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EAF: auto focus not working

ZWO EAF Focuser Auto-Focusing Troubleshooting
Leurda Ivan
•29 replies•1.5k views
Leurda Ivan avatar
Leurda Ivan avatar
Dear friends,I have a situation with my ZWO  EAF device,after I have installed it on my new telescope Quattro300P. Before it was installed  on quattro200 , EAF device & autofocus  were  working perfectly!

Now,when I start the autofocus procedure, no matter the settings and sky conditions and even with perfect initial focus,  it gets stuck on "shooting.." .
 I waited for about 5 or more  minutes and nothing happens.
When I click to stop autofocusin,the mesaje apears that EAF did not find the focus position yet … 

Does not look like any problems with the stars or so, just the software gets stuck.
No error mesages ,nothing…
EAF device & manual focus are working  . I used in the past & use  now  the same   PC with Windows11 &  not changed it.

Maybe somebody have met this problem, & can recomand a solution
Thank you
Helpful
John Williams avatar
John Williams avatar
Be sure all set screws are properly tightened.
Leurda Ivan avatar
Leurda Ivan avatar
Thank you very much,John! I 'll verify with  maximum 
attention all screws.
Maybe there are other options too?
iVac avatar
iVac avatar
How many seconds per exposure are sets for focuse procedure?
Michael Broyles avatar
Michael Broyles avatar
Not sure what software you are using or how it needs to be configure, but since the only thing that change was the telescope, I have to wonder if the software is configured for the new focal length.  In addition, a new focal length may mean that the step size of the focus routine may have to change.
Helpful Concise
Rick Fair avatar
Rick Fair avatar
I found out if I adjust my scope location my focus is way out, I then manually focus the best I can then run EAF and it worked fine. Because if focus is to way out EAF can't find the focus point. This happened to me. Just a Thought….
Tony Hopkinson avatar
Tony Hopkinson avatar
I have a similar issue, following a terminal HD crash and subsequent software re-build with a new HD. Nothing mechanical has changed, same OS win10 pro all the same softeware with the caveat that all will be running latest versions. The  EAF works fine on manual but stops on shooting focus stars and seemingly never takes a frame. I have not done a re-set up yet as nothing mecanical changed and may try that on my nesxt opportunity.
ASI suite can be used for manual control noproblem just not automatically!
so has anyone experienced this scenario?
Richard Carande avatar
Richard Carande avatar
Doesn't sound like this, but when it was super cold last week here in Colorado my EAF would get stuck after a small travel. I loosened the EAF grip on the focuser and manually rotated it a bit, tightened it back up, and then everything worked.  I think there may have been some moisture frozen somewhere that the manual rotation freed.
Leurda Ivan avatar
Leurda Ivan avatar
Rick Fair:
I found out if I adjust my scope location my focus is way out, I then manually focus the best I can then run EAF and it worked fine. Because if focus is to way out EAF can't find the focus point. This happened to me. Just a Thought....

Thankyou,Rick,
I know this ,Before running autofocus I focused scope  manually  the best,
Leurda Ivan avatar
Leurda Ivan avatar
Tony Hopkinson:
I have a similar issue, following a terminal HD crash and subsequent software re-build with a new HD. Nothing mechanical has changed, same OS win10 pro all the same softeware with the caveat that all will be running latest versions. The  EAF works fine on manual but stops on shooting focus stars and seemingly never takes a frame. I have not done a re-set up yet as nothing mecanical changed and may try that on my nesxt opportunity.
ASI suite can be used for manual control noproblem just not automatically!
so has anyone experienced this scenario?

I used ASI Studio  before for about 2 yers & had no problem with EAF with my  first scope
Leurda Ivan avatar
Leurda Ivan avatar
How many seconds per exposure are sets for focuse procedure?


3 seconds
Emanuel Polichronis avatar
Emanuel Polichronis avatar
Could there be too much weight bearing down on the focuser shaft? Just a scenario to consider.
Well Written
Leurda Ivan avatar
Leurda Ivan avatar
Emanuel Polichronis:
Could there be too much weight bearing down on the focuser shaft? Just a scenario to consider.



