Pier Mounted 10" LX200 Wedge

[mariner10]

Hi,
I want to mount a mates 10" LX200 wedge onto a pier and would like to know if there are any plans out there for the plate size etc. that the base of the wedge needs to sit on.
I have welded a plate on top of the pier that is 200mm x 210mm and will drill four holes into it for the through bolts that will support the top plate. So I just need to know what size plate will be large enough for the wedge.
Thanks.

[Merlin66]

Hmmm
Why not make the top plate on the pier similar dimensions to the top of the Meade tripod and then mount the wedge directly onto this plate and incorporate the alz adjuster from the tripod?
To me it would be much more stable than building the "rats nest" concept....
See:
http://www.billsastro.com/Astronomy/ATM/Superwedge/Superwedge.htm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6_U9dGuqv8
http://www.skymtn.com/mapug-astronomy/MAPUG/PermanentPiers/Pier-plates.htm

[mariner10]

Hi Ken,
Thanks for that, good advice and thanks for the links. I have no experience whatsoever with a wedge so sort of scratching my head here a bit.
Cheers.


Steve.

[Merlin66]

I had and used various Meade SCT's (8", 10" and 12") for many years.
The LX200 HD wedge I had needed some TLC before it came good.
Stripped down and all the mating faces filed and trued up and new bolts fitted.
Worked well with a cut-down HD tripod.

[sfarndell]

I pier mounted a LX200 superwedge in my obsy a few years ago before moving to a NEQ6 mount.

Can't remember the base plate size, but as long as it can bolt to the bottom of your wedge it should be fine. I used an old steel toyota brake plate scrounged from my local mechanic as the base. Worked well.