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P r i m a L u c e L a b   i S r l

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

S E S TO   S E N S O   u s e r   m a n u a l

Using SESTO SENSO with third party softwares 

 

NOTE:  before  using  SESTO  SENSO  with  third  party  softwares,  you  have  to 
execute the configuration wizard in the SESTO SENSO software. Then please 
disconnect SESTO SENSO from its software and start the third party software 
you want to use. SESTO SENSO has not to be connected to its software. 

SESTO  SENSO  can  be  used  with  third  party  softwares  that  supports  ASCOM 
drivers. Start the software you prefer and chose the focuser options, first select 
the  newly  installed  ASCOM  driver:  "ASCOM  Driver  for  SestoSenso",  and  then 
click  on  the  proprieties  button.  If  the  driver  is  installed  correctly,  the  SESTO 
SENSO control box will open. By clicking on the last 

Communication

 tab, set the 

communication port, in this case 

Port

: COM4, the 

Speed

 of the port: 9600 and 

the 

Timeout

 (sec) value: 3. 

In  the 

Stepper

  tab,  the 

Backlash  (steps)

  parameter  indicates  the  number  of 

steps SENSO SENSO must use to compensate for the backlash of some focu-
sers, it’s a very useful parameter, for example if you mount SENSO SENSO on 
SchmidtCassegrain telescopes. 

Set Park Position

 parameter indicates the par-

king position of the focuser in steps, a parameter that should only be set if the 
focuser has been manually moved, or if you want to restart the initial connec-
tion procedure. The value of the steps set in this parameter is communicated to 
SESTO SENSO only if the Set button is pressed, otherwise the current position 
remains the last active position. The 

Movement Locking

 parameter, if activated, 

keeps the motor position locked even when the ASCOM driver is disconnected, 
only the 12V power supply is active. This function is very useful if, for example, 
in the observatory you park the telescope in a vertical position to avoid slippage. 

In 

Temperature

 tab you can find parante used to set automatic focus compensa-

tion based on temperature variations (this feature has to be supported by third 
party software you use and the optional temperature probe is requested). Here 
you can set these parameters, that you will set in order to fine tune the tempe-
rature compensation: 

- Compensation parameter 
- Hysteresis 
- Reverse Movement 
- Check interval 

p a g e  

!

1 5

NOTE

: SESTO SENSO comes with both 32 and 64 bit version of ASCOM drivers. You have to choose the version based 

on your Windows operative system and the third party software you want to use. For example, if you have Windows 64 
bit we suggest 64 bit versions but some softwares, like MaximDL, request the use of 32 bit version ASCOM driver. If you 
have problems connecting SESTO SENSO to your third party software, please install the other version of ASCOM driver.

Summary of Contents for SESTO SENSO

Page 1: ...efer to the addresses provided in the relevant documents Prima LuceLab iSrl Italia www primalucelab com Note 2 0 version of SESTO SENSO software described in this user manual needs the use of 2 0 version of SESTO SENSO firmware If your SESTO SENSO has a previous firmware version before using the software please read how to update it on page 16 of this user manual ...

Page 2: ...l use of the telescope focuser on which it is in stalled For manual use it is sufficient not to power SESTO SENSO and use the normal focusing knob of the telescope Be careful by manually shifting the telescope focus knob you will lose the SESTO SENSO reference position so you will need to repeat the positioning procedure For best performance it is recommended to use pinion and rack focusers Index ...

Page 3: ...en screw to install bushings 6 Red bushing Ø2 5mm for AIRY refractors ED72 APO80 ED90 ED100 APO104T APO120 APO150T OrionOp ticsUK VX and CT Baader Steeltrack focusers TS Optics V Power Omegon V Power SkyWatcher 7 Black bushing Ø2 8mm for Feather Touch focusers 8 Green bushing Ø3 5mm for Takahashi telescopes 9 Silver bushing Ø3 1mm for Moonlite focusers 10 Yellow bushing for AIRY refractors APO 65F...

Page 4: ...serted until it engages with the motor pin At this point you can use the small allen screw detail 5 to screw the two grubscrews detail 11A by passing through the special hole on the aluminum body of SESTO SENSO In order to connect SESTO SENSO to the focuser figure 3 of your telescope you m u s t r e move the manual focus micrometric knob by unscrewing the screw normally present on the knurled knob...

Page 5: ...ering the micro metric pin with the pre assembled bushing on SESTO SENSO until it stops and then close the outer ring of SESTO SENSO using the allen screw Figure 4 Now use the supplied 1 5mm allen screw Figure 5 to close the two 90 screws and the two bolt screws by passing th rough the special hole on SESTO SENSO body p a g e 4 figure 5 figure 4 ...

Page 6: ...he focus knob of your focuser The presence of SESTO SENSO will make the movement harder since the motor is connected but the motion must still be uniform If you notice an uneven move ment repeat the installation procedure NOTE SESTO SENSO connects to several focusers that may have different machining and tolerances precisions Focu sing accuracy especially when using automatic focusing procedures d...

