DIY: Parallelogram Binocular Mount

[iceman (Mike)]

Hi All

Larry Brockman has kindly written a DIY article on how to build a Parallelogram Binocular Mount.

You can find the article on the IceInSpace Projects page or directly by clicking on the link below:

Parallelogram Binocular Mount

Thanks to Larry for writing the article.

If you'd like to submit an article, review or other content to IceInSpace, please Contact Me.

[iceman (Mike)]

Article uploaded.

[Dennis]

Hi Larry

Thanks for an excellent “how to” – the mount looks well designed, smooth to operate and very strong, especially given they are supporting 25x100’s which are substantial binoculars!

I’m more used to working with wood (I’m lousy at metal work!) so all my parallelogram mounts have been wooden models – all suffer from binding or jerky movement in spite of using Laminex inlays to assist with controlling friction. Your use of bushes seems to overcome the binding very neatly.

I’ve just completed one from timber and it had 1st light over the weekend, bird watching in the garden due to lousy astronomy weather. I note your design has four degrees of movement:

1 – Where the mount joins the tripod.
2 - The Up-Down vertical movement of the parallelogram
3 – Rotational movement of binocular support arm on parallelogram
4 – Rotational movement of binocular on the binocular support arm.

After lying on the lounger watching the birds, I added a 5th degree of movement so I could sweep a larger area of the sky/trees without having to either move the lounger or contort my neck.

The extra 5th degree was an arm that pivots on the bino support arm, but comes out directly to the observer. The bino alt-az bracket is then mounted on this arm. This allows the binos to be swiveled L-R across the front of the observers face. I reckon by doing this, it would be feasible to lie in a lounger, or remain seated, and sweep approx ¼ of the heavens without having to move the mount or chair, yet still feel quite comfortable.

I had better add that my binos are much lighter 12x50’s so the added pivot arm doesn’t have to support too much weight.

Cheers

Dennis

[larry brockman]

Hi Dennis,
Thanks for your comments. I understand what you refer to “ 5th element “ is. The 4th element on my design will provide a 90degree sweep. I searched for a while for all designs available and came up with this. It is so simple and taken the time to build it was worth it. I think wood would work just as well. The brass bushes don’t know if they are in steel or wood. As a fan of Binoculars, there are a new model of Large Binoculars being imported. They have removable 1.25 eyepieces. I have been invited to see them this Friday and will know more then. Assuming a focal length of 400mm one may vary magnifications from 10X to 80X, will know more Friday.

Best regards Larry Brockman

[Dennis]

Hi Larry

Thanks for the tip on bushings and their use in wood - I'll investigate this as I would love to mount my Vixen 30x125's on a (substantial) parallelogram mount, or better still, a motorised bino chair.

Will your existing mount cope with the new range of large bino's, or will you build another one? Enjoy the launch on Friday!

Cheers

Dennis

[larry brockman]

Hi Dennis,
I like the sounds of your Vixen Binos. I think my mount could handle a few more kilos, however, may be required to increase counter weight some or minor mods to the mounting arm.
Best regards Larry Brockman

[h0ughy (David)]

alas my technical construction abilities would not allow me to make something like this - even though I just bought myself a pair of 25x100's . will have to look at alternatives?