Telescope Reviews: Reinforcing a GSO focuser for photography

Hello, some might remember my recent thread where I built a carbon fiber tube for my AT8-IN. Well Ive been chasing down a slight miss-alignment in the scope that has been driving me nuts! First let me say, I am a fan of the GSO crayford focusers, I think they are an excellent value, but mine had just enough play in the draw tube to be frustrating, to say the least. So I spent the day making a few small changes and I thought Id share the results in the hope someone may find it useful.
First, I simply added another thumb screw to the compression ring, 120 deg from the first. This made a noticable improvement in solid repeatability. I still had a problem with flex of the draw tube inside the focuser body, tightening down the lock would flex the focuser body and still alow the draw tube to rock up and down under the wieght of the canera. Mind you very little, but as you know, it doesnt take much! So I added two more draw tube lock bolts, these are directly opposite the bearings, now after the stock draw tube lock is tight, these are snuggend down as well keeping nice even pressure of the tube againt the bearings, no more flex

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Finally, while the carbon tube is stiffer than the rolled steel, if you push it, you could still generate a little flex in the OTA. I used some 1/8 aluminum plate and cut semi-circular "out-rigger" style supports with adjustable feet out at the ends. This has nearly doubled the footprint of the focuser and added the ability to sqare the focuser to the tube.
Im satisfied its rock solid now. Non of this is really needed for typical EP loads, but the camera with MPCC really puts a strain on the focuser and these few mods may keep me from having to fork over the cash for a high end one.
Anyway, thanks for looking, I hope someone gets an idea from what I have done.
-Mark

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Celestron ASGT
Astro Tech 8" f4 Newt
QHY8
Meade DSI pro