if your first filter change will be for AF override and it will move the focuser to a point (regardless of temperature) where AF can succeed.
  • Override maximum step: Allows the maximum step of your focuser to be set lower that the driver specifies.  This is useful if you use the same controller on multiple motors and one has a lower range than the other.  By setting the maximum step here you don't need to change it in the driver and the focus range appears correct.  
  • Focuser backlash Compensation: Allows you to specify a direction and number of steps for the focuser to end on.  For instance if you specify "IN" and 100 then any move that is "OUT" will invoke the compensation which will move the focuser "OUT" by an additional 100 steps and then "IN" by 100 steps to remove the backlash.
    • Compensation direction: The direction that the backlash will be removed.
    • Compensation step size: The number of steps to move to remove the backlash.  This number does not need to be precise.  If anything it needs to be larger than the total backlash in the focuser, so overshoot.
  • Use environment device for temperature input:  If you have an Environment Device device connected, you can use it to provide focus trigger input.  If your connected focuser has a temperature probe, it will be ignored.