JMI ASCOM Compatible MotoFocus Deluxe for Meade SCTs with Hexagonal Knob

Product Overview

The JMI MotoFocus Deluxe for Meade SCTs with hexagonal focus knobs is an electric focus motor paired with a battery-operated hand control. The motor attaches to the shaft of the focuser knob, or to the knob itself, and drives focus at high power without the telescope being touched. The Deluxe generation is ASCOM compatible, so the same motor can be driven from astronomy software as well as from the hand control. JMI publishes a weight of 1.1 lb for the item.

Who It's For

This is a good match if you run a Meade SCT with a hexagonal focus knob and want focus you can drive from a hand controller or from ASCOM-aware capture software rather than by hand at the eyepiece.

Key Features & Design

• ASCOM compatible: Focus can be commanded from astronomy software that supports an ASCOM focuser driver.
• Vibration-free focusing: The motor moves the focuser, so the image is not disturbed by hand contact at high power.
• Variable speed: The hand control offers variable speed for coarse and fine adjustment.
• Electronic braking: Precise positioning is accomplished through electronic braking rather than mechanical drag.
• Battery-operated hand control: The controller runs on its own battery power, so a computer is optional rather than required.
• Published weight: 1.1 lb for the motor and controller.

Mechanical Design

The motor clamps onto the shaft of the existing focus knob, or over the knob itself, so the telescope's own focuser stays intact. Mounting involves no drilling and no tapping of the optical tube. Drive passes through the standard focus shaft, which leaves the original focus travel available if the motor is taken off again.

Recommended Uses

• Planetary and lunar imaging, where focus is refined at high magnification between captures.
• Deep-sky imaging runs where focus is re-checked as the optics cool through the night.
• Visual observing at high power, where hand-focusing shakes the view.
• ASCOM-driven sequences that command focus from capture or automation software.

Compatibility and Accessory Notes

This version is built for Meade Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes fitted with a hexagonal focus knob. JMI lists a separate round-knob version for Meade SCTs whose focus knob is round, and separate versions again for Celestron RASA 8″/C8/C9.25 and for the C11/C14. The Deluxe motor pairs with the Deluxe hand unit; it is not backward compatible with earlier MotoFocus or MotoFocus+ hardware, and the two generations are not interchangeable. Tell us your telescope model and knob style and we'll confirm the fit.

Good to Know Before You Order

• Hexagonal knob version. Meade SCTs shipped with either hexagonal or round focus knobs, and the two knob styles take different MotoFocus units.
• Deluxe generation only. The Deluxe motor and the Deluxe hand unit work as a pair; MotoFocus and MotoFocus+ parts belong to the earlier generation.
• ASCOM is the software side. Computer control happens through an ASCOM-aware application. The hand control operates the motor on its own with no computer in the setup.
• Published weight. JMI lists 1.1 lb for this item.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it difficult to install?

Installation consists of attaching the motor to the focuser knob shaft or over the knob itself. JMI states that mounting is easy and requires no drilling or tapping.

Does it work without a computer?

Yes. The battery-operated hand control drives the motor directly, with variable speed for coarse and fine adjustment. ASCOM control through a computer is an additional option rather than a requirement.

Will it fit a Meade SCT with a round focus knob?

That telescope takes the round-knob version of the MotoFocus Deluxe, which JMI lists as a separate product.

Can it be used with an older MotoFocus hand unit?

The Deluxe motor is matched to the Deluxe hand unit. MotoFocus and MotoFocus+ hand units belong to the earlier generation and are not interchangeable with it.

Bottom Line

In short: a 1.1 lb ASCOM-compatible focus motor and battery hand control for Meade SCTs with hexagonal focus knobs, giving variable-speed, vibration-free focusing with electronic braking and no drilling at installation.