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The three stainless steel bolts on the adapter plate are each 12mm thick and have a tensile strength rating of at least 70kg/sqmm. The bolts are 65mm long, and once the securing nuts and washers are fixed there will only be a maximum of 10mm of exposed thread per bolt, even less if level is acheived with minimal adjustment. The bolts are also threaded through the top plate of the pier to minimise any potential movement. The top and adapter plates are 10mm thick aluminium sheet cut to a diameter of 215mm, with the bolt holes drilled at approx 90mm radius in each. Assuming a load of around 30kg (scope and mount) being placed at the center point of the plate, I am sure any potential flexure of the plate would more than likely be of little or no consequence. In fact, when you think about it, the only forces in play should be the movement of the scope around the RA/DEC axes of the mount, with perhaps a minor amount of torque force from the mount motors being transferred to the pier during acceleration/decceleration of motors, but not neccessarily during normal tracking.
Hope I haven't rambled on too much.
Cheers,
Steve Bain
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