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Baader 2" Diamond Steeltrack Crayford Focuser for All SCTs # BDS-SC 2957220

4.5 (2 Reviews) Read Reviews Write Review
Brand Baader Planetarium
Part Number 2957220
Availability

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" SCT Diamond Steeltrack Focuser: Baader part # BDS-SC or 2957220

The Baader 2" SC Diamond Steeltrack Focuser enables Schmidt Cassegrains to deliver ultra-smooth focusing with zero image shift.

  • Fits Schmidt Cassegrains from 5" to 14" aperture.
  • The included adapters fit both the SCT 2" thread used on 8" and smaller Meade/Celestron telescopes, and the 3.28" thread used on larger Celestron SCTs. This focuser should also fit most 12" and 14" Meade SCTs, although this cannot be guaranteed as Meade uses a slightly smaller 3.25" diameter thread on these larger telescopes.
  • 30mm (1.18") focus travel.
  • Fully baffled and blackened drawtube kills off-axis stray light.
  • Optional low-profile (1mm) 2"/1.25" Pushfix reducer adapter.
  • Overall Minimum Length of 90mm
  • Overall Maximum Width (excluding focus knobs) of 96mm.
  • Weighs 2lb-2.1oz (966g) in 2" SCT mode and 2lb-5.3oz (1057g) in 3.25"/3.28" SCT mode.

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.
  • Optionally available: 2" Baader Clicklock-clamp with integrated S58 dovetail (added length: 16mm (5/8")).

Reviews

4.5 (Based on 2 Reviews) 100% of reviewers recommended this product.
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    1. Guest

      Skill Level
      Unknown
      Time with Product
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      User Notes:
      Review by Frank M.
      1553147319
      Mar 20, 2019

      4.0 Fine Focuser for SCT

      Pros:

      Cons:

      Comments:

      I purchased this for use on my C8. I find the operation of it very smooth, but ran into a big issue on my 40+ year old C8 in that the old scopes have an issue with the thread depth and I can't install it as it should be on my scope. I did get it on enough to verify it works great and will keep it for when I get a upgraded SCT in the future.

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

      This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

    2. Guest

      Skill Level
      Unknown
      Time with Product
      Unknown
      User Notes:
      Review by ls of USA.
      1391385600
      Feb 2, 2014

      5.0 Fine focusing

      Pros:

      Easy to Use,Strong Construction

      Cons:

      Comments:

      Fine focus when SCT mirrors locked making CCD camera focus much easier

      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 SCT