Page 7: ...lish and click OK to proceed Verify that the option SestoSenso Application is active and click on Next button to proceed In this window you will see the installation directory for the SESTO SENSO software default value is C Program Files x86 SestoSenso Software Please click on Install to confirm or Browse to install in a different directory At the end of installation you will see a confirmation me...

Page 8: ...please double click on the included file Note In order to work properly SESTO SENSO requires that you have the ASCOM 6 Platform installed and downloaded from http www ascom standards org we suggest to install at least version 6 3 Please select I accept the terms in the Licence Agreement and click on Install to proceed The ASCOM driver will be installed please press the Close button to finish insta...

Page 9: ... USB pen that allows you to calibrate SESTO SENSO move the focuser and set ad vanced parameters After having connected SESTO SENSO to USB port of your computer and powered it please launch the SESTO SENSO software and you will see the image you have here on the right SESTO SENSO software v 2 shows in the central part different data like the firmware version serial number temperature reading if con...

Page 10: ...u connect SESTO SENSO to a Schmidt Cassegrain or Aplanatic Schmidt Cas segrain telescope that comes with a StarlightInstruments MicroFocuser In our example we ll see how to set SESTO SENSO with an external focuser In this example SESTO SENSO is already in stalled on the focuser and powered Click on che NEXT button This window will appear Please manually set the focuser by using the focuser s knob ...

Page 11: ...e travel or you may cause problems to the focuser or to the SESTO SENSO motor Press NEXT button Press the or button it will be the opposite of the previous step to set the focuser drawtube in the outermost position and press the STOP button when you reach that position you don t need to reach the end of the drawtube travel but you can stop 1 or 2 millimiters before the end Don t worry what button ...

Page 12: ...m SESTO SENSO is nor ready to use Main window shows in red the focuser position Position and you can move the focuser by a step number that is reported in the central number by clicking the buttons You can also fast moving 10 times the step number by clicking the buttons p a g e 11 Forward n steps Reverse n steps Forward n x 10 steps Reverse n x 10 steps ...

Page 13: ...photography after you define the perfect focus point you can lock SESTO SENSO motor to avoid slippage during the exposition please note slippage doesn t up only to SESTO SENSO but also to mechanical quality of used focuser STOP stop the focuser movement during a Forward or Reverse Reverse reverse the moving direction Calibration start again the configuration wizard p a g e 12 ...

Page 14: ... Light and Fast button sets the current values all to 10 Acceleration values to 138 Run to 65 and Deceleration to 138 and is recommended for light loads Medium button sets the current values all to 15 Acceleration values to 70 Run to 40 and Deceleration to 70 and is re commended for medium loads Heavy and Slow button sets the current values all to 20 Acceleration values to 50 Run to 25 and Deceler...

Page 15: ... them first please press the Read button to read the values that are currently set in SESTO SENSO then modify the value you want and please press Send button to send the values to SESTO SENSO After sending and testing them you must save them to the internal memory by pressing the SAVE PARAMETERS button Default button resets the values set up by PrimaLuceLab in laboratory p a g e 14 NOTE if the foc...

Page 16: ...t if the focuser has been manually moved or if you want to restart the initial connec tion procedure The value of the steps set in this parameter is communicated to SESTO SENSO only if the Set button is pressed otherwise the current position remains the last active position The Movement Locking parameter if activated keeps the motor position locked even when the ASCOM driver is disconnected only t...

Page 17: ...ads and then unzip the downloaded zip file and open the SESTO SENSO FIRMWARE folder Open the SestoSenso_FirmwareUpgrade exe file in the SESTO SENSO FIRMWARE folder firmware update is only possible from PCs running Windows Select the COM port to which SESTO SENSO is connected click the Select Firmware button and through the File Manager select the sestosenso bin file now press the Upload firmware b...

Page 18: ...the software will upload the new firmware If the procedure is completed successfully Upload successful will appear Disconnect both the USB and the 12V power cable reconnect them and press OK Now you can use SESTO SENSO with the new firmware p a g e 17 ...

Page 19: ... to return it to the reseller upon the purchase of a new type of equivalent equipment one by one Properly differentiated collection for the subsequent start of dismantled equipment for recycling treatment and environ mentally compatible disposal helps to avoid possible adverse effects on the environment and health and favors the reuse and or recycling of the materials contained in the equipment Th...

Page 20: ...E DOES NOT APPLY IN THE FOLLOWING CASES Repair by anyone not authorized by PrimaLuceLab Invasive interventions or tampering with internal and or external parts Missing of the invoice or receipt of purchase WARRANTY DURATION 24 months TERMS OF SERVICE Technical assistance is performed exclusively by PrimaLuceLab or its authorized resellers All returns must be received with our permission to be aske...

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