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Motor Control Accessories for DC Servo MasterGlide Focusers

*Designed for VSI [DC servo motor] focusers only. Not compatable with other focusers.

SPINNER Knobs for your Focuser

VSI is offering our new 4-inch diameter Spinners for your existing focuser. The Spinner arms are 1/4" diameter aluminum rods that protrude from the basic cylindrical knob every 60 degrees. With six Spinner rods to manipulate your focus position, you'll always have at least one or two in a comfortable position. Spinners not only increase your resolution by a factor of 4, they also provide 4 times the finger torque, making it that much easier to manipulate your focusing position manually. Ease of movement and feather action control doesn't get any better. Of course, not as fine as our exclusive Manual Micro-Focus Tangent Arm on our MasterGlide focusers but, nevertheless, Spinners are much more ergonomic and "fast on the drawtube." And for major changes in focus position, just spin the Spinner with one finger, it doesn't get any quicker! The six Spinner arms are [also] angled outward at 20 degrees to clear any obstacles that might be protruding from your MasterGlide focuser. Includes Allen wrench for installation. All MasterGlide focusers come with one Spinner knob installed on the right side, as pictured at individual links. This offer is only for older model VSI focusers or aftermarket focusers that have 1/4" shafts.

Two-Part Threaded DRAWTUBES for your MasterGlide Focuser

As you know, MasterGlide focusers (MGFs) are primarily designed to be secondary focusers for SCTs so they all have a relatively short travel of 1 inch. However, VSI is [now] offering longer moving tubes (up to 6" of travel range) so you can use MasterGlides (not available for M4 or M5) on your refractors or any scope that requires longer travel. These longer moving tubes are a special order item that only take a few days to assemble. With VSI's 2" format drawtubes, you can now use MGFs on any type of telescopes - Newts, refractors, and all types of Cassegrains. The NEW two-part drawtubes are actually three adapters in one. The top knurled section (pictured at right above) screws right onto the 2"-24tpi male threaded visual back of your Meade or Celestron SCT, so you can directly use 2" barrel nose diagonals and eyepieces. The bottom section (pictured at right below) is just like our 2"-24tpi Threaded Barrel Adapter (Item A2LT) except it's twice as long (4"). Screwed together (pictured at left), they simply make a great long drawtube. Just insert the 2" drawtube (pictured at right) in your Glider and adjust your back focus up to 4" (or even longer with custom length drawtube special orders). See Custom Machining link for examples of VSI custom and MasterGlide focusers utilizing Drawtubes of various proportions.

Some VSI Focuser Accessories

Easily Convert your Gliders to 42mm T-thread, 2"-24tpi SCT Standard, or 1.25" Format

Zero Profile T-Adapter (above left): This unique adapter is designed to fit, with a zero profile, in the 2" rear imaging port of all Versa-Port Slider models, but could also be fitted in a 2" format [slip-fit] focuser like the ones above. Just screw on your [42mm-0.75mm thread pitch] T-ring to the AZP2T, connect your 35mm camera to your T-ring, and slip it in a 2" focuser. If you are using a CCD camera, just screw this adapter onto the 42mm female threaded input, and slip it into a Glider.

Item AZP2T: $39

2-inch to 1.25-inch Reducer (above center): 2-inch to 1.25-inch Reducer: This industry standard reducer has a 0.375-inch profile and reduces your 2" format focuser to 1.25" so you can utilize 1.25" barrel eyepieces and accessories. This reducer also has a circular dovetail cut into the outside 2" diameter to provide a high level of security. When locked down, with double thumb screws, it is impossible for this adapter to fall out. The thumb screws pushing against this circular dovetail also provide perpendicular pressure creating a very solid connection.

Item AR21: $29

2-inch Threaded Long Barrel Adapter (above right): This adapter is a 2"-24tpi standard male thread to 2-inch standard male barrel-nose format. This special adapter can be screwed into the 2" threaded [slip-ring] input on VP Sliders to [then] be inserted in your focuser like a standard 2" format eyepiece. Conversely, you can also use this adapter to convert your focuser to use 2"-24tpi threaded Schmidt-Cassegrain accessories (i.e. focal reducers, photographic adapters, etc.). The threads duplicate the industry-standard diameter and threads (2"-24tpi) on all commercial visual backs, such as Celestron/Meade Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes.

Item A2LT: $49

Other Versa-Port accessories, couplings, drawtubes, and accessories may be compatible with the above VSI focusers. See VP Accessories link.

Digital Photo-Sensor Tachometer

SPECIFICATIONS: Digital Tachometer (limited supply)

This economical Photo Tachometer rivals units selling for 5 times as much. Just apply the (included) sticky backed reflective tape strip to the edge of any rotational movement (i.e. shaft, disc, wheel, etc.), point the tachometer, and press the button. This high resolution tachometer uses a sophisticated micro-computer LSI-circuit and crystal time base, and has auto-zero adjust. The last value, max. value and min. value are automatically stored in digital memory and can be displayed by simply pushing the red memory button below the LCD readout. Uses 4 AA batteries, not included.

AC Power Inverter for your Scope & Computer in the Field

SPECIFICATIONS & FEATURES: DC to AC Power Inverter (limited supply)

This inexpensive 12vdc to 115vac power inverter will supply AC household power to your scope and laptop computer in the field, where AC is not available, from any 12vdc battery source (i.e. auto, portable battery pack, etc.). This compact unit will charge your batteries, cellular phone, camera or any device that requires 115VAC house current to recharge. The inverter features a convenient on-off switch, green power-on light, cigarette lighter input cord and plug, ground-type AC outlet receptacle, overload (auto-reset) and back-up fuse protection, and an audible alarm when battery input voltage drops below 10.6vdc.

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