10 replies to this topic

[HeMan]

My rig:

 

CarbonStar 150 

ASI 2600 Air

Apertura R&P Focuser

AM5N Mount

 

I'm currently using an SV Bony Laser Collimator which I calibrated to about 40 feet. 

 

Do you guys and gals think a Howie Glatter Collimator would be overkill for my use case?

 

Thanks!

 

 

 

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[Brian Carter]

With a fast newt, you can never overkill the collimation.  I have never regretted buying my Glatter tools, and I wouldn't use a newtonian without them.

[Jon Isaacs]

Do you guys and gals think a Howie Glatter Collimator would be overkill for my use case?

 

 

I bought my 1.25 inch Howie Glatter collimator 25 years ago when there were no Asian collimators.  I bought my 2 inch Howie Glatter collimator 18 years ago.  Both are alive and well.  Back then, they were more affordable.  

 

In some sense, they are overkill but in the long run, I think it pays to have a high quality tool.  The fit in the focuser is important, Asian lasers are not machined to the tight tolerances so they are generally sloppy in the focuser.  The collimation of the Glatter is stable and I can count on it.  I don't want drive out to a dark site and discover my collimator needs collimation.  I do have the backup 1.25 inch collimator but I have never had to use it.  

 

I am a visual observer so collimation of primary is critical.  I use a Tublug for that, it's a form of the Barlowed laser.

 

You seem to be happy with the Svbony and I am not seeing obvious collimation errors in your photo.  It works, as they say, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."  If at some point you decide you want a better laser collimator, that is the time to consider a Howie Glatter.

 

Jon

[havasman]

Collimation will never be perfect, well except for that 1 in a million happy accident. So we pick our tools, learn to use them and then become proficient with them. The proficiency's more critical than the tool.

 

But back in my manufacturing systems days we operated under the rule that if your measurements showed perfect results it was time to get a new gauge with higher resolution & repeatability. But even that had limits when some of the gauges were $1Mn systems.

 

So put that all together and it doesn't answer your Q but in the end it's your call to make.

[dan_hm]

Are you sure the Glatter will even work with that scope?  It looks like High Point sells a dedicated cheshire for it, similar to the one for the Takahashi Epsilon.  

 

See here: https://www.highpoin...-eyepiece-guide

Edited by dan_hm, 07 May 2025 - 10:23 AM.

[dcbrown73]

I purchased a set (Howie Glatter Collimator and Tublug) for my CarbonStar 150.

 

The good thing about the collimator is they work for any newt.  Not just the one you have now.  It's something you will likely keep forever.

[Spaceman 56]

I purchased a set (Howie Glatter Collimator and Tublug)

who sells the TuBlug these days ?

 

I bought a Howie second hand, but don't have a TuBlug yet, and I would like to get one.

[dcbrown73]

who sells the TuBlug these days ?

 

I bought a Howie second hand, but don't have a TuBlug yet, and I would like to get one.

Starlight Instruments sells both the Howie Glatter and the Tubelug.

 

You can find the Howie Glatter Collimators at this link and on page 2 you will find the Tubelugs.

 

When I ordered my Howie Glatter it took about four weeks before it shipped.   As for the Tubelug, another member here sent me a PM of someone who had one in stock and I ordered that one.   You can get both from Starlight with a little patience.

 

Good luck,

Dave

[Rob B1472]

I have the Hotech (barely used it), got the Ocal collimator camera and then got the Howie Glatter 2” plus Tublug. The Ocal is just so simple and I find it to be very accurate.

[Ranger Tim]

If you see yourself getting other types of reflectors, i.e. RC, SCT, etc. you may want access to other components of the Glatter system so buying the laser would make sense. If you have a well collimated laser now it is questionable if the very expensive Glatter would yield any real benefit to your present situation. The barlowed laser attachment or Tublug from Glatter is the gold standard for Newtonian collimation and is foolproof, but if you are adept at using your current device then I would not spend that much for no perceived gain.

 

I have lots of collimation tools and use each one for specific reasons. Do you have a decent cheshire? I would get one of those first before adding another laser. Very important for maintaining secondary alignment after disassembly and cleaning.

[Jon Isaacs]

If you see yourself getting other types of reflectors, i.e. RC, SCT, etc. you may want access to other components of the Glatter system so buying the laser would make sense. If you have a well collimated laser now it is questionable if the very expensive Glatter would yield any real benefit to your present situation. The barlowed laser attachment or Tublug from Glatter is the gold standard for Newtonian collimation and is foolproof, but if you are adept at using your current device then I would not spend that much for no perceived gain.

 

I have lots of collimation tools and use each one for specific reasons. Do you have a decent cheshire? I would get one of those first before adding another laser. Very important for maintaining secondary alignment after disassembly and cleaning.

 

The Tublug is a form of the Nils Olof Carlin's Barlowed laser.  The advantage of the Barlowed Laser is that it is insensitive to fit in the focus, tilt of the secondary and collimation of the laser.  These all make using the return beam of the laser for aligning the primary mirror subject to error.  

 

The Tublug was Howie Glatter's genius. It allows you to see the Barlowed laser signature from outside the scope.  It is very helpful with larger scopes where it's difficult to view the collimation while aligning the primary mirror.  With my 22 inch, I am 7-8 feet from the focuser when I am adjust the primary, the Tublug is a big help.  Adjusting the secondary is not so easy either:

 

 

The Tublug out of collimation

 

 

The Tublug in collimation

 

 

For a 6 inch scope, these advantages are small, you can adjust everything while looking at an image in the focuser.

 

Jon