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Subject: Re: [M]: Guide scopes
From: Robert W Reynolds
Reply To: mapug@shore.net
Date: Mon May 19 00:37:25 1997

Robin

You might want to check with Ken Milburn (kmilburn@gte.net). I just got
a rail and set of rings from him to piggyback my ETX OTA on my 12" LX200.
They are polished aluminum, and very well made. The rail runs the length
of the top of the OTA. The two rings are outsized with three adjusting
screws so that you can easily align the guide scope with the main OTA or
center it on an off-axis guide star. You would have to tell him the size
of your guide scope and the main OTA. His prices are much lower than
Losmandy, but the quality is excellent. You might not get an immediate
reply from him, because he will be busy on his day job until Memorial
day, but I think you would find the wait worth while.

Bob Reynolds

On Sun, 18 May 97 14:22:16 -0700 Robin Casady <rcasady@scruznet.com>
writes:
>Donald Tabbutt wrote:
>
>>The Losmandy system you're asking about is two different things...a
>mount
>>and ring set for the guide scope that sits on top of your OTA, and a
>>counterweight set that fits on the bottom.
>>
>>For a piggybacked scope, there is a flat piece of aluminum about 1/4"
>thick
>>and about 3" wide that runs from the front rim to the back rim of
>your main
>>telescope. Under this plate at the front and back are machined
>adapters
>>that account for the arc of the scope. It all attaches via existing
>screw
>>holes. These pieces are unique to specific OTA's, and must be ordered
>for a
>>particular scope. The ring assemblies slide onto the plate via
>dovetail
>>brackets. Into these rings you fit the piggybacked scope. The largest
>rings
>>I have seen advertised are about 6", but there may be larger ones
>>available.
>>
>>For the counterweight system, a similar but narrower plate bolts onto
>the
>>bottom of your OTA. A threaded rod carrying a counterweight slides
>along
>>this plate via a dovetail adapter, giving you a "2-D" counterweight
>system.
>>
>>I hope this helps.
>
>Thanks. I'm just interested in the scope mount. What do I ask for when
>I
>call Losmandy? Are you talking about the "Model DMM Double Male "D"
>Series Plate" or the "Model PBC11/M10 or PBC8/M8 Piggyback Mount"? The
>
>PBC looks lighter than I need.
>
>Anyone have a phone number for Losmandy?
>
>Robin Casady
>http://www.scruz.net/~rcasady/
>
>Macintosh software for:
>Managing URL Bookmarks
>LX200 telescope control
>
>