iOptron Cube Counterweight shaft

The Cube Counterweight shaft allows you to add counterweights to a Cube-style mount. This is critical for balancing the telescope, especially after adding heavier accessories like a DSLR camera or a large 2" eyepiece. Proper balance reduces strain on the mount's motors and gears, resulting in smoother tracking and more accurate GoTo slewing.

The most important specification to check is the thread. This shaft uses an M14 female thread. Your mount must have a corresponding M14 male threaded post for this shaft to attach correctly. Please verify your mount's specifications before purchasing.

This shaft has a diameter of 19 mm (0.74 in.). It is compatible with any counterweight that has a center bore slightly larger than 19 mm. These are common sizes for smaller mounts and star trackers.

It depends on how you are using it. For visual use with standard 1.25" eyepieces, a 90mm Maksutov is usually light enough not to require counterweights. However, if you add a heavy 2" diagonal, a large eyepiece, or a camera to the back, the scope will become back-heavy. In that scenario, this 150 mm shaft and a small counterweight would be necessary to restore balance.

Yes, this is an ideal use case. An 80mm refractor, especially with a field flattener and DSLR or dedicated astronomy camera attached, creates a significant load that must be balanced. The 150 mm length of this shaft provides the leverage needed to offset that kind of imaging payload, ensuring your mount can track smoothly for astrophotography.

The shaft itself is made of solid metal and is very strong. However, the total counterweight capacity is determined by your mount's payload rating, not the shaft itself. Always refer to your mount's manual for its maximum payload capacity and ensure your combined telescope and counterweight load does not exceed it.