{"product_id":"orion-optics-uk-base-plate-250mm-long-4-wide-x-10mm","title":"Orion Optics UK Base Plate - 250mm Length","description":"\u003cul class=\"DAV-feature-list\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLength: 250mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWidth: 4 inches\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThickness: 10mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProvides a stable, non-flexing mounting surface\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIdeal for custom telescope and astrophotography setups\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- more --\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"tabs\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"active\"\u003eDescription\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFAQ\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIn the Box\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWarranty\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"tabs-content\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"active\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-bg-light\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-section-center\"\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eOrion Optics UK Base Plate - 250mm Length\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Orion Optics UK Base Plate delivers a solid 250mm long mounting surface essential for custom telescope assemblies and demanding astrophotography applications. Machined from a solid 10mm thick plate and measuring 4 inches wide, it offers a stable, non-flexing foundation for securely attaching heavy tube rings and other imaging accessories.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-bg-light\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-section\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eA Rigid 250mm x 4\" Foundation for Custom Telescope Builds\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn astrophotography, mechanical flexure is the primary enemy of sharp images. This 250mm base plate is engineered to provide the structural rigidity needed to eliminate that variable. Its substantial 10mm thickness and 4-inch width create a wide, stable platform that resists the bending and twisting forces exerted by heavy optical tubes and imaging trains.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUnlike narrower dovetail bars, this plate provides a broad contact area for tube rings, distributing the load more effectively and ensuring a secure, shift-free connection between your telescope and mount. This makes it an ideal component for amateur telescope makers and imagers building custom systems that require precise, reliable hardware mounting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eZero-Flexure Support:\u003c\/strong\u003e The 10mm plate thickness ensures your optical tube remains perfectly aligned with the mount, which is critical for accurate tracking and guiding during long exposures.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWide Mounting Surface:\u003c\/strong\u003e At 4 inches wide, the plate accommodates large-diameter tube rings and provides ample space for custom-drilled mounting patterns.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eVersatile DIY Platform:\u003c\/strong\u003e Supplied as a solid plate, it allows you to drill and tap mounting holes precisely where your specific hardware requires them, guaranteeing a perfect fit for your rings and mount saddle.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"DAV-accordion-Q\"\u003eWhat is the primary purpose of the Orion Optics UK 250mm Base Plate?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion-A\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe primary purpose of the Orion Optics UK 250mm Base Plate is to provide an exceptionally rigid, flat mounting surface to connect telescope tube rings to a mount saddle. Its 10mm thickness and 4-inch width are designed to minimize mechanical flexure, which is a common source of tracking errors and blurred stars in astrophotography.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"DAV-accordion-Q\"\u003eHow would I use this 250mm base plate with a 10-inch Newtonian OTA?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion-A\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor a 10-inch Newtonian, you would attach a pair of correctly sized tube rings to the base plate, spacing them for optimal balance and stability. You would then attach the entire plate assembly to your equatorial mount's saddle. The 250mm length and 4-inch width provide a much more stable foundation for a large OTA than a standard, narrower dovetail bar.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"DAV-accordion-Q\"\u003eIs the Orion Optics UK Base Plate pre-drilled for mounting?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion-A\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe provided data does not specify a pre-drilled hole pattern. Base plates of this type are often supplied as blanks to offer maximum flexibility. This allows you to drill and tap holes to perfectly match your specific tube rings and mount saddle, ensuring a custom, flex-free fit without compromise.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"DAV-accordion-Q\"\u003eWhat material is the 250mm Base Plate made from?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion-A\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhile the exact alloy is not specified, mounting plates for astronomical use are typically machined from high-grade aluminum. This provides an excellent combination of strength, rigidity, and low weight. The key specification for this plate's stability is its substantial \u003cstrong\u003e10mm thickness\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"DAV-accordion-Q\"\u003eIs this 250mm base plate a good choice for a side-by-side telescope setup?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion-A\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhile a single 250mm plate could be used for a very compact side-by-side rig, it is primarily designed as a mounting plate for a single optical tube. For a typical side-by-side system, you would usually use a dedicated saddle plate that attaches to a larger Losmandy- or Vixen-style dovetail bar for mounting to the telescope.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"DAV-accordion-Q\"\u003eWhy choose this 250mm base plate over a standard dovetail bar?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion-A\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA wide, 4-inch base plate provides a significantly larger and more stable contact area for your telescope's tube rings compared to a narrow dovetail bar. This superior support structure drastically reduces potential flexure and torsion, especially with heavier optical tubes, which is a critical advantage for high-resolution imaging and long exposures.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"DAV-specifications\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLength\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e250mm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWidth\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4 inches (~101.6mm)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eThickness\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e10mm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"DAV-grid\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"DAV-grid-item\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"DAV-item-title\"\u003eOrion Optics UK Base Plate 250mm\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"DAV-item-subtitle\"\u003e× 1\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/davidastro.com\/pages\/orion-optics-uk-warranty-policy\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eOrion Optics UK 1-Year Warranty\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Orion Optics UK","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52942490927389,"sku":"OOUK-BASE-PLATE-250MM-4-WIDE","price":163.71,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0753\/5280\/1565\/files\/Orion-Optics-UK-Logo_97a662cc-07fa-4129-b5e5-b6cb2036ee09.jpg?v=1789607732","url":"https:\/\/davidastro.com\/en-us\/products\/orion-optics-uk-base-plate-250mm-long-4-wide-x-10mm","provider":"David Astro","version":"1.0","type":"link"}