I want to use Maxim DL5 to do a Vcurve focus routine but it is not giving me...
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?? you might want to add an explanation?
Hi Robert
Apoligies for not replying , looks like my post has gone astray.
First of all I comend you on your exelent Focuser software and am watching for developements on your proposed Auto filter conversion project which I wish you well getting to work.
I have been using Maxim DL pro for some years now and in conjuntion with Eric Holms exelent Arduino Focuser software which has work well with the "V" focus rutine for fine Auto focusing, unfortunately Eric no longer suports his software with updates and what it lacks is a temperature sensor control system which yours does and that is what has atracted me to your Myfocuser.
The problem I have is trying to get the "V" focuser rutine to work in Maxim, the in out buttons work in the Maxim software with out any problems so maxim is comunicating through Ascom ,
I am selecting a non saturated star and starting with reasonable manual focus but as soon as I select Auto the focuser moves one way only and will not complete the focus rutine.
do you have any ideas!
Regards
James wood
Hi James
First - what is your calculated critical focus zone.
Next, what is your calculated step size, What stepper motor are you using and the stepmode?
Are you using any correctors or reducers in the imaging train? What is your FOV and pizel ratio in arc-seconds?
If you can then provide the Maxim logfile and the ASCOM driver logfile for the focuser which contains the attempt to autofocus that would help.
In general maxim attempts to move one direction to achive focus. What version of Maxim are you using? Send me the info I need at brown_rb on yahoo
Screen captures of your maxim dl focus settings would be helpful so I can see what you have set those paramters to
Regards
Robert
Last edit: brownrb 2018-02-13
Hi Robert
Thanks for your prompt reply.
The CFZ =60.006
CSS= 2.41 microns
Step mode is FULL
steps pr /rev 7000=20mm of shaft travel.
Nema 11 (MY11HS3-2) 200 step 1.8deg bipolar mNm =85 PC=0.95Amps
WO F/R F/F giving a combined focal ratio with the APM 107mm =5.25
Maxim version 5.24 DL5 Pro
The focuser is Badders grayford non backlash non slip 10/1 micro adjuster with integrated 35T 3mm timing gear drven by the Nema 11(200step) fitted with a10 T timing gear and 3mm x 150mm belt.
35/10 200 10 =7000 steps per rev.
Badder has confirmed to me that there will be no slip in the reduction drive and this is their recomended method . I have tested the full travel movement under the weight of the camera(1kilo)
and got repeated acurate results using a 0.0005" clock gauge , returning to exact position just to confirm their findings.
What is observed in the Maxim "V" curve graph is an eratic zig zag patern running horozontaly across the graph and no change in the selected star profile but when stoped shows a field of out of focus stars when the next single image is taken.
I will try to send you the log files when I find them.
Regards
James Wood.
At v5.24 you would be unlikely to get any support from Maxim? The suggestion wouldve been to move to v6. Please note that the MaximDL help suggests using FocusMax to do auto-focusing. That might give you a hint about the capability of MaximDL re auto-focusing......
If SS=2.4 microns then that is around 25 steps per cfz.
For auto focusing to work reliably in an app, you need to config the app so that appro 1 step in the app matches an observable change in focus.
In practice this is done by using something either visually like a Bahtinov mask or star profile (FWHM) and first set to best focus, then move the focuser a number of steps till the FWHM is changed. Do this on a good seeing night when the values are not bouncing all around the place. I like to use a 2x barlow with video camera so I can see the star donuts.
In your case you might get say a value close to 25 steps before you can see a change,
Then using your usual camera, manually adjust focus to get best focus on the mag5 star, and count the number of pizels across that the star occupies. Remember that!
Now you then need to use this info in the app to configure the app accordingly.
A lot of times when there is a lot of steps within the cfz, the app moves the focuser, sees no change (still within cfz), moves again (sees no change), repeats, repeats and ends up getting confused. The log files should be able to show you this.
The basics of focusing using maximdl can be found online. You must first do this
http://www.diffractionlimited.com/help/maximdl/FocusingTut.htm
after which you can then attempt auto-focus
http://www.diffractionlimited.com/help/maximdl/Autofocus_Tutorial.htm
It is imperative that these values here are set correctly. Especially see point 13
Watch the log and the V-Curve. During fine focus, the Half Flux measurement should change about 1.5 pixels every time the focuser moves (anywhere between 1 and 1.5 is okay). If it moves too quickly, open the Options and increase the Focuser Step Size. If it moves too slowly, decrease the Focuser Step Size. This will provide optimum focus speed and accuracy.
So even if you have a focuser stepsize of 2.4 then you might end up telling Maxim it is much larger than this. Note also that you should set delay after to 1, enable subframe 100x100, and set Target 1/2 Flux Dia correctly - which is why I asked you about PR (pixel resolution) and asked, find out what the size of your star is in pixels (asked you to remember that!) when in focus and when slightly out of focus (then add 2). A wrong number for this or stepsize will prevent auto-focus from working. Especially if too small or too large.
see point 14.
The V-Curve will continue past best focus for a bit. If it keeps right on going without detecting best focus, check the Target 1/2 Flux Dia setting. This number must be bigger than the best focus achieved by approximately 2 pixels.
Last edit: brownrb 2018-02-13
Hi Robert
Regarding the "V" curve ruitine in Maxim.
Unfortunately the weather has not been good enough lately to do any meaningfull testing with MyFocuser but did find the log files which show attepts to run MyFocus and Arduino ascom Focuser at the same imaging session for comparison, only problem is can I send them to you outher than using Yahoo, Im not keen on starting anouther email system, ie can I use the forum for you to view them .
All the information you have otlined have been adeared to and everything tested beforehand many times , as I said I am very familiar with the workings of Maxim , i do have a Society membrs copy of Maxim 6 and all the updates but find it is not as reliable as Maxim 5 which has worked flawless (Maxim 6 crashes A LOT im not the only one with this problem.
James Wood
The missing data you asked for is:- arc second /pixal 1.78x1.78 and the FOV is aprox 77x64 ark /min.
You can try a PM here on sourceforge, it may let you attach a file, there is also dropbox, you dont need an account on Yahoo email to send a file from your existing email provider. Posting the logfile here in the forum can also be done by "add attachment"