The Xagyl Communications ultra-thin 8-position robotic motorized filter wheel is the perfect compliment to any astrophotographer requiring the use of multiple filters.
The light-weight and ultra-thin design introduces very little load, moment, or shift in focal position. The robotic filter wheel housing is cast from light-weight Aluminum, with a machined aluminum filter wheel which accepts eight 1.25" format filters. All critical parts are black anodized and threaded to suppress stray light.
Very low current operation. The Xagyl robotic filter wheel is powered from the USB port, for convenient one-cable operation. The filter wheel is ASCOM compliant.
An optional carousel is available for M28.5 x 0.5 filters - please verify the specifications with the manufacturer.
Robotic filter wheels are good for people who want to do LRGB photography using dichroic (interference) filters. The standard RGB palette can be created, or the Hubble palette can be created using SII, Ha and OIII filters mapped into the RGB planes, or your own custom arrangement. Filter wheels are used with monochrome and color CCD and CMOS cameras.
Note: Some older filters, such as early-generation Baader filters have tall cells measuring over 8mm tall excluding the filter threads. These filters are incompatible with the wheel. In the case of Baader filters, replacement low-profile filter cells can be purchased separately. Please inquire with us for these filter cells.
The Xagyl robotic filter wheel uses an on-board USB to RS-232 adapter. It can be easily controlled through simple ASCII commands should anyone want to write their own control scripts in lieu of using ASCOM. For example, F1 = move one filter position forward, B3 = move three filter positions backwards, P4 = move to filter position 4.