What is the purpose of the Orion Optics UK 450mm Base Plate?
The 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.
What kind of telescopes would use a 450mm base plate?
A 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.
Is the Orion Optics UK Base Plate pre-drilled for tube rings?
No, this is a universal base plate and comes undrilled. 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.
How do I attach this 450mm base plate to my equatorial mount?
This 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.
What are the exact dimensions of this Orion Optics UK plate?
The plate has the following dimensions:
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Length: 450mm
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Width: 4 inches
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Thickness: 10mm
Why use a separate base plate instead of mounting rings directly to a dovetail?
A 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.
