operating a ZWO EAF with SharpCap

[RiverRat#52]

I am looking for the instructions to interface and operate a ZWO EAF with SharpCap. I have it installed but SharpCap docent seem to recognize it.Thanks.If this is a redundant question,my apologies.

[admin]

Hi,

SharpCap doesn't directly work with the EAF, but will control it nicely via ASCOM. So, to get it running in SharpCap, you need to install

1) The ASCOM Platform - from https://ascom-standards.org/Downloads/Index.htm
2) ZWO ASCOM drivers - from https://www.zwoastro.com/software/

Once you have installed both of those, you should find the EAF listed in the dropdown of available focusers in the SharpCap hardware settings and you can go from there.

cheers,

Robin

[DrAstro]

I have successfully connected a ZWO EAF focuser to SharpCap.

I am trying to set the current focus position to 32000, but I can't figure out where to do it.
The focus features in the camera status area has "move" capabilities along with a Setup button.
Clicking the setup button brings up what appears to be a ZWO EAF control panel.
It doesn't have a way to set the "zero", rather it SETS the current value to zero. This doesn't help since it doesn't allow negative values.

I am a newbie to the EAF, so I'm not sure the best practices. What I want to do is to focus on a star and use that as a center point (position 32000'ish). This will give software enough space to auto focus.

The images are show with the focuser disconnected since the scope in question is offsite. The look of the screens are correct.

what am I missing here?

Vince

[admin]

Hi Vince,

there's no way for an application like SharpCap to do the sort of setting of the current value of the focuser position without moving that you are looking for sadly, so it has to be done by the ASCOM Setup window for the device. Maybe there is something in 'Advanced' that would help you, if not then there are two things I can suggest...

1) Disengage the gears/mechanism that connects the motor to the focuser of the telescope, then wind the position out to ~32000, then reconnect

2) Wind the focuser mechanism all the way (as far as it will go) in the negative direction, then set the position of the focuser to zero. That will be the limit in that direction. This won't give you 32000 at the focus point, but it will give a sensible range from zero at one limit to some high value at the other.

cheers,

Robin

[Gfischer]

I recently set my scope up with the eaf. Since you scopes off site. Once you are in focus you can use either the move to box or sc focuser to move focuser negative maybe 10000. Then use the advance tab in ascom to set position to zero. Then go positive to 10000 and your good to go.

[DrAstro]

Thanks, I didn't check the ASCOM options yet.

I did the technique that Robin suggested and we do have in/out focus capabilities now.
I'll keep researching this.

The focuser shouldn't have any hard limits as it is basically a stepper motor with an encoder with gear reductions. The position counter can be anything they want to support in the software. If they can set the position to zero, they should allow users to set it to anything in the range (16 bit unsigned, for the EAF). But don't get me started! LOL

Vince