Baader Diamond Steeltrack® Focuser

All 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
• 1:10 Stainless Steel fine-focus mechanism, ready for attachment of the optional Steeldrive temperature-compensating motor drive system
• 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 / ½") included as standard
• Optionally available 2" Baader Clicklock-clamp w. integrated S58 dovetail (added length: 16mm / 5/8")
• Two auxiliary threads (M60x1 and M55x0,75) cut into the RT & NT focusing-tube for attachment of dedicated field flatteners or focal reducers/correctors

Video of mounting instructions

 

BDS-NT Mounting instructions on an 8" Newtonian telescope in nine simple steps

1. Remove current Focuser
2. Remove screws and spacers of BDS-NT Diamond Steeltrack®
3. Loosely mount new focuser using the old holes
4. Remove focuser from VersaBase by opening 8x hex screws
5. Use old screws and nuts for centering VersaBase plate
6. Drill four new 5mm holes (straight to tube center) in the middle of each elongated cutout
7. Attach radial sliding bolts, fasten from inside out with hex tool as shown
8. Remove old screws. VersaBase plate is now adjustable for your needs
9. Attach Diamond Steeltrack® in prefered position, tighten 8x hex-screws

Using NT-strip-shims of Baader VersaBase for different tube sizes

Our mounting instruction above was made on a 8" Newtonian – for these instruments our strip shims (adjustment spacers) are not needed. For other tube diameters, please use our strip shims between the telescope tube and the Baader VersaBase (the base of our BDS-NT Diamond Steeltrack®). You gain up to 4mm height. Please note the self-explanatory gif to the left.