Supports Direct Imaging and Spectroscophy
DFM Engineering has made many Guide-Acquire-Modules (GAMs) for Cassegrain telescopes. Usually these
GAMs include a X-Y stage for off axis guiding. Recently, there has been a demand for a different
GAM that incorporates off axis guiding from a remote location. DFM has defined this next generation
GAM and has trademarked the name
"Smart Auto Guider™" and "SAG™".
DFM Engineering, Inc. has delivered a version of the Smart Auto Guider™ which can simultaneously
support direct imaging and support a Cassegrain Spectrograph. Because of typical space restrictions
and instrument clearances, the spectrograph is mounted on the straight through position of the Smart
Auto Guider™ and the direct CCD imaging camera is fed at a folded Cassegrain position. The folding
mirror is mounted on a translating stage so it may be moved out of the light path for the spectrograph.
Automatic guiding is provided by an integrating CCD camera that automatically searches for a suitable
guide star and then begins auto guiding. The guide CCD camera focus automatically follows the telescope
focus.
The Smart Auto Guider™ supports a filter slide mechanism at the imaging port. Interchangeable
filter slides are available that can support different sized filters including a 8-position slide
for 50-mm diameter round filters, a 8-position slide for 2-inch diameter filters, a 8-position slide
for 2-inch square filters, and a 6-position slide for 2.5-inch square filters. These slides may be
easily manually interchanged.
The Smart Auto Guider™ also supports auto guiding off of the slit jaws of the spectrograph
and provides a calibration lamp optical feed for the spectrograph.
Commands for the Smart Auto Guider™ are included in the DFM Engineering, Inc. EXternal COMputer
(EXCOM) interface so the SAG™ may be commanded from the observatory control computer.
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