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A compact belt-drive autofocus kit made for the SQA55
Why we like the SQA55 AF Kit:
- Fits many focuser brands: four belt lengths, two pulley bore sizes and reversible mounting plates. Askar shows it working with ZWO, QHYCCD, Pegasus Astro, iOptron and Astro Automatic Focuser motors.
- Tighter focusing: a built-in tensioner pulley keeps the belt snug, so there's less backlash than with a loose belt from a generic bracket.
- Stays out of the way: the short bracket slides into one of the SQA55's quick-release bases, leaving the rear of the telescope free for the camera, filter drawer or rotator. You can move it to another base when you need to.
- Worth knowing: it fits only the SQA55, and the focus motor is sold separately. Pick the right belt for your focuser from Askar's chart below.
The Askar SQA55 AF Kit adds an electronic focuser to the Askar SQA55 quintuplet astrograph. The SQA55's coarse focus ring has MXL timing teeth. This kit holds a focus motor beside the tube and drives that ring with an MXL synchronous belt, so the ASIAIR, N.I.N.A. or other software can autofocus during the night. The latest version adds a 4mm-bore pulley for ZWO's current focusers, such as the EAF Pro, and a longer 155MXL belt.
Key specs: fits the Askar SQA55 · MXL belt drive to the coarse focus ring · four belts (132, 144, 150 and 155MXL) · two 20-tooth pulleys, 5mm and 4mm bore · adapter bracket with tensioner pulley · reversible L-shaped plates for different focuser hole spacing · 49 × 48 × 74.5mm
Which focusers it fits
Askar's fitting chart shows which belt each focuser uses:
- ZWO EAF Pro: 150MXL belt (188 teeth) with the new 20-tooth, 4mm-bore pulley. We stock the EAF Pro.
- ZWO EAF: 150MXL belt. Askar shows the EAF twice, once with the 4mm-bore pulley. ZWO's current EAFN has a 4mm shaft, so it uses the 4mm pulley; older EAFs with a 5mm shaft use the 5mm pulley.
- QHYCCD Q-Focuser: 144MXL belt (180 teeth).
- Pegasus Astro FocusCube 3: 132MXL belt (165 teeth). Flip the L-shaped plates for its wider screw spacing.
- iOptron iEAF: 150MXL belt (188 teeth).
- Astro Automatic Focuser (AAF): 155MXL belt (194 teeth).
Askar also lists ToupTek focusers as compatible with the new belt and pulley.
How it installs
- Slide the adapter bracket into one of the SQA55's quick-release bases and tighten its locking screw.
- Fix the pulley that matches your focuser's shaft (4mm or 5mm) onto the motor.
- Set the focuser on the bracket base and lock it with the L-shaped plates. Use the M3×10 or M4×10 screws, depending on the focuser model.
- Slide the belt over the focus ring and the pulley, inside the tensioner pulley, then adjust the tension and tighten the locking screws.
The whole kit comes off as one unit, so you can move it to another quick-release base or take it off for travel.
What to add
- The telescope (required): the Askar SQA55 55mm f/4.8 Petzval astrograph.
- A focus motor (required): the ZWO EAF Pro (Bluetooth and built-in battery) or the ZWO EAFN (USB-C).
- Control: the ZWO ASIAIR Plus or a camera with ASIAIR built in, such as the ZWO ASI2600MC Air.
- A guide scope mount: the SQA55 quick-release handle bar uses another quick-release base and holds a guide scope such as the Askar 32mm f/4.
See all Askar telescopes and accessories.
What's in the box
- Four MXL synchronous belts: 155MXL (194 teeth), 150MXL (188 teeth), 144MXL (180 teeth) and 132MXL (165 teeth)
- Two 20-tooth MXL synchronous pulleys, 5mm and 4mm bore
- Adapter bracket with tensioner pulley
- Two L-shaped slotted mounting plates
- M3, M2.5 and M2 Allen wrenches
- Two each of M4×12, M4×10 and M3×10 button-head screws
The SQA55 and the electronic focuser are sold separately.
Askar SQA55 AF Kit FAQ
Why use this kit instead of my focuser's own bracket?
Askar gives three reasons. Many focusers' own brackets are long and get in the way of the camera or accessories behind the telescope. Their belts often have some slack, which shows up as backlash, while this kit's tensioner pulley keeps the belt tight. And the kit mounts as one unit in any of the SQA55's quick-release bases.
Which ZWO focuser should I buy?
Either works. The EAF Pro runs on its battery over Bluetooth, which suits a light travel setup like the SQA55. The EAFN is the simpler USB-C version for rigs with a USB hub or ASIAIR. Both use the kit's 4mm pulley and the 150MXL belt.
My focuser has wider screw spacing, like a Pegasus. Will it fit?
Yes. The L-shaped plates are slotted. Loosen the M4×12 screws, flip the plates around, slide them to the right spacing and tighten again.
Does it fit the SQA60, SQA70 or other SQA models?
No. Askar made it for the SQA55, which uses quick-release bases and a toothed focus ring. The larger SQA telescopes have conventional dual-speed focusers, so an electronic focuser attaches to them with its own bracket.
Can I still focus by hand?
Yes. Loosen the belt tension or slip the belt off the focus ring and the SQA55 focuses by hand as usual, including the ±1mm fine-focus ring.
Specifications
| Compatibility | |
|---|---|
| Telescope | Askar SQA55 only |
| Focusers shown by Askar | ZWO EAF and EAF Pro, QHYCCD Q-Focuser, Pegasus Astro FocusCube 3, iOptron iEAF, Astro Automatic Focuser; ToupTek listed as compatible |
| Mechanical | |
| Drive | MXL synchronous belt to the SQA55's toothed coarse focus ring |
| Belts | 132MXL (165T), 144MXL (180T), 150MXL (188T), 155MXL (194T) |
| Pulleys | Two 20-tooth MXL, 5mm and 4mm bore |
| Mounting | Adapter bracket for the SQA55 quick-release bases; two reversible L-shaped slotted plates; tensioner pulley |
| Bracket size | 49mm wide × 48mm high × 74.5mm long |
| Included hardware | M3, M2.5 and M2 Allen wrenches; 2 × M4×12, 2 × M4×10, 2 × M3×10 button-head screws |
| Manufacturer / SKU | Askar (Sharpstar Optics) / SQA55-AF |