Vixen SKYPOD Altazimuth Mount - Manual (Page 15)

15
BALANCING THE TELESCOPE (Balancing in altitude motion)
Balancing an optical tube with tube rings and
dovetail tube plate.
(i.e. A70Lf, A80Mf, R130Sf and ED80Sf telescopes)
Loosen the tube ring lock knobs so the optical tube
can slide. Hold the optical tube in the horizontal
position with the dovetail tube plate up and slide the
tube until it's balanced under the center of the plate.
Balancing the VMC110L optical tube
Find the rough center of
balance by holding the
dovetail slide bar of the
VMC110L as shown.
Attach it to the SKYPOD
with this point centered
in the dovetail mount.
Be sure to attach the finder scope, eyepiece, and any other accessories before proceeding.
Proceed to step 5 if the finder scope is already installed in its bracket.
Attaching the Finder Scope (ED80Sf)
Tube Ring Lock Knob Tube Ring Lock Knob
Dovetail Slide Bar Dovetail Slide Bar
Slide the rubber O-ring onto the eyepiece end
of the finder. There are two grooves on the finder
tube. Position the O-ring on the narrow groove
at the middle of the finder scope.
Tighten the two adjust-
ment screws so that the
finder scope is aligned
as shown in the figure.
Back out the adjustment
screws on the finder
bracket to allow passage
of the finder scope.
(Make sure the adjust-
ment screws do not
fall off the bracket.)
Pull up the fixed stud
on the bracket ring so
that the finder tube can
slide into the bracket
ring from its eyepiece
end. Release the fixed
stud into the wide gro-
ove on the finder tube.
Attach the finder bra-
cket as shown in the
figure. Tighten the fin-
der bracket lock screw
securely. Loosen the finder bra-
cket lock screw on the
telescope.
Finder Bracket
Lock Screw
Finder Bracket
Lock Screw
O-ring Groove
Finder Scope
Groove
Adjustment
Screws
Finder Bracket
Adjustment
Screws
Finder Bracket
Lock Screw
Finder Bracket
Lock Screw
Adjustment
Screws
Finder Bracket
Adjustment
Screws
Optical Tube with Tube Rings
VMC110L Optical Tube
Take great care in holding a telescope this way
as there is a much greater risk of dropping it.
Normally you should hold the tube from under-
neath.
Warning!
PREPARATION