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Hi darkskybondi,
Just wanted to let you know that when I started with my GSO ASDX 12” Dob, I was so hung up on collimation and ran into all sorts of trouble when I first started using the scope. I soon found it was best to collimate after I had setup as even gently moving the scope from inside to outside would knock it out of alignment.
I pretty much do it exactly the way you described it in your first post above...unless I have read it wrong. I get good results now just using the GSO laser technique. I first check after setting it all up, exactly where I want it by looking down the tube and if necessary use the secondary to align up the dot in the middle of primary. I NOTE that when I get my laser dead centre in the Primary, that the GSO laser dot splits into what looks like two dots as it is centred over the O-ring sticker...(this does not seem to effect the return beam as I then check via adjusting the primary mirror screws.
I to ran into problems with tight and loose screws on the primary end of things...things were pretty tight to begin with, however as I would screw up the collimation from lack of experience, I believe it was my fault that led to a screw so loose it fell out. Basically I readjusted all the screws so they were tight and no doubt out of alignment J ... anyways I just kept at it and finally am able to rip the whole assembly apart for cleaning, put it all back together and re-align the optics with my GSO laser and nothing else. (so far I have not needed to adjust the springs however before blaming the springs and as a last resort I would also adjust the springs to redistribute the load on each collimation screw to assist in finding the sweet spot)
I am not suggesting that you should so a complete break down of your scope to learn. I just wanted to let you know, that I ran into similar problems...pretty much identical to yours and with persistence and a bit of reading on here, was able to become proficient at collimating my scope. The biggest tip I got from here was the in/out of focus technique for checking your collimation performance...I find I can tell a lot using it for my fine tuning.
When you get good at it...you will not only find stars much better to look at...but you will become better at seeing more detail in the texture of interstellar dust & the like...well that is what I tell myselfJ...I always do much better as I try to bullseye my return beam...I know some people will tell you, & perhaps they are right to some degree, that alignment only a little out will give a pretty good result...and I agree with things like the moon or other bright object, with the right mix of eye-pieces and so forth...but nothing beats perfect collimation...and I believe you can do it, with just the GSO laser and the in/out focus method...just look after the laser and it will look after you.
Excuse the rantJ...I needed to butter myself up on collimation...It took me quite a while to perfect it...but once it happens...you’ll always enjoy the challenge of perfection. You’ll find what works for...just be persistent with it is all.
Later man...
Dave
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