-
Starlight Instruments Machined Base to Fit Telescopes Existing Mounting Holes
This custom machined base from Starlight Instruments is the definitive solution for mounting a high-end Feather Touch focuser onto a telescope that lacks a standard-fit adapter. It allows you to upgrade your instrument's most critical component without the need to permanently alter your optical tube by drilling new holes. By creating a base that precisely matches your telescope's existing mounting pattern, Starlight Instruments provides a seamless, professional, and fully reversible upgrade path for your telescope.
A No-Drill Solution for Your Telescope
For owners of vintage, rare, or simply non-standard telescopes, upgrading the focuser has often meant a compromise: drill new holes or accept the limitations of the original equipment. This custom base eliminates that choice. Starlight Instruments will machine a base plate specifically for your instrument, using its factory mounting holes as the template.
This approach ensures a perfect fit that maintains the structural integrity and originality of your telescope. The result is a rock-solid platform for a Feather Touch focuser that feels like a factory installation, providing the rigidity needed for heavy imaging trains and critical visual observation without any modification to the tube itself.
The Starlight Instruments Precision Standard
Every custom base is machined in-house at Starlight Instruments in Columbia City, Indiana, USA, the same shop that makes their Feather Touch focusers.
-
Perfect Alignment: The base is engineered to ensure the focuser is perfectly square to the optical axis, a critical requirement for achieving sharp, coma-free images across the field.
-
Guaranteed Compatibility: Because it is made to order, the base guarantees a secure, wobble-free connection between your specific telescope and your new Feather Touch focuser.
-
How do I order a Starlight Instruments custom machined base?
Ordering a custom base is a collaborative process. Please contact us with the make and model of your telescope, as well as the specific Feather Touch focuser you intend to mount. We will then work with you and Starlight Instruments to gather the necessary measurements or templates to begin production.
What information will I need to provide for my Starlight Instruments custom base?
To ensure a perfect fit, you will likely need to provide precise measurements of your telescope's existing mounting hole pattern. This often involves creating a "rubbing" or a detailed drawing with center-to-center distances for each hole. In some cases, photographs of the mounting area may also be required. We will guide you through the specific information needed for your project.
Why is using a custom base for my telescope better than drilling new holes?
Using a custom base that fits existing holes offers several key advantages:
-
Preserves Resale Value: Drilling permanent holes in a telescope tube, especially a classic or high-end model, can significantly reduce its value. A custom base makes the upgrade completely reversible.
-
Maintains Structural Integrity: It avoids compromising the optical tube with new holes that could introduce stress or flexure.
-
Ensures Proper Alignment: It guarantees the focuser is mounted correctly without the risk of misalignment from hand-drilled holes.
What is the typical lead time for a Starlight Instruments custom machined base?
Because each base is a custom, made-to-order part, lead times can vary depending on the complexity of the design and the current production schedule at Starlight Instruments. Please contact us for a current estimate based on your specific requirements.
Will this custom base be compatible with accessories like the Focuser Boss II?
This base is purely a mechanical adapter to mount the focuser itself. It does not interfere with the focuser's operation or its compatibility with electronic accessories like the Starlight Instruments Focuser Boss II or Handy Stepper Motor (HSM). Your focuser will function exactly as it would with a standard base.
-
| Compatibility |
Custom machined to fit your telescope's existing mounting holes |
| Manufacturing |
Machined in-house in the USA |
-
-
Starlight Instruments Machined Base to Fit Telescopes Existing Mounting Holes
× 1
- Starlight Instruments 2-Year Warranty
