User manual ORION TELESCOPES & BINOCULARS 05680

[. . . ] Next, cut out the circle you have just traced with a pair of scissors. Fold the paper circle into quarters by folding the circle precisely in half, and then folding it in half again (Figure 2). Now, cut about 1/4 inch off the tip of the paper wedge you have Figure 1: Trace the outline of the mirror on the paper. Newtonian reflectors perform at their best when their mirrors are accurately aligned. While it's not difficult to do, collimation can be a chore if you do not have the proper tools. [. . . ] the mirror clip anchor screws until just snug, and then back off each screw by 1/2 turn. Overtightened mirror clips will put stress on the primary mirror's figure, and will introduce astigmatism into the optical system as a result. Figure 7a, 7b: The LaserMate fits directly into the drawtube of 1. 25" focusers (left). If you have a 2" focuser, you will need to use an optional 2"-to-1. 25" adapter (right). Adjusting the Tilt of the Secondary Mirror The first collimation adjustment made with the LaserMate will be to adjust the tilt of the secondary mirror. Insert the LaserMate into your telescope's focuser drawtube (Figure 7). Before looking into the optical tube, take a sheet of white paper and place it across the front aperture of the telescope. If you see a red laser spot on the sheet of paper, then your telescope is considerably out of collimation (Figure 8). Take note of the position of the red spot, and be careful not to place your eye in that position. Remember, it is safe to view the reflection of red laser spot the laser beam off mirror surfaces as long as the beam is not directed into your eye. If you see a laser spot on the paper, be careful not to place your eye in that position. Remember to keep your eyes clear of any direct reflections of the beam. Notice the red spot on the surface of the primary mirror itself; this is the laser beam being reflected from the secondary mirror off the surface of the primary mirror. If it isn't, adjustments will be need to be made to the secondary mirror's tilt (Figure 9). This is done with the secondary mirror collimation screws, usually located on the central hub of the telescope's spider vane assembly. Figure 5: Affix the ring label to the mirror surface through the hole in the template. Figure 6: The primary mirror's center is now marked, and it is ready to be reinstalled. Before You Begin Collimating Using the LaserMate Accurate collimation of your telescope's optics using the LaserMate will most easily be achieved if you do a rough collimation of the optics with your eye first. This is because if the optics are grossly misaligned, it may be confusing to interpret which surfaces the laser is being reflected off of. Refer to your telescope's instruction manual for the procedure on how to do a rough collimation with your eye. Note About Centering the Secondary Mirror Under the Focuser Centering the secondary mirror under the focuser is an adjustment that can be made with the aid of the LaserMate, but it requires marking the center of the secondary mirror in 2 laser spot on primary mirror drawtube should appear similar to Figure 11. The alignment of the mirrors should not need to be adjusted again unless the telescope is moved. If you handle the telescope gently during transport, then only slight adjustments will need to be made to the mirrors. Use the LaserMate before each observing session to check and make Figure 11: When collimated, the view looking straight down the focuser drawtube should appear similar to the above image. Before After Figure 9a, 9b: To center the red laser spot on the primary mirror, you will need to adjust the tilt of the secondary mirror. Make adjustments to the telescope's secondary mirror collimation screws until the reflection of the laser beam is centered on the primary mirror. If you have marked your primary mirror, then the red spot should fall directly in the center of the collimation target. [. . . ] Battery life is approximately three hours, so remember to keep the LaserMate turned off when not in use to maximize battery life. Orion has sets of three LR-44 batteries available, so call Orion Customer 3 Before After Figure 10a, 10b: To center the return laser spot on the bottom of the LaserMate, adjust the tilt of the primary mirror. When centered, the dimmer return laser spot will disappear in the much brighter exiting laser spot. person to look at the position of the red spot, the other to make adjustments to the collimation screws. [. . . ]