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Autofocus for the FMA180 Pro, with the motor tucked under the tube
Why we like the FMA180 Pro AF Kit:
- Made for this telescope: the bracket bolts to the underside of the FMA180 Pro and sits on its Vixen dovetail plate, so the focuser rides below the tube instead of sticking out to the side.
- Keeps the camera end clear: nothing hangs off the back of the telescope, so the camera, filter drawer and rotator work as before.
- Focus that holds all night: a timing belt from the focus motor turns the internal focuser, so the ASIAIR or N.I.N.A. can refocus as the temperature drops. At 180mm that drift is small, but it shows on a long night.
- Worth knowing: it fits the FMA180 Pro only, not the original FMA180. The focus motor is sold separately, and Askar documents ZWO focusers (the EAF and EAF Pro) and ToupTek, not every brand.
The Askar FMA180 Pro AF Kit turns the Askar FMA180 Pro astrograph into an autofocus setup. It replaces the telescope's standard foot with a black square bracket that holds a ZWO electronic focuser underneath the tube. A synchronous (timing) belt runs from a pulley on the focuser to the FMA180 Pro's focus ring. Askar now packs an extra belt and pulley in the kit to suit the ZWO EAF Pro and ToupTek focusers, as well as the original ZWO EAF it was designed around.
Key specs: fits the Askar FMA180 Pro · belt-and-pulley drive to the internal focuser · bracket mounts between the tube and its Vixen dovetail plate · documented for ZWO EAF, ZWO EAF Pro and ToupTek focusers · mounting screws and Allen wrenches included
Which focusers it fits
- ZWO EAF Pro: named by Askar. The kit now includes a belt and pulley for it. We stock the EAF Pro.
- ZWO EAF (original version): the focuser the kit was first designed for.
- ToupTek electronic focusers: named by Askar alongside the EAF Pro.
- ZWO EAFN: not on Askar's list. It's ZWO's current standard EAF, with the same 4mm shaft as the EAF Pro, but we haven't confirmed the fit, so ask us before you order one for this kit.
How it installs
- Remove the FMA180 Pro's standard foot and dovetail plate.
- Attach the bracket to the two screw holes on the bottom of the telescope with two M4×8 button-head screws (2.5mm Allen wrench).
- Lock the pulley onto the focuser's shaft with its small set screw and set the focuser into the bracket.
- Loop the belt over the FMA180 Pro's focus ring and the pulley, take up the slack by sliding the focuser, then fix it with two M4×8 screws.
- Set the telescope and bracket on the Vixen dovetail plate and secure it with the two M6×8 socket-head screws.
Going back to the standard foot takes a few minutes with the same wrenches.
What to add
- The telescope (required): the Askar FMA180 Pro 40mm f/4.5 astrograph.
- A focus motor (required): the ZWO EAF Pro, which runs on its built-in battery over Bluetooth, so the small FMA180 setup needs one less cable.
- Control: the ZWO ASIAIR Plus runs autofocus with one tap. The ZWO ASI2600MC Air camera has ASIAIR built in and connects to the EAF Pro over Bluetooth.
- Temperature-based refocus: the ZWO EAF temperature sensor lets your software refocus when the temperature changes.
See all Askar telescopes and accessories.
What's in the box
- Black square focuser bracket
- Synchronous (timing) belt, plus the additional belt for EAF Pro and ToupTek focusers
- Synchronous pulleys with locking set screws
- Two M6×8 socket-head screws and four M4×8 button-head screws
- Allen wrenches
The FMA180 Pro and the electronic focuser shown in Askar's photos are sold separately.
Askar FMA180 Pro AF Kit FAQ
Does it fit the original FMA180?
No. Askar designed it for the FMA180 Pro, which has an internal focuser with a scale ring and screw holes for the bracket on the bottom. The original FMA180 focuses differently.
Which ZWO focuser should I buy for it?
The ZWO EAF Pro. Askar names it, and the kit includes the belt and pulley for it.
Can I use the ZWO EAFN?
Askar lists the EAF Pro, the original EAF and ToupTek focusers, not the EAFN. The EAFN shares the EAF Pro's body size and 4mm shaft, but until Askar confirms it, please check with us first.
Can I still use the FMA180 Pro as a guide scope?
Yes, but with the kit fitted it mounts by its Vixen dovetail plate. To put it back in a finder base, swap the standard foot back on.
Do I need autofocus at 180mm?
Not always. At f/4.5 and 180mm the depth of focus is generous, so many people focus once a night. Autofocus helps on long sessions with big temperature swings, with mono cameras and filters, and when the telescope is set up where you can't reach it.
Specifications
| Compatibility | |
|---|---|
| Telescope | Askar FMA180 Pro only |
| Focusers documented by Askar | ZWO EAF, ZWO EAF Pro, ToupTek electronic focusers |
| Mechanical | |
| Drive | Synchronous (timing) belt and pulley to the internal focuser |
| Mounting | Bracket bolts to the bottom of the FMA180 Pro (2 × M4×8) and to its Vixen dovetail plate (2 × M6×8); focuser fixed with 2 × M4×8 |
| Included hardware | Bracket, belts, pulleys with set screws, 2 × M6×8 socket-head and 4 × M4×8 button-head screws, Allen wrenches |
| Manufacturer | Askar (Sharpstar Optics) |