{"product_id":"orion-optics-uk-base-plate-450mm-long-4-wide-x-10mm","title":"Orion Optics UK Base Plate 450mm length","description":"\u003cul class=\"DAV-feature-list\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e450mm Length\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e4-inch Width\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e10mm Thickness\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProvides a rigid mounting surface for telescope tube rings\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\u003eBase Plate 450mm length\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Orion Optics UK Base Plate provides a solid 450mm mounting platform for your optical tube assembly. Machined from a 10mm thick plate with a 4-inch width, it ensures a rigid, flex-free connection between your telescope and the mounting rings, preserving the pointing accuracy demanded by high-resolution optics.\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\u003e450mm x 10mm: A Rigid Mounting Platform for Orion Optics UK OTAs\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis base plate serves as the critical mechanical interface between your telescope's tube rings and the dovetail bar that connects to your mount. Its substantial 10mm thickness and 450mm length distribute the load evenly, preventing the flexure that can ruin long exposures and compromise the performance of high-end optical systems.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDesigned to complement the uncompromising quality of Orion Optics UK telescopes, this plate ensures your mechanical setup is as precise as your optics. As a universal base plate, it is supplied undrilled, allowing you to customize the hole pattern to perfectly match the spacing of your specific tube rings and dovetail bar for a truly custom fit.\u003c\/p\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 purpose of the Orion Optics UK 450mm Base Plate?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion-A\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 450mm Base Plate acts as a rigid, flat surface to connect your telescope's tube rings to a dovetail bar. Its primary function is to eliminate flexure in the mounting system, ensuring that the optical tube remains perfectly aligned with the mount for stable pointing and imaging.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"DAV-accordion-Q\"\u003eWhat kind of telescopes would use a 450mm base plate?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion-A\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA 450mm plate is typically used for medium to large optical tubes, such as larger Newtonian reflectors or long focal length refractors. The length is necessary to accommodate the wide spacing of tube rings required to securely hold a longer, heavier telescope tube without inducing mechanical stress or flex.\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 tube rings?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion-A\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo, this is a universal base plate and comes \u003cstrong\u003eundrilled\u003c\/strong\u003e. This allows you, the user, to drill mounting holes that precisely match the specific spacing of your tube rings and dovetail bar, ensuring a perfect, customized fit for your equipment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"DAV-accordion-Q\"\u003eHow do I attach this 450mm base plate to my equatorial mount?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion-A\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis plate is not a dovetail bar and does not attach directly to a mount saddle. You would typically attach your telescope tube rings to the top of this plate, and then attach a standard dovetail bar (e.g., Losmandy D-style or Vixen V-style) to the bottom of the plate. The dovetail bar then slides into your mount's saddle.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"DAV-accordion-Q\"\u003eWhat are the exact dimensions of this Orion Optics UK plate?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion-A\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe plate has the following dimensions:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLength:\u003c\/strong\u003e 450mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWidth:\u003c\/strong\u003e 4 inches\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThickness:\u003c\/strong\u003e 10mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"DAV-accordion-Q\"\u003eWhy use a separate base plate instead of mounting rings directly to a dovetail?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion-A\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA thick base plate like this 10mm version provides significantly more rigidity than a standard dovetail bar alone, especially over a long 450mm span. This prevents the dovetail from bowing under the weight of the OTA, which is a common source of image shift and tracking errors in astrophotography.\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\u003e450mm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWidth\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4 inches\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\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eManufacturer\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrion Optics UK\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\"\u003eBase Plate 450mm length\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":52942500856093,"sku":"OOUK-BASE-PLATE-450MM-4-WIDE","price":289.48,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0753\/5280\/1565\/files\/Orion-Optics-UK-Logo_8b067df4-aa1b-4a8b-a275-dae9412000ec.jpg?v=1789607765","url":"https:\/\/davidastro.com\/en-us\/products\/orion-optics-uk-base-plate-450mm-long-4-wide-x-10mm","provider":"David Astro","version":"1.0","type":"link"}