Starlight Instruments Feather Touch Micro for Meade 8.0" SCT (Including Meade LX90, LX200GPS, LX200 Classics & 7" Mak)

Which Meade Telescopes It Fits

This Feather Touch Micro fits the Meade 8" Schmidt-Cassegrain, including the LX90, LX200GPS and LX200 Classics, the Meade 7" LX200GPS, the Meade LX50 and the Meade 7" Maksutov.

It will not fit the LXD55. For the Meade 8" LS90, Starlight assembles the focuser with a small flange body, so tell us if you have that model. For some other models a flange measurement is needed (below).

How It Works

The Micro Focuser has a coarse knob and a fine knob; 10:1 coarse and fine knobs are among the Feather Touch standard features, so ten turns of the fine knob equal one turn of the coarse knob. Its brass shaft slides over the small rod on the telescope's mirror assembly, so turning the knobs moves the primary mirror.

It replaces the whole stock focus assembly, held by the same three screws. An ultra-low backlash system is among the Feather Touch standard features.

Why Fine Focus Matters

Schmidt-Cassegrains and Maksutovs have long focal lengths, so the critical focus zone is shallow. A single-speed knob moves the mirror a long way for a small turn, so it is easy to go past best focus.

The fine knob lets you approach focus slowly, which helps on planetary detail and close double stars.

Flange Check for Some 6" and 8" Models

The 6″ LX80, LS8-ACF, LT8-ACF, LT8-SC and LS8-SC have been shipped from Meade with two different sized focuser flanges.

If you have one of these, measure the flange of your stock focuser knob; the smaller flange Meade uses is 38mm. Tell us the size when ordering.

Installation in Three Steps

The only tool needed is the included 5/64" hex-head wrench. On a German equatorial mount, remove the scope from the mount.

• Step 1: Position & Remove: With the optical tube positioned horizontally to prevent mirror shift, rotate the original focus knob counter-clockwise to its stop. Use the included 5/64” hex wrench to remove the three set screws holding the stock assembly.
• Step 2: Detach Assembly: pull the stock assembly back and tilt its outer part to the left, so its shaft slides off the right end of the small rod on the mirror assembly.
• Step 3: Install Feather Touch: Extend the brass shaft of the new MicroFocuser fully. Tilt it to the left and slide the tip of the brass shaft over the right end of the same rod, making sure it is centered; an off-center shaft may bind and could break the focuser. Attach it with the three original screws and expect the telescope to be well out of focus at first.

Motorization Path: Adding the HSM20 Stepper Motor

The Handy Stepper Motor (HSM20), sold separately, fits any Feather Touch Micro Focuser.

With a Focuser Boss II or EFS controller, the HSM20 allows computer-controlled focusing through ASCOM drivers, without touching the telescope, and temperature compensation using the motor's built-in thermistor.

Made in the USA

Starlight Instruments designs, machines, anodizes and assembles its Feather Touch components in-house in Columbia City, Indiana. The brochure lists durable hardened stainless steel, steel and aluminum construction among the Feather Touch standard features.

The ultra-smooth 10:1 fine focus mechanism, sleek design, and ultra-low backlash system are standard features across the Feather Touch line.