The AFW-10 we have started giving me an error tonight -- I didn't get these errors several days ago when I mounted the filter on the telescope. If I try to connect to the filter wheel in ASCOM Diagnostics I get the error show in the first attachment. When I try taking an image from MaxImDL I get the error shown in the second attachment. I was using the same setup a few nights ago without error. Thanks, Matt Craig
We'll investigate ASAP. I can reproduce a similar error, not sure its exactly the same issue, but its similar.
Is this occurring: a) After power cycling everything b) After things were running, software shutdown and then software started again later? I'm trying to figure out if the wheel needs to be homed/initiated and that is not happening. c) Which software are you using it with (eg just MaxIm, and for the test, the ASCOM diagnostics). Or are you using TheSkyX or some other application?
I know I cycled the power on the filter wheel -- I turned it off Tuesday night after using it, then back on Saturday evening. I don't think the computer had rebooted in the meantime. I'll try a couple of combinations then get back to you about the sequencing. > c) Which software are you using it with (eg just MaxIm, and for the test, the ASCOM diagnostics). Or are you using TheSkyX or some other application? Ideally we will use it via ACP, which calls MaxImDL for the imaging pieces. On Tuesday, it worked with MaxImDL but was not tested with ACP. We also use FocusMax, which worked with it on Tuesday night. On Saturday, I got the first error with ACP, then kept going down levels, trying MaxImDL and, when that failed, ASCOM Diagnostics to remove as many layers as possible.
I just Restarted the computer Cycled power on the filter and camera Tried ASCOM Diagnostics and got the same error as above Tried MaxImDL (connected fine, then tried image) and got the same error as above. I have not been back out to the site yet (it is about 20 miles from campus) since we installed to check on the physical setup to make sure nothing has come unplugged, etc.
Try this: Restart PC and USB-FW power. I think the filter wheel will home itself. Do not run ASCOM diags. Go into MaxIm, Camera Control Window, Setup tab. Click [Connect]. Camera Control Window, Expose Tab. Set it for a light frame exposure. Change the dropdown for the filter to some filter, I think it will tell the FW to move. Then try doing an image with whatever filter you prefer. Let me know what happens. I've got a ticket with Development here.
I went out with a student on the afternoon of Mar 25. The issue was that the belt that drives the wheel had come partially off. This video shows the (sort of awful) sound the filter wheel made when we power it up: https://www.dropbox.com/s/uohd4iutrhvk7l0/2023-03-25-filter-wheel-start-sound.MOV?dl=0 This video shows the state of the belt after we took the cover off the filter wheel to see what was happening: https://www.dropbox.com/s/wsl6y5ofg7tow8j/2023-03-25-filter-wheel-uncovered.MOV?dl=0 A couple of still pictures of the belt/wheel are attached. We got the belt back in place by slowly rotating the filter wheel by hand. As we did that we noticed the filter wheel is fairly "wobbly" with the cover off. We didn't try to address that. We put the filter wheel back on the telescope and tried rotating it a few times. It sounded fine and appeared to be rotating properly. I started an observing run on the evening of Mar 25. The run got hung up on an unrelated dome issue after taking flats in a couple of filters (which look fine), but after I fixed the dome problem I hit the same error I originally reported. I don't think the two problems are related, but there was a delay of a couple of hours between when the flats were taken and when I checked on it. I'll be going out later today to bring the filter wheel/camera back to campus after I confirm whether the issue seems to be the same as we saw yesterday -- a partially displaced belt.
Well, good news and bad news. The good news is that I now know how to reproduce the problem: cycle the power on the filter wheel 10 times with the cover on, and the belt/wheel shifts enough that it can't move. Video: https://www.dropbox.com/s/5m8140i9ojm3oxd/2023-03-26-filter-cover-fail.MOV?dl=0 When I did the same test with the cover off there were no issues. Video: https://www.dropbox.com/s/wiga24q2znngm46/2023-03-26-filter-no-cover-no-fail.MOV?dl=0 I did one more test not captured on video. When I applied light pressure with my finger to the "far" side of the filter wheel (i.e. the side opposite where the belt pulley for the wheel is) I was able to shift the belt in the same way it is shifted with the cover on. Though I don't think it is the issue, an image showing the other side of the setup is attached. As you can see, the camera does touch the motor housing, though it is not pushing hard, i.e. we didn't have to force it to get the camera on there. Bad news: I have no idea how to fix this.
I've correct the last link, which should have been https://www.dropbox.com/s/wiga24q2znngm46/2023-03-26-filter-no-cover-no-fail.MOV?dl=0
Hi Matt, @Tim's team are putting together a set of instructions to adjust the pulley and carousel wheel to prevent the problem. Should be ready tomorrow. The alternative would be to send it in, but we think this will be straightforward and faster than the round trip to come in for adjustment. Sorry for the delay.
That sounds great -- I appreciate the update. We are having issues with other equipment so the filter wheel isn't currently our make-or-break item. I appreciate what has been a very quick response and look forward to getting the instructions!
