What is the primary purpose of the William Optics Riser Blocks?
The primary purpose of the William Optics Riser Blocks is to increase the distance between the telescope tube and the mount saddle. This provides critical clearance for large accessories like cameras and filter wheels, preventing them from hitting the mount, and offers more flexibility for achieving precise balance.
Which mounting systems are these Riser Blocks designed for?
These riser blocks are specifically designed to be compatible with William Optics Universal mounting systems. They are intended to integrate seamlessly with this hardware platform.
Will these William Optics Riser Blocks help if my camera hits my mount?
Yes. This is one of the main problems they solve. By elevating your telescope, the riser blocks create extra space that can prevent your camera body, filter wheel, or cables from colliding with the mount deck or tripod legs, especially when imaging objects near the celestial meridian.
How do the William Optics Riser Blocks improve telescope balance?
Achieving perfect balance is crucial for autoguiding and tracking. The riser blocks provide more physical room to slide your telescope's dovetail plate within the saddle. This makes it easier to counteract the weight of a heavy imaging train at the rear or a large dew shield at the front, ensuring the entire system's center of gravity is correctly positioned over the mount's axes.
What kind of hardware is needed to attach the William Optics Riser Blocks?
The blocks are designed to be installed between your telescope's tube rings or mounting plate and the dovetail bar. You will typically need longer versions of the screws you would normally use to attach your dovetail. The exact length and thread type will depend on your specific rings and dovetail bar, so you should measure to ensure a secure fit.
Can I use these William Optics blocks to mount a guide scope?
These blocks are designed to raise the entire primary telescope assembly. They are not intended for mounting a guide scope directly. To mount a guide scope, you should use a dedicated guide scope ring system attached to the top of your main telescope's tube rings or a top-mounted dovetail bar.
