The Rigel System STEPPER Motor Kits for Stellarvue Camera Rotator are part of Rigel System’s nSTEP and STEPPER Motor Kits for camera lenses and telescope focus rings which offer the ability to motorize your camera or telescope focus ring with Rigel System’s powerful stepper motor for the ultimate in accurate auto-focusing. The company has recently announced that the kits now support the Stellarvue Camera Rotator.
According to the Leon Palmer, owner of Rigel Systems, “If you have a Stellarvue camera rotator (SER-63, SER-69, SER-75), you now have a low cost solution to automating rotation for framing from your PC, using our nFRAME stepper and controller Simple and effective and doesn’t add any length to your imaging stack! The nFRAME controller is fully ASCOM compliant and compatible with all higher level camera control software that offers camera rotation control.”
He continued, “Attachment is quick and easy, simply (1) slip the gear over the knurled ring and tighten three set screws, (2) slip the stepper with its split ring bracket over the stationary ring and tighten one screw, (3) plug stepper into nFRAME controller and you’re ready to go! Shown in the images is a before and after photos for the Stellarvue SER rotator. If you’re interested in more information, drop us an e-mail at rigelsys@cox.net”
The Rigel System nSTEP and STEPPER Motor Kits for camera lenses and telescope focus were introduced last year and support a variety of the top imaging options offered today. The stepper motor has a 0.1-degree step size and easily lifts eight pounds. The stepper can be quickly detached for manual focusing. It uses a standard 6-wire telephone cable and RJ12 connector.
The kits are available in two stepper motor options including a Belt Drive Stepper Kit which includes a includes crossbar, stepper and drive belt; and a Split Gear Stepper Kit which includes a stepper, ADM ring with stepper bracket, and split gear.
As noted by Palmer, “The belt drive is more flexible since it fits any size focus ring while the split gear uses our stepper bracket attached to an ADM dovetail ring to drive a large “split” which some users prefer over belt drive.”
The stepper motors are offered in a package with the USB-nSTEP controller which is fully ASCOM compliant so it will work with popular focus control programs. It can be operated for temperature compensation with the optional temperature sensor. The USB-nSTEP offers full step and half step control from a computer and a display of step count. USB and 12V battery power cables are included as well as software and ASCOM drivers for Windows.
There are two USB-nSTEP options. The standard USB-nSTEP version offers PC only operation with full control of the stepper motor from a PC.
Also available is the enhanced USB-nSTEP option that offers full control of the stepper motor in three ways: (1) with a PC; (2) manually using an included button controller; and (3) through a smart phone. With this version no PC is required, instead simply using the button controller for manual-only operation through just the 12V DC stepper motor supply. And with an Android or iPhone, full standalone configuration and speed adjustment are available.
You can learn more about the Rigel System STEPPER Motor Kits for Stellarvue Camera Rotator here.
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