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2011Steadi-Newbies forum

Motor compatibility and selection for Bartech Focus Device

15 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.

DisputedParticipants disagreed and reached no conclusion. Read the findings as positions, not as an answer.

What the thread found

  • The Bartech Focus Device can accept motors from multiple manufacturers including Palomar Engineering, Heden, Stanton, Cinema Products, and SPF
  • Palomar Engineering M-One motors are described as reliable and recommended options for the BFD
  • Heden M26P motors work with the BFD without modification, while M28VP and M21VP models require a servo loop gain adjustment involving four resistor changes for optimal performance
  • Stanton right-angle motors require a modification to the BFD to prevent motor damage and are noted to be noisy during operation
  • Modifying the BFD for Stanton motor compatibility may reduce the ability to use other motor types as backups
  • Cinema Products and SPF FMG-6 motors are mentioned as less desirable options for the BFD
  • Motor selection should prioritize current availability, manufacturer support, and reliability over purchase price

Depends on

  • The Stanton motor modification's specific impact on compatibility with other motors was not fully resolved in the discussion
  • One user reports using a Stanton motor successfully, contrasting with others' concerns about noise and compatibility
  • The discussion does not clarify whether the M28VPT motor (with T suffix) requires the same modification as M28VP
  • Specific technical details about the servo loop gain modification and its reversibility were not exhaustively explained

Gear in this thread

BFD

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