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The Focuser
I
removed the optional Televue Fine Focus mechanism because it used 2
of the 4 holes on the rack & pinion block, and I needed those
holes. I could have worked around that but I preferred not
to. Besides, I could not loosen the screw that held the coarse
focus knob (I suspect it was put on with Red Loctite). In reality
though, the fine focus mechanism was no longer
needed. All focusing is now done with the EAF from indoors at the
computer, or outdoors at the telescope with the optional ZWO EAF Hand
Controller.The Adapter Plate
I
fashioned an aluminum adapter plate that attaches to the NP101
focuser's rack
& pinion block. The plate serves as a platform for attaching
the EAF standard motor bracket. The bracket is fastened to the
plate by 2 screws. Those screws go into the 2 centerline holes
on the plate which are threaded to eliminate the need for nuts on the
reverse
side. The adapter was cut from a 1/8" thick aluminum
plate. Aluminum plate of various sizes (1/8"x8"x8",
1/8"x6"x12",
etc.)
can be found on Amazon for around $12. However, I just happened
to have a
scrap piece in the junk box that was large enough to cut out what was
needed. Being scrap, it had lots of nicks, scratches, and gray
paint. I sanded off what I could, then sprayed it with a can of
textured black paint. Had I cut my adapter from one of those
aluminum plates from Amazon, I think it would have looked just fine unpainted.The Flexible Coupler
Since none of the flexible couplers supplied by ZWO fit my NP101 focus
shaft, I purchased a 5-9mm flexible coupler from Amazon.
I
used sandpaper wound around a pencil to enlarge the 9mm hole to
approximately 9.1mm. It took about 10 to 15 minutes of sanding to
enlarge it enough to fit the focus shaft, and that includes the times
spent cleaning and test fitting. The NP101 focus shaft is tapered
at the end. The focus shaft needs to be inserted far enough into
the coupler so that the grub screws tighten against the straight part of the shaft, not the tapered part. |