ZWO EAF Backlash Compensation
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- čas přidán 30. 10. 2022
- In this video I will show you how to set up your backlash compensation for your ZWO EAF
ZWO Did not sponsor this video, and I am not affiliated with ZWO. I purchased this product on my own.
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This is the kind of video I love, i.e., practical advice, patient demonstration, and knowledgeable. Do keep your videos coming, they’re really helpful.
Thank you for your comment, my next video will be released soon!
I like your DIY approach to determining backlash. I followed your logical method, though I used two pieces of tape, and it worked perfectly. Thanks!
You are welcome, I am glad it helped you out.
Best description on how to set backlash ive seen yet! awesome 🙂
Thank you!
Merci depuis la France (proximité de Saint-Tropez) !
Excellent, logical, easy to understand and can be done during the daylight!
Thank you, I am glad you enjoyed the video!
Very nicely done!!! Thank you.
Thanks for watching!
Awesome video. Just what i needed to set up my new ZWO focus motor. Tried it tonight and it worker perfectly. Focus was right on. Thanks, Mike
Thank you, I am glad the video helped you get your focuser all set up!
That was a good demo of calibrating my new ZWO EAF. Subscribed. Looking forward for more content. Side note, smile a little, doesn't hurt.
Thank you, every video I am trying to improve at least one aspect of it for my viewers. I will definitely try to be less nervous, more prepared and hopefully that will let my excitement and passion for this hobby shine (as well as smile more).
Yeah, presentation is important, but much more important is the message. I’m sure you’ll find your successful video ‘persona.’
excellent video, this is so helpful
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks a lot, finally I understand how to calculate the backslash compensation. Regards from Chile
Glad it was helpful!
Nice clear teaching... thanks for making the video!
You are welcome, thank you for watching.
Thank you very much for your video. It has been very useful to me.
Glad it was helpful!
explain very well thank you
You are welcome!
Very demonstration of how to determine backlash, without being under the stars :)
I am glad you enjoyed the video, there is a lot of things you can do even during those rainy or cloudy days!
thanks for the good explanation!
You're welcome!
Thank you
You're welcome
I guess this is if you’re not using an entire ZWO setup ? Using ASIAIRpro and plus, zwo finder miniscope, and their eaf focuser with an old ioptron Zeq25gt, and an AT65edt scope, I am amazed at how my setup always get perfect focus.
I don't have access a ZWO ASIAIR, but if I do get one I will definitely make a video on how to calculate it. I have heard good things about the ASIAIR and EAF setup. I am glad to hear it is working good for you.
@@astroinfocus I accidentally found that the whole ZWO setup, outside of the telescope and mount one has, is key. But this was in the early 2020 COVID19 period. The ASIAIR Plus may it even better. I would recommend the miniscope as well if you’re able to. Then make sure you have the right cable for the mount connection and you’ll be amazed.
Nice video, but one point I might add. Your method here is correcting the backlash in the ZWO gearbox and even in the fine/coarse gearing of the focuser, but does not take into account any additional backlash that exists in the rack and pinion of the focus barrel. To eliminate it 100%, you'd need to rig up a DTI or similar accurate device to measure the actual movement of the barrel. I'm pretty sure if you did that, you'd find that the relationship of the two knobs will not match - which is fine because ultimately they do not matter, only the position of the barrel matters.
Hello, thank you for the comment. I don't have the tools to accurately measure the travel, however for my use case I have found this method to be more than acceptable for accounting for backlash. I have not had the focuser "get lost" while performing an auto focus routine. If I, or others do run into an issue I hope they will see your comment in hopes that it will guide them into focus.
@@astroinfocus I've had problems with my focuser getting lost. I worked out the backlash using you method, and it came down to 36 steps. Originially I had this set at 20 steps.
Have you had a chance to see if changing your backlash to 36 steps has helped since you changed it?
this method of determining the EAF backlash is theoretical because you start from the premise that the mechanics of the tube have no backlash. it is best to measure the distance that the tube travels during repeated in and out movements.
On the focuser on this scope and several others, I have not had any issues achieving reliable and repeatable auto focus. I will say I did calculate my backlash a bit differently on my Meade Lx200 12" as this method was not achieving repeatable results.
Hello, Thank you for your useful video. I have just bought an EAF and now I am at the point to find the right value for the backlash. I just was about to do it like you, but then I asked myself if this is the right backlash I should look at? Isn’t your backlash the gap between the fine/coarse gear? The EAF if directly connected to the main axis and the low gear button is just moving, because the main axis is moving, but has nothing to do with the movement of the barrel. I think I need to look for the backlash in the EAF and (if present) between the worm wheel and the rack and pineon drive?
I want to do this at the sky and see if I can go back to the same star diameter after focusing in and out. This might be more difficult, but show directly the effect of the right focus. And this method does not need any additional tool.
What do you think about this?
Regards
Jens
While doing it that way may proved a more accurate backlash setting, I can say with my setup this method had been reliable since I have posted the video and I have not had a need to further refine my backlash setting. That is the great thing about this hobby. There are many ways to achieve successful results!
So, the backlash you find with the ZWO utility, in NINA do you put it in the IN box or the OUT box? Thank you for your reply.
I do not use NINA, however for SGP I just let it use the backlash setting that you input in the ASCOM driver and have not had any problems with an autofocus routine.
Are you using the SV503 70mm Refractor ED ? I have the ZWO EAF with the SV503 70mm. I would assume that I could use your demo as a guide to set backlash with my rig?
Also, is that your starting position "in focus " ? 20145 ?
You will be able to use this for your Sv503 scope, I have the 80mm version that I use for solar and followed the same steps when setting up the EAF.
How about the backlash caused by the spring coupler?
I compressed the spring slightly to minimize any backlash in the coupler.
Backlash should be done with your camera and filter wheel INSTALLED ! Why ? because the loading on your Rack and Pinion focuser will be affected by the weight / load. The torque / Current required to rotate the focuser will also change the backlash.
Thanks for the tip, maybe in the future I will make a video calculating the backlash with and without the equipment, and test the results. Currently I have not had my autofocuser get lost by using this method to calculate the backlash, without the equipment attached.