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Baader 2" Diamond Steeltrack Low-Profile Focuser for Newtonian Reflectors # BDS-NT 2957230

5.0 (1 Reviews) Read Reviews Write Review
Brand Baader Planetarium
Part Number 2957230
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Product Info

Manufacturer Description

A. Introducing Baader Diamond Steeltrack Premium Focusers

In recent years, the Crayford style of ball-bearing guided focuser has become popular due to its smooth motions, absence of pinion backlash, and rigid drawtube support. Baader's new Diamond Steeltrack Premium Focusers incorporate a number of innovative features that further enhance the smoothness and robustness of the Crayford focuser.

Baader's innovative diamond-geared drive system delivers the smooth totally backlash-free action of a friction drive with the positive non-slip high load capacity of a rack and pinion. Additional improvements in the bearing-guide system help to take the Baader Diamond Steeltracks (BDS) far enough beyond all other crayford-type focusers that some have called them 'Baaderford'.

B. 2" Newtonian Low-Profile Diamond Steeltrack Focuser: Baader part # BDS-NT or 2957230

Upgrade practically any Newtonian, small or large, with all of the smoothness, precision, and features of Baader Planetarium's 2" Newtonian Low-Profile Diamond Steeltrack Focuser.

  • Low profile - overall height of only 50mm
  • Fully baffled and blackened drawtube kills off-axis stray light.
  • Tube hole size of 2.4" diameter required for drawtube clearance.
  • Focuser travel of 40mm (1.57").
  • Versa-base, fits tubes 8" dia and larger. Center-to-center hold spacing along optical axis = 66mm (minimum) to 93mm (maximum). Center-to-center hole spacing perpendicular to the optical axis = 93mm.
  • Optional NT flat base plate and optional low-profile (1mm) 2"/1.25" Pushfix reducer adapter available separately.
  • Weighs 2lb-3.7oz (1012g).

C. General Specifications for all Baader Diamond Steeltracks

Baader Diamond Steeltrack (BDS) Focusers have the following specifications:

Drive System

  • True diamonds form a micro-geared high precision drive system never accomplished before.
  • In comparison to conventional crayford or rack & pinion drives, this micro-geared movement has zero backlash, zero cogging, and zero flexure.
  • Diamond Steeltrack 2" focusers lift a payload of 6kg (13 lbs) straight up, without slipping, without excessive bearing preload (bearing preload can be increased further if necessary).
  • Bearing system utilizes unbreakable instrument grade roller-bearings instead of simpler ball bearings - handles higher loads with greater rigidity and accuracy. No Teflon-pads anywhere.
  • 1:11 stainless steel fine-focus mechanism, ready for attachment of the optional Steeldrive temperature-compensating motor drive system. The brass reduction gear is prepared to accept the timing belt of the Steeldrive motor-drive unit. The outer case of all Diamond Steeltracks have a dovetail cut into the driving-axis housing to accommodate the motor block of the Steeldrive unit.
  • Detachable drive block assembly is reversible for right hand or left hand fine-focus operation and for attaching the Steeldrive motorblock onto Diamond-NT-Steeltracks for newtonian telescopes.
  • Shortest possible mechanical design achieves optimum balance between focuser height (backfocus) and rigidity requirements.
  • Zero shift locking knob to precisely stop any movement without affecting optical axis adjustment.

Focusing Drawtube

  • Each bearing individually adjustable for precise alignment of mechanical vs. optical axis.
  • Ultra-hard subzero coated bearing races – precision milled and much harder than anodizing or stainless steel.
  • Oversized 55mm inner clear diameter, to prevent vignetting, with anti-reflection knife-edge baffles.

Clamping System

  • S58 Dovetail ring-clamp built into focusing tube for accepting optional T-2 / M48 / M68 and other S58 direct-thread adapters to enable direct thread connection of accessories and cameras without 2" clamp.
  • 2" eyepiece clamp with hardened bronze clamp ring (length of clamp: 12.5mm (0.5") included as standard.
  • Two auxiliary threads (M60x1 and M55x0,75) cut into the NT focusing-tube for attachment of dedicated field flatteners or focal reducers/corrector.
  • Optionally available: 2" Baader Clicklock-clamp with integrated S58 dovetail (added length: 16mm (5/8")).

Reviews

5.0 (Based on 1 Reviews) 100% of reviewers recommended this product.
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    1. Guest

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      User Notes:
      Review by Jason L.
      1491994331
      Apr 12, 2017

      5.0 Fantastic focuser

      Pros:

      Cons:

      Comments:

      This is such a massive upgrade over the stock rack-and-pinion focuser in my C8-N Newt, it's hard to convey. The dual gear ratio is obviously a big plus for tweaking that last little minute adjustment.

      Installation is straightforward, aided by the video on Baader's web site that shows this exact focuser being installed on my exact scope. You will have to do some drilling. Interestingly, I had to use one of two sets of spacer plates to keep the focuser from apparently contacting the scope body, which is not shown in the video. I could probably take the spacer out and let the scope body deform a little (it was very close) if I needed the extra 1.5mm of in-travel.

      As it turns out, I didn't need the extra 1.5mm. In fact, I need to use at least a 25mm spacer and wrack the focuser almost completely out to get focus now with an eyepiece, which is great because there is plenty of room for my filter wheel and/or maybe an OAG or AO in the future.

      The real story here though is that it tracks STRAIGHT and SMOOTH. I can put my collimator in and wrack it from top to bottom and the laser doesn't budge. At 200x magnification, it doesn't move a bit in the frame when adjusting focus, which is pretty amazing. The stock Celestron focuser would move so much just switching direction that the object would go out of view.

      Note that I do see some image shift with a loaded focuser, which I put down to the the scope body flexing. This isn't a huge surprise with this cheap Newt. I installed the second set of spacers inside the scope to help reinforce the mount area, but it still flexes a bit.

      I also got the 1.25" to 2" adapter for this focuser and it's a perfect fit.

      Bottom Line: Would you recommend this item? Yes
      Was this review helpful? Yes / No

      This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

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      Specifications

      Manufacturer Baader Planetarium
      Focuser Telescope Type Reflector