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Old 12-02-2011, 04:33 PM
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marc4darkskies (Marcus)
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marc4darkskies is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Quialigo, NSW
Posts: 3,143
DIY Scope Adaptor Plate

Well, I'm still waiting for the pier mounting plate from Advanced Telescope Systems and the Casady scope adaptor plate was a dud - it didn't fit into the PME's dovetail!!! So, I decided to make my own - how hard can it be, right??

I got a piece of 20mm thick plate cut to 200x400mm (same width as the PME's Versa-Plate). I carefully measured and drilled 8 (2 sets of 4) 11mm countersunk holes to accept the M10 socket head bolts the TOA-150 rings need. The 2 sets of holes forward and rear allow grose balancing ability. There are also 14 1/4 - 20 threaded holes carefully measured to match the pattern on the Versa-Plate. This is enough to allow me to move it up and down the Versa-plate in small increments for balance. It will be attached to the Versa-Plate with 8 bolts.

There are advantages to a DIY bolted plate anyway. It's a more stable connection with 8 bolts and positive contact over a large area of the Versa-Plate. I can also modify it if need be too.

Bottom of plate:
http://www.pbase.com/gailmarc/image/132463560/large

Attached to PME:
http://www.pbase.com/gailmarc/image/132463624/large
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