I have a Losmandy Universal Plate and just recently got a pair of WO rings for my 80mm Megrez scope. Just wondering if anyone knows what Screws i need to directly fit this to the DUP. Is this advisable or should there be a step up adapter to distance the rings a bit higher fromt he plate. The DUP I have is a full length Lodmandy one. The screws i have seem a bit long and dont quiet provide a tight fit between ring and DUP. I am not sure of the thread on these. But if some one can advise a equivalent from Bunnings I would be grate full. I want to put one ring int Sloted section of the DUP and another in a fixed hole further down.
I only got 2 pairs of Screws with the WO rings which are just what is needed to add the 100mm WO guide rings I have on top. The guide rings will hold the 100ED Borg for now. Until i work out some way to adapt the Borg Clam shells to the WO rings. Might have to call on my good friend Barry again for this, as it requires mechanical skills beyond my ability.
I should probably get rid of the longer DUP and get the shorter one. Maybe even get the WO one. Would this be a better way to go?
Go for the WO one if you can... The WO machined rings are metric sizing, and as far as im aware, the DUP's are imperial... I only say this because ADM accessories sell a Metric and Imperial D plate, stating that the metric one is for use with WO rings..
(I've got the ADM Metric D plate for my WO scopes.. perfect fit.)
Alex, the screw i have seems to fit fine through the space in my DUP (using the holes with no threads in them) but the problem is the length of the screw. Where did you get your screws from?
Also the scre seem to be the correct thread for the Rings. I guess i may have to just cut the screw.
I had to get some screws from the local bolt shop for this with my Losmandy DUPS. Basically I showed them the WO version and had them order some "Stainless socket head cap screws" in half the length. I did this when I was swapping out all of my Celestron screws with decent stainless machine screws, so while I have a list of screw sizes, I'm not exactly certain which ones were used for this
I do know that I am much happier with the results.
Fahim,
without actually pulling mine to pieces, I recall them having more than the two holes (certainly in the top section anyway), so the suggestion is go visit a local bolt shop, I use a machinist supply shop, specializing in screw fittings.
Take the plate, and the rings in and get them to supply what you want. Get stainless and allen head cap screws. Seems like a bit of effort, but far better than two trips.You can show them thew screws you have that are too long, but at the end of the day taking all the pieces will be the safest and best.
Gary
From what I can gather on the WO yahoo group it seems that the WO Losmandy Dovetail does not actually work in a Losmandy Saddle (strange). Apparently its a bit wider. And the WO Saddle is also wider and as such a Losmandy dovetail does not fit snugley and securely in it. You really need to buy the Combo WO Dovetail and Saddle.
Further WO Rings have a central and two pairs of offset holes, but no dovetail on the market other than the WO caters for these. So you have to use only the central hole to fit it. While this would be fine, it does mean you could potentially get some movement in the rings.
I would like to hear from others who have WO Scopes with WO rings on a Losmandy mount what there of the shelf solution was and or custom solutions they have come up with. Some pictures would be nice.
I think i will need to go custom, as I am concerned the WO rings would sit to close to the DUP if connected directly and could obstruct the Dew shield and or Focuser.
Barry did this for me last time with the Borg 100ED. See the pics the silver metal bar in between the DUP and the Borg Rings. May have to do something the similar again.
Custom is where we are at Fahim. My dovetails are all homebrew, so no holes to start with. If you know someone with a mill go that way.
Having said that, the W/O combo, or W/O dovetail only is not all that expensive, so this is another "right from the start" option.
Gary
Alex,
I started out with some 12x100 alloy, but it does depend on what you are wanting.
12mm is plenty, perhaps an overkill.
The last lot were from 9x75, and this works well.
You need someone with a mill, and a 60º cutter, I bought mine and the guy that did it for me used my cutter.
Not rocket science, the trick is finding someone who will work with you, doing what you want, rather than what they always do.
Gary
Where does one go to buy aluminum suitable for making a dovetail. Is 6061-T6 (used for Losmandy and other Dovetails) available anywhere. Is this the right stuff to buy or are there better and cheaper alternatives.
Does anyone have know a place in metro Sydney for this. Is this something you can buy at Bunnings or Mitre10.
Heck, I have never asked for the alloy pedigree Fahim, just "alloy".
I got mine from a steel and tube wholesaler, but I do know Bunnings sell smaller sizes, I doubt they run as big as what you/we need, but try them.
Was searching through the forums and found Trevor's custom side by side plate. He used two GSO Vixen Saddles adapters on a metal bar to give him a side by side setup. I have a Vixen dovetail for my Borg Rings. And I am sure i can easily get one for my WO Rings. This will give me a side by side setup on my DUP plate. Will still need to get some holes drilled in the DUP, to fit the Saddles. I even have a Vixen dovetail for my C8.
That will work, but you're forgoing the stability of the D-Plates.... I suppose, none of those scopes really require the extra support.. I'm in the process of converting my setup to D-plates, as the C11 just doenst look secure on a vixen rail....
Alex, for the Refractors I think the D Plate would not be required. I do agree for the C8 and bigger it would be better of on a D saddle/plate combo. But I can always get a D Saddle later and add that to one end of the Side by side when i need to use it for the C8. Essentially I am using the DUP as a Tandem base plate for the Side by Side setup.
