Delux Laser Collimator

[netwolf]

Has anyone used one of these looks like the orion one from bintel but with 2" adapter. I have also seen it on Saxon's website.
http://www.batsc.com.au/tr/TR_BTS.NS...A?OpenDocument

Is this only for primary adjustment or can it be used for secondary alignment also.

I am in the market for a collimation tool for by 10" dob. My dob does not have a center spot on it.

Please advise.
I have seen the posts on the cheshiere from Andrews, but it does not look long enough to be a good sight tube. Does Andrew sell a longer version?
Does anyone have expereince with Andrew's laser collimators?

Regards

[Starkler (Geoff)]

Almost any of the telescope dealers can sell you a longer combo cheshire/site tube which will do the job with far more certainty than a laser.

Centre spotting a primary isnt a hard thing to do.

[BC]

Andrews do sell a longer combo tube. It is the Celestron unit but it isn't kept in stock. I don't know what the turnaround time is for order/delivery.

[Roger Davis]

Yep, it's on our website! There will be a modification to the next batch which will make the face at 45° and so easier to see from your position when you are adjusting the primary mirror. We sell it with full instructions on how to collimate the system, including how to drop your diagonal etc. The Cheshire we sell also has the same instructions, length is 140mm, same as the Celestron Cheshire and it's in stock. Sorry if I have breached any protocols here regarding advertising, but I had to set the record (and spelling!) straight.

[davidpretorius]

Thanks roger, what is your website?

[ausastronomer (John Bambury)]

Originally Posted by Roger Davis

Yep, it's on our website! There will be a modification to the next batch which will make the face at 45° and so easier to see from your position when you are adjusting the primary mirror.

Roger,

Thats an ESSENTIAL modification IMO and glad to see you picked up on it quickly. I own an EZ-collimator which has the angled face and I couldn't imagine using it without the angled face. Makes life so easy at the back of the scope. From the pictures and after the angle mod it looks like it will be a nice unit.

Netwolf,

I recommend you also buy a cheshire/sight tube of the "correct" focal ratio to suit your scope. I own both devices and use them both, but if you can only afford 1 device I think the Cheshire/Sight Tube is more benefit than the laser collimator due to its ability to adjust the secondary tilt and positioning as well as the primary mirror tilt.

CS-John B

[netwolf]

Thanks Roger and John,
I have bought the Orion C/ST, because the information i have found showed this to be the work horse tool used by most people.

The laser seems to be only usefull for the final check in most collimation procedures i have read. Is this incorrect, can it be used for the whole collimation process?

I have also found information on barlowed lasers being better, and also these do not require a center spot on the primary.