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jkevn
sage
Reged: 03/02/06
Loc: Tucson, Arizona
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Mounting a Coronado Telescope on a Meade LX 80
#5546217 - 11/29/12 08:44 PM Attachment (33 downloads)
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I recently purchased a Coronado SolarMax II telescope, 90 mm DIA., and LX 80 Mount (a complete package from Optics Planet). The dovetail interface part, used for attaching the telescope to the LX80 mount, is clearly not designed for use with this telescope and this mount. Meade was unhelpful in helping me resolve this issue. Their response was that, although it was designed for use on another telescope, I should be able to get it to work with this one.
I attached a photo. Notice how far forward the telescope needs to be to be balanced on the declination axis. It is only being held by two 1/4-20 screws on the dovetail slider.
I am planning on designing a new dovetail mount, and having it made by a machine shop. But I would rather buy one that works. Any comments, or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
thanks,
Kevin
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mayidunk
Don't Ask...
Reged: 02/17/10
Loc: Betwixt & Between...
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Re: Mounting a Coronado Telescope on a Meade LX 80
[Re: jkevn]
#5546264 - 11/29/12 09:15 PM
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Can you relocate the clamshell behind the lever?
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DaveJ
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 01/07/05
Loc: NE Ohio
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Re: Mounting a Coronado Telescope on a Meade LX 80
[Re: mayidunk]
#5546355 - 11/29/12 10:12 PM
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Can you relocate the clamshell behind the lever?
That, or better yet, get proper-sized rings and mount the rings to a longer dovetail plate. That's definitely what I would do.
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ourobouros2k2
sage
Reged: 11/10/11
Loc: okc area, oklahoma
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Re: Mounting a Coronado Telescope on a Meade LX 80
[Re: mayidunk]
#5546356 - 11/29/12 10:12 PM
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Ironic that a coronado (meade) scope won't fit without modifcation on a meade mount.
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faltered
sage
Reged: 04/01/05
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Re: Mounting a Coronado Telescope on a Meade LX 80
[Re: ourobouros2k2]
#5547375 - 11/30/12 03:10 PM
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Ironic that a coronado (meade) scope won't fit without modifcation on a meade mount.
That doesnt surprise me at all  Not sure when Meade is going to figure it out....
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Griffin!
super member
Reged: 09/12/10
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Re: Mounting a Coronado Telescope on a Meade LX 80
[Re: faltered]
#5547407 - 11/30/12 03:34 PM
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I've seen a few LX80s with coronado scopes on them (and used them) and none had an issue with balancing.
Just based off your picture it looks like you have the dovetail attached incorrectly to the clamshell on the Coronado, it should be centered. I believe there are 2 holes on the coronado and 3 on the dovetail (assuming optics planet sent you the correct one), so you would attach it to the coronado using the 2 outside holes on the dovetail.
After that you would just need to adjust the scope inside the clamshell ring and if need be move it behind the tuner.
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mayidunk
Don't Ask...
Reged: 02/17/10
Loc: Betwixt & Between...
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Re: Mounting a Coronado Telescope on a Meade LX 80
[Re: Griffin!]
#5548257 - 12/01/12 03:53 AM
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He probably has the dovetail mounted like that because that's where the scope's balance point is, hence the suggestions for tube rings, and moving the clamshell back on the OTA.
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jkevn
sage
Reged: 03/02/06
Loc: Tucson, Arizona
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Re: Mounting a Coronado Telescope on a Meade LX 80
[Re: mayidunk]
#5549383 - 12/01/12 08:50 PM
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Thanks for all your suggestions.
Every photo of this telescope on any mount I have ever seen shows the clamshell mounted in front of the etalon adjustment lever, never behind it. It is impossible to mount the clamshell in front of that lever and balance the tube without a huge offset of the dovetail, and then, only using two screws, as showed in that photo I posted.
Mounting the clamshell behind the lever allows proper blance using three screws on the clamshell instead of two. The dovetail is still an extremely *BLEEP* design, because the screws don't align with the flats on it, and some other reasons. I will probably design and machine a new dovetail.
Bob, thanks for the suggestion about moving the scope in the clamshell to the other side of the lever. That helped a lot.
The Meade manual for alignment for the Meade LX 80 mount is poorly written and confusing. Their phone/email help about the dovetail was totally unhelpful.
One important warning about something I discovered today about aligning the Meade LX 80 mount: in the altazimuth configuration, you have to put their combination level/compass in the diagonal eyepiece holder to align north magnetic direction and telescope tube leveling. If you happen to be holding the remote control in your hand anywhere near the compass while you are doing this, the controller has an electro-magnetic field that will deflect the compass north direction while you are positioning the tube, so your alignment will be very messed up. I took me a while to figure this out.
I was using the telescope in the daytime with a 2-star alignment (only relying on the approximate slewing to two stars, since I couldn't see the stars in the daytime, to set alignment). This eventually worked well for visual observing in the daytime. The sun would stay in view for a good 20 minutes without drifting out of the field of view.
Kevin
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exparrot
member
Reged: 02/13/12
Loc: DFW, TX
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Re: Mounting a Coronado Telescope on a Meade LX 80
[Re: jkevn]
#5549887 - 12/02/12 07:34 AM
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I only use that little compass on the tripod, before I set the mount on it. That little circular cut-out in the center of the top plate of the tripod fits the compass nicely. I then position the tripod until it's pointing magnetic North. After putting the mount on, I remove the lock screws from the dovetail saddle and set a torpedo level on the top edge. After leveling it, I lock the altitude clutch and put the screws back in the saddle. Then, I mount the OTAs.
The little bubble in that compass/level device is so tiny I can barely see it, so I only use the compass.
Jerry
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