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Equipment Discussions >> Mounts

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AntarcticDave
sage

Reged: 02/03/09

Loc: Denver, CO

Re: The ultimate CGEM topic ... new

[Re: PhilCo126]
#3030494 - 04/07/09 06:43 PM Attachment (321 downloads)

Ok guys, I got the additional 11 lb. weight today. Here's a picture on the scope. It appears to be cast, where the 17 lb. that came with the scope appears to be machined. Other than that, it's the same shape, diameter, same knob, etc.

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AntarcticDave
sage

Reged: 02/03/09

Loc: Denver, CO

Re: The ultimate CGEM topic ... new

[Re: AntarcticDave]
#3030496 - 04/07/09 06:44 PM Attachment (271 downloads)

Here's a second shot.

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coopfore1
super member

Reged: 11/23/05

Loc: il

Re: The ultimate CGEM topic ... new

[Re: AntarcticDave]
#3031111 - 04/07/09 11:57 PM

Thanks Dave

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Lane
Post Laureate

Reged: 11/19/07

Loc: Frisco, Texas

Re: The ultimate CGEM topic ... new

[Re: ned_l]
#3031214 - 04/08/09 01:11 AM

Quote:

I am also considering getting one. My current scopes both have vixen style dovetail bars. Would it be better to replace them with the Losmandy style plates, or get the replacement saddle that ADM offers? I am mostly just trying to figure out costs. To put a Losmandy style plate on my SV 102ED, I would probably need to get rings for it to replace the clam shell. Though it looks like SV may have a plate that fits the clam shell. Either way, it seems easier to just replace the saddle, though that is not cheap.

Just got my ADM dual saddle for the CGEM and I have to say Anthony really came through on this. Way nicer than the stock saddle. The only thing that kind of annoyed me was that he moved the knobs to the opposite side. I had just gotten use to mounting the scope with them the way they were. But I think the way Anthony made them is probably the best way to go.

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mclewis1
Thread Killer

Reged: 02/25/06

Loc: New Brunswick, Canada

Re: The ultimate CGEM topic ... new

[Re: Lane]
#3031974 - 04/08/09 12:34 PM

Since the mount doesn't care about the orientation of the dec axis and the new saddle appears to be symmetrical what is stopping you from simply rotating the saddle 180°?

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Lane
Post Laureate

Reged: 11/19/07

Loc: Frisco, Texas

Re: The ultimate CGEM topic ... new

[Re: mclewis1]
#3032283 - 04/08/09 03:00 PM

Quote:

Since the mount doesn't care about the orientation of the dec axis and the new saddle appears to be symmetrical what is stopping you from simply rotating the saddle 180°?

I am not sure that would work but I have not tried it yet to see. There are marks you are suppose to line up and if rotated they would be 180 degrees apart. If you do that then during the allignment process I think the scope would slew to the opposite side of the sky when looking for your 1st allignment star. The Hand Controller lets you tell it you have a side by side plate attached but I did not see anything about reversing the direction completely.

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mclewis1
Thread Killer

Reged: 02/25/06

Loc: New Brunswick, Canada

Re: The ultimate CGEM topic ... new

[Re: Lane]
#3032393 - 04/08/09 03:55 PM

The scope's electronics have no idea where those index marks are ... they are there just to give you an appropriate starting point. The CGEM works just like the CG-5 when it comes to dec orientation ... it doesn't have any idea and assumes you are starting with the counterweight down and the RA axis and scope roughly pointed at Polaris. If you started with the scope pointed downwards (180°) then the mount would indeed point the scope at the wrong side of the sky for the alignment stars.

Being 90° off is something different since you can just as easily be 90° off in either east or west directions. You use the OTA orientation function on the Celestron gems so that the mount slews the right distance and direction from the assumed starting point when using a side by side (90° offset) saddle configuration.

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Lane
Post Laureate

Reged: 11/19/07

Loc: Frisco, Texas

Re: The ultimate CGEM topic ... new

[Re: mclewis1]
#3032458 - 04/08/09 04:35 PM

Ok, that makes sense, because the hand controller does tell you to line everthing up and then press enter. So I guess pressing enter is telling the mount that you aimed roughly at polaris, so you are correct it should work either with the knobs on the left or right.

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t.r.
Post Laureate

Reged: 02/14/08

Loc: Upstate NY

Re: The ultimate CGEM topic ... new

[Re: Lane]
#3041506 - 04/13/09 01:00 PM

How many screws, bolts or hex-bolts attach the new ADM replacement saddle to the mount? What I'm geting at is how solid are the two mated? Thanks...

Edited by t.r. (04/13/09 01:02 PM)

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donsinger1
sage

Reged: 10/28/07

Re: The ultimate CGEM topic ... new

[Re: mclewis1]
#3041544 - 04/13/09 01:19 PM

"OTA orientation function on the Celestron gems..."

What function is this?

Don

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mclewis1
Thread Killer

Reged: 02/25/06

Loc: New Brunswick, Canada

Re: The ultimate CGEM topic ... new

[Re: donsinger1]
#3041751 - 04/13/09 03:08 PM

Don,

Under Scope Setup ... the OTA Orientation function allows you to tell the mount that you're using a side by side saddle configuration and therefore the OTAs will be turned 90° left or right from the default position. Then your gem can properly figure out where and how far to slew to the alignment stars when you're setting it up.

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LLEEGE
True Blue

Reged: 03/03/05

Loc: Cloud-chester,NY

Re: The ultimate CGEM topic ... new

[Re: donsinger1]
#3041766 - 04/13/09 03:13 PM

Page 27 of the manual.

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Lane
Post Laureate

Reged: 11/19/07

Loc: Frisco, Texas

Re: The ultimate CGEM topic ... new

[Re: t.r.]
#3041878 - 04/13/09 04:24 PM Attachment (119 downloads)

Quote:

How many screws, bolts or hex-bolts attach the new ADM replacement saddle to the mount? What I'm geting at is how solid are the two mated? Thanks...

It is a very snug but perfect fit. You just remove the 3 hex bolts that hold the old saddle in place and discard them with the old saddle. New hex bolts come with the adm saddle plate.

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jrbarnett
Eyepiece Hooligan

Reged: 02/28/06

Loc: Petaluma, CA

Re: The ultimate CGEM topic ... new

[Re: AntarcticDave]
#3044185 - 04/14/09 08:22 PM

Dave:

Neither of those weights look to be machined. Perhaps simply different textures on the finish? The smaller weight looks like it uses a slightly cruder casting though.

Regards,

Jim

Edited by jrbarnett (04/14/09 08:24 PM)

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AntarcticDave
sage

Reged: 02/03/09

Loc: Denver, CO

Re: The ultimate CGEM topic ... new

[Re: jrbarnett]
#3045028 - 04/15/09 09:55 AM

The stock weight has much sharper edges and a flat surface along the circumference. The edges are more rounded, and you can see some curvature to the circumference on the small additional weight. Perhaps Celestron outsourced the 11 lb weight to someone else. Anyway, it works.

Edited by AntarcticDave (04/15/09 09:55 AM)

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