The telescope side of the Pyxis LE is a simple two-inch "push-fit" barrel. The long barrel adapter, just short of 2-1/2 inches, is easily inserted into any 2" focuser such as the Optec TCF-S Temperature Compensating Focuser. Combined with the TCF-S or TCF-Si, the Pyxis LE creates a focuser/rotator combination requiring less than 4-1/2 inches of back-focus
The mechanical design is exceptionally robust and rigid. The Pyxis LE's rigidity is due to two coaxial thrust bearings that provide support for small to medium sized instrument loads (2.5kg or 5.5 lbs. maximum) . The large separation distance between bearing surfaces (2.28") further increases the stability of the Pyxis LE. This permits off-axis guiders, filter wheels, AO units and of course, the CCD camera, to be attached with no flexure. This unique bearing arrangement allows the rotator to be very thin and use only 0.68" of back-focus
The Pyxis LE can also accommodate Schmidt-Cassegrain f/6.3 optics (or any 43mm diameter optical system) without adding additional back-focus. The f/6.3 telecompressors available from Celestron, Meade, Antares and Hirsch fit directly into the 2-inch nosepiece of the Pyxis LE. The optics must first be removed from their original housing and then using a pair of optional retainers the optical elements can be inserted anywhere within the 2" barrel of the rotator. Optec technicians will install customer supplied lenses for a nominal fee. This feature is essential when setting critical telecompressor or field flattener spacing to the imaging sensor. It should also be noted that the optics rotate with the camera so additional flat-fields are usually not required for different position angles. Click the drawing above or here to view the Pyxis LE f/6.3 spacer diagram cut-away
Specification:
Specifications:
- Physical Size: 3.14" x 4" x 6.5" (80mm x 102mm x 165mm)
- Clear aperture: 1.515" (38.5mm)
- Weight: approx. 1.1 lb. (.5 kg)
- Telescope Adapter: 2" barrel adapter for any 2" focuser
- Camera Adapter: T-thread
- Back-Focus: .68" (17.3mm)
- Resolution: 0.050 degrees/step
- Power: 12 VDC 1 Amp (12 Watts max)
- Communications Interface: USB 2.0
- Software Interface: Pyxis LE-Control and ASCOM-compliant driver