· Get a Cloudy Nights T-Shirt · Submit a Review / Article    Click here if you are having trouble logging into the forums Cloudy Nights - Official Forums of the 2009 International Year of Astronomy Privacy Policy | Please read our Terms of Service | Signup and Troubleshooting FAQ | Problems? PM a Red or a Green Gu.... uh, User   You are not logged in. [Login] Forum Archives · Entrance · Main Index · Search · New user · Who's Online FAQ · Calendar Equipment Discussions >> ATM, Optics and DIY Forum Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Pages: 1 womiller member Reged: 10/05/09 Posts: 27 Loc: Bay Area, CA How to mount a dovetail bar?       #3380920 - 10/09/09 07:04 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Hi folks, What are the preferred methods for attaching a dovetail to an OTA? I want to modify my 150mm Mak-Cass with a long dovetail bar to fit my Vixen saddle. I need this to improve the balance range for heavy eyepieces. Currently I have two rings with the basic Vixen dovetail bolted to them, so that the dovetail is effectively strapped to the OTA by the rings. Can I safely bolt the dovetail right to the OTA using some tapped holes and get rid of the rings and their weight? How do people avoid getting metal shavings inside the OTA after tapping a new hole? Any other ideas? Thanks Wayne -------------------- Orion Argonaut 150mm Mak-Cass Vixen GP mount Livermore, CA viewing conditions Post Extras:       Ian Robinson Pooh-Bah Reged: 01/29/09 Posts: 1165 Loc: Gateshead.NSW Nth Coast,Austra... Re: How to mount a dovetail bar? [Re: womiller]       #3381223 - 10/09/09 10:32 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   IMO, a dovetail bar screwed or bolted directly onto the OTA is best, especially if the OTA is long and fat. It'll reduce the torque on the OTA side a bit, and it'll a simply a matter of sliding the OTA up or down in the loosened clamp to balance in DEC axis. But this wont work for a newtonian as you'll find you often have to be a contortionist to get at the eyepiece , so tube rings are unavoidable so the tube can rotated to suit. Tube rings ==> a spacer block under each ring. Edited by Ian Robinson (10/10/09 02:38 AM) Post Extras:       womiller member Reged: 10/05/09 Posts: 27 Loc: Bay Area, CA Re: How to mount a dovetail bar? [Re: Ian Robinson]       #3381430 - 10/10/09 12:56 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Thanks for the tip. My OTA is short and fat, around 18" long, 6" dia. It does have some very tiny tapped holes where the original mount block was screwed in so I guess it can take the load. -------------------- Orion Argonaut 150mm Mak-Cass Vixen GP mount Livermore, CA viewing conditions Post Extras:       Pages: 1 Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Extra information 17 registered and 7 anonymous users are browsing this forum. Moderator:  Don W, Mike I. Jones  Print Thread Forum Permissions       You cannot start new topics       You cannot reply to topics       HTML is disabled       UBBCode is enabled Thread views: 126 Jump to *International Year of Astronomy 2009* -----   Global Coordination   Cornerstone Projects   Special Projects   Special Task Groups   Global Activities   National and Regional Activities   IYA 2009 in Africa   IYA 2009 in the USA*Announcements and News* -----   Cloudy Nights Announcements   Discussion of CN Articles, Reviews, and Reports   Beginners Forum   Celestial Events   Light Pollution*Equipment Discussions* -----   ATM, Optics and DIY Forum   Binoculars   Binoviewers   Cats & Casses   Classic Telescopes   Equipment   Eyepieces   Mounts   Observatories   Reflectors   Refractors    Celestron SkyScout and Meade mySky   Video and Electronically Assisted Astronomy*Astrophotography and Sketching* -----   Beginning and Intermediate Imaging   Film Astrophotography   DSLR & Digital Camera Astro Imaging & Processing   CCD Imaging & Processing   Solar System Imaging & Processing   Sketching   Astro Imaging/Sketching Contest *Observing* -----   NEO   General Observing   Planetary and Solar System Observing   Lunar Observing   Deep Sky Observing   Double Star Observing   Solar   Variable Star Observing and Radio Astronomy*Telescope Specific Forums* -----   Celestron NexStar    NexStar GPS / CPC Telescopes   Questar Forum   Meade ACF/RCX / LX / GPS    Meade ETX*Other* -----   Science of Astronomy & Space Exploration   AstroWebsites   Space Rocks*Speciality Forums* -----   AstroArt   Astronomy Software & Computers   Stellar Media   Astro Outreach, Clubs and Star Parties*CN Feedback and Vendor Announcements* -----   Vendor and Group Announcements CN Forums Home

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