What you are describing is the result of excessive backlash. The linear algorithm assumes there is none and that is what the step calculations are based on.

Wait, what? Did you not previously write:

Linear focus is the way to go. Nails perfect focus every time and inherently compensates for backlash.

One of these things is not like the other Hy's answer up the stream also seems to indicate that the algorithm is designed to minimize the effects of backlash.

I mean, "excessive" I might certainly buy, since a step size of 100 makes a visible focuser tube displacement but can be nearly eaten by backlash.

So, as nearly as I can tell, the backlash is actually in the motor; there's really nothing I can do about that without replacing it. Although I recognize that geartrain backlash in a commercial motor seems unlikely compared to my laughably crude setup displaying, shall we say, idiosyncrasies...still, when I reverse direction the thing gronks for a couple seconds and only then does the shaft start to turn. A subsequent move in the same axis makes the gronking and turning simultaneous.

When I ordered the timing pulley they sent me one with a bore about triple the size of what I'd asked for; coming up with a crude bushing for that left me with a setup that certainly might be susceptible to backlash, although as I noted that doesn't appear to be happening. I've ordered another, we'll see what arrives in a week or two on the slow boat from China.

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