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Starlight Instruments Micro Pinion Assembly - fits Takahashi Epsilon E130/E160mm Telescopes

by Starlight Instruments
SKU SI-MPA-TAK2.7-E130/160
CA$714.00 - CA$714.00
CA$714.00
CA$714.00 - CA$714.00
CA$714.00
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  • Adds acclaimed Feather Touch dual-speed focusing
  • Direct drop-in upgrade for the stock 2.7" Takahashi focuser
  • Compatible with Takahashi Epsilon E130 and E160 astrographs
  • Internal planetary reduction system ensures zero backlash
  • Designed, machined, and assembled in the USA
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  • Description
  • FAQ
  • Specifications
  • In the Box
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  • Warranty

  • Starlight Instruments Micro Pinion Assembly - fits Takahashi Epsilon E130/E160mm Telescopes

    The Starlight Instruments Micro Pinion Assembly (MPA) upgrades the stock 2.7" focuser on Takahashi Epsilon E130 and E160 astrographs with the legendary Feather Touch dual-speed mechanism. This retrofit provides the ultra-fine control required to achieve critical focus with the fast optical systems of the Epsilon series, eliminating the imprecision of the stock single-speed knob.

    Feather Touch Control: Dual-Speed Focusing for the 2.7" Epsilon Focuser

    This assembly replaces the original single-speed pinion block on your Takahashi focuser, leaving the main focuser body intact. The upgrade installs a friction-based planetary reduction system, delivering two focusing speeds from a single hub. The coarse focus knob allows for rapid drawtube travel, while the fine focus knob provides extremely small, precise adjustments for nailing critical focus every time.

    For fast astrographs like the Takahashi Epsilon series, where the critical focus zone is incredibly thin, this level of control is not a luxury—it's essential. The smooth, repeatable motion allows you to confidently adjust focus without overshooting the mark, a common frustration with single-speed focusers.

    Imaging-Grade Precision for Epsilon E130/E160 Astrographs

    Engineered for astrophotography, the Feather Touch MPA is built to handle the demands of heavy imaging trains and automated focusing routines. The internal mechanism is designed for virtually zero backlash, meaning the focuser responds instantly to commands from either your hand or an autofocus motor. This eliminates slack in the system, ensuring that focus adjustments are immediate and exact.

    By preventing the focus shift and slop inherent in many stock focusers, this upgrade ensures your automated V-curves are sharp and your final images are perfectly focused from edge to edge. The robust construction from hardened stainless steel and anodized aluminum maintains this precision for years of use.

    MPA Retrofit vs. Stock Focuser: The Critical Difference for Epsilon Imagers

    While the stock Takahashi focuser is functional, it is not optimized for the level of precision modern imaging requires. The Starlight Instruments MPA provides a transformative upgrade without the cost of replacing the entire focuser.

    • Stock Focuser Limitation: The single-speed knob makes it difficult to make minute adjustments. A tiny touch can shift focus past the critical point, especially when using automated focusing software or a Bahtinov mask.
    • Feather Touch Advantage: The fine-focus knob translates large physical movements into tiny drawtube adjustments. This gives you tactile, intuitive control over the focal point, allowing you to achieve and maintain perfect focus with ease.

  • What is the main benefit of installing the MPA on my Takahashi Epsilon E130?

    The primary benefit for an Epsilon E130, a very fast astrograph, is achieving precise critical focus. The stock focuser's single-speed knob can make it difficult to make the tiny adjustments needed. The Feather Touch dual-speed system allows for extremely fine, repeatable control, resulting in consistently sharper stars in your images.

    Is this a complete focuser replacement for the Takahashi Epsilon E160?

    No, this is not a complete focuser. The Starlight Instruments MPA is a retrofit pinion assembly that replaces the existing knob and pinion block on your Epsilon E160's original 2.7" focuser. You retain the stock focuser body and drawtube, but gain the superior dual-speed focusing mechanism.

    How does the Starlight Instruments MPA achieve its fine focus control?

    The Feather Touch mechanism uses a planetary reduction assembly. This internal gear system allows the fine focus knob to move the pinion with extreme precision and virtually zero backlash, translating a full turn of the fine knob into a very small movement of the drawtube.

    Will this upgrade eliminate image shift on my Epsilon's focuser?

    This upgrade targets the precision and backlash of the focusing mechanism itself. While it provides a much more stable and shift-free focusing experience compared to the stock knob assembly, it does not alter the drawtube's interface with the main focuser body. However, the precise, backlash-free control it provides is a key factor in minimizing any perceived image shift during focusing.

    Can I install the Starlight Instruments MPA myself?

    Yes, installation is designed to be straightforward for the end-user. It typically involves removing the stock pinion block with simple hand tools (like a hex wrench) and replacing it with the Feather Touch assembly. Starlight Instruments provides detailed instructions for their MPA-TAK retrofits.

    Is the Starlight Instruments MPA compatible with autofocus motors?

    Absolutely. Feather Touch focusers and pinion assemblies are the industry standard for automated imaging. The zero-backlash design is ideal for autofocus routines, and Starlight Instruments offers motor systems like the HSM or PDMS that are designed to clamp directly onto the pinion assembly.

  • Compatibility Takahashi Epsilon E130 & E160 Telescopes
    Target Focuser Stock Takahashi 2.7" Diameter Focuser
    Made In USA (designed, machined and assembled)

    • Micro Pinion Assembly for Takahashi Epsilon

      × 1

    • Hex Wrench for Installation

      × 1

  • Starlight Instruments 2-Year Warranty