New focuser on the MN190 - woop!

[Bob Dobber]

First of all apologies if this is in the wrong sub-forum, but thought I'd post up about my new focuser I've fitted to the MN190. The stock one is garbage and is so unstable it almost makes you worried about attaching an imaging train, so after a friend played guinea pig and got one of these (chinese fairly generic) focusers off eBay, and having spoken to the manufacturer, they fabricated a MN190 specific adapter. This meant all I had to do was remove the stock focuser (four miniscule grub screws), install the adapter securing with the same four grub screws, then attach the new focuser with six beefier grub screws to the adapter. It was a pretty quick switchover and I was assured that I wouldn't need to re-collimate. I've just done some star tests just now and it is all looking very very promising. I've run the first sub through ASTAP and that says that there is next to no tilt (unlike before) and the AF routine in NINA worked without a hitch with no tweaks to settings. All I had to do was re-calibrate PHD2. Early days of course, but for a "non-invasive" mod (some other replacement focusers were going to require drilling the tube, no thanks!) for c.£300 it is looking promising.

 

If you've got a MN190 and dislike the focuser, I would seriously consider it, just let me know if you need any more info! Cheers 🙂 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[+Streetbob]

That looks pretty.

 

[Bottletopburly]

That looks excellent, is that the skywatcher stock base ? Looks like a steeltrack base , may be worth putting a link to supplier.

[Bob Dobber]

49 minutes ago, Bottletopburly said:

That looks excellent, is that the skywatcher stock base ? Looks like a steeltrack base , may be worth putting a link to supplier.

 

In the third picture that ring is the adapter supplied by the manufacturer of the focuser. It is secured in place by the four tiny grub screws that held the original focuser on. You've got the 200PDS haven't you? No idea if this would be a direct replacement for that, but the focuser on the 200PDS isn't as much of a horror show as on the MN190! Think they might do other variants though.

 

This is the focuser: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/144959646948?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=c2lihuirrvk&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=QgHl1DARS2y&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

[+Bino-viewer]

That looks very smart and goes with your ZWO gear very nicely.

[BAZ]

That looks a nice bit of kit, certainly looks the part.

[Bob Dobber]

2 hours ago, naglfar said:

Hi Bob, that's exactly what I've been looking for myself for my newly acquired MN190! I have a similar imaging setup to yours (OAG-L, EAF 7x36, ASI2600MM).

 

Would you mind telling me which version of the focuser you got - the 35mm or the 60mm? 

 

 

 

It's been revolutionary, I didn't even re-collimate after swapping out. Whether it does need tinkering with is debatable though so don't rule it out. I basically don't want to risk touching it while it's generally working ok!!

 

The vendor was skyoptikst I think and here's what I ordered...

 

Good luck with it!

 

 

 

 

[Bob Dobber]

2 hours ago, naglfar said:

Wow, that was fast! I was considering getting the 60mm for potential future visual use, but I've been unable to verify if it gets into the light path with the camera in focus. Think I'll just get the 35mm as well.

 

Thanks a bunch!

 

I asked my mate what his rationale was and he said: "I don’t believe it would have given enough tolerance to achieve focus. Without the end of the focus unit encroaching too far into the tube. If you put a smaller planet cam on for example that needs further away focus, I guess a threaded extension tube would be the next investment."

 

I'm only really interested in DSO and no visual so I'm fine with my option...

[Bob Dobber]

Cool. You ordered the adapter with it as well, right? They're responsive on messages generally by the way.

[Bob Dobber]

Great stuff. I've got that 2" adapter as well but I've never used it. The clamp style attachment is perfectly strong enough, and a massive improvement from the piece of cack that is on the stock focuser with that hateful extension tube thing. How they can ship such a high value telescope with that is beyond me.

[Bob Dobber]

Nice. I'd never removed a focuser from a scope before and frankly I was shocked at how primitive it was. Literally thin metal rod pressing against a sheer shiny metal tube supposedly providing some sort of fine adjustment. A wonder it works at all. The rack and pinion of this new one kicks it into touch completely.