Not, only Camera  ZWO2600 MC,manually  focusing is working
Coolhandjo avatar
Coolhandjo avatar
i had one simply keep beeping. and then nothing. sent it back. new one works perfectly. It is more than likely mechanical.
Apollo avatar
Apollo avatar
What´s the autofocus stepsize and the autofocus initial offset steps?
If the value for autofocus stepsize is set too low, the focus will move too little and no focus point can be found.
Leurda Ivan avatar
Leurda Ivan avatar
What´s the autofocus stepsize and the autofocus initial offset steps?
If the value for autofocus stepsize is set too low, the focus will move too little and no focus point can be found.

*** I'llverify!***
Chris H avatar
Chris H avatar
I had my EAF once quit completely. Even the hand pad control wouldn’t work. I fixed it by updating the firmware of the EAF. I still don’t understand why that made it quit working manually. 

Another thought - I had my main camera doing this, stuck on shooting. Fixed by changing the USB cable.
Concise
Leurda Ivan avatar
Leurda Ivan avatar
Chris H:
I had my EAF once quit completely. Even the hand pad control wouldn’t work. I fixed it by updating the firmware of the EAF. I still don’t understand why that made it quit working manually. 

Another thought - I had my main camera doing this, stuck on shooting. Fixed by changing the USB cable.

*** Thank you,Chris,I changed the cables , now I'm going to update sortwear
***
Tony Hopkinson avatar
Tony Hopkinson avatar
Leurda Ivan:
Chris H:
I had my EAF once quit completely. Even the hand pad control wouldn’t work. I fixed it by updating the firmware of the EAF. I still don’t understand why that made it quit working manually. 

Another thought - I had my main camera doing this, stuck on shooting. Fixed by changing the USB cable.

*** Thank you,Chris,I changed the cables , now I'm going to update sortwear
***

"Sortware"   love it , If only it did sort itself out ;-)
Leurda Ivan avatar
Leurda Ivan avatar
Tony Hopkinson:
Leurda Ivan:
Chris H:
I had my EAF once quit completely. Even the hand pad control wouldn’t work. I fixed it by updating the firmware of the EAF. I still don’t understand why that made it quit working manually. 

Another thought - I had my main camera doing this, stuck on shooting. Fixed by changing the USB cable.

*** Thank you,Chris,I changed the cables , now I'm going to update sortwear
***

"Sortware"   love it , If only it did sort itself out ;-)

*** Thank you,Tony!I'll update softwear***
Rich DeMidio avatar
Rich DeMidio avatar
John Williams:
Be sure all set screws are properly tightened.

This happened to me.  Simple fix.  I also use NINA and on the focuser widget, you can see if the position is moving.
Leurda Ivan avatar
Leurda Ivan avatar
Rich DeMidio:
John Williams:
Be sure all set screws are properly tightened.

This happened to me.  Simple fix.  I also use NINA and on the focuser widget, you can see if the position is moving.

*** Thank you,Rich ***
Bob McInteer avatar
Bob McInteer avatar
Perhaps this is obvious but have you watched in person what the EAF is doing when you begin the routine? Is it making the motions you would expect?
Concise
Rick Fair avatar
Rick Fair avatar
I took it apart made sure all screws are tight, I had both filters next to each other. I  moved them across from each other, it may have been a balance problem. I'm running images as I type this hopefully this solves the issue. thanks for all the responses and ideas. Its nice to see alike people helping each other with issues.
Leurda Ivan avatar
Leurda Ivan avatar
Rick Fair:
I took it apart made sure all screws are tight, I had both filters next to each other. I  moved them across from each other, it may have been a balance problem. I'm running images as I type this hopefully this solves the issue. thanks for all the responses and ideas. Its nice to see alike people helping each other with issues.

*** I have verified all screws. Thank you Rick***