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Dual scope alignment

Equatorial Mount Equipment Intermediate Buying Advice Help Needed
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Christian Bennich avatar
Christian Bennich avatar

I am trying to build a dual rig with a redcat 51 and a Touptek Hope D60.

Last thing missing is to figure out scope alignment.

I am guiding and controlling the scope from the D60 as it has a slightly longer focal length.

I use a SAL-33 mount.

What’s the best way to align my Redcat to the D60?

Is it something like this:

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/misc/jtd-dual-rig-telescope-alignment-saddle.html

Or one of these:

https://admaccessories.com/product-category/miscellaneous/altaz-aiming-devices/

I am in doubt what the solution should be.

Any insight or advise is much appreciated.

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Alex Nicholas avatar
Alex Nicholas avatar

Either of those will work.. You’ll only need one, as you just align the secondary scope with the primary, you should never be so far out of alignment that you need to use two to get enough tolerance. Especially when you consider that you have a 280mm focal length on your primary scope and 250mm focal length on the secondary… Getting the fields to completely overlap should be quite simple.

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Tony Gondola avatar
Tony Gondola avatar

Depending on how they are mounted You might be able to get a pretty good alignment just by working the play in the mounting holes and maybe a shim or two. I would certainly set it up first and see how far off it is before spending hundreds on a commercial solution you might not need. Then again I am a cheapskate…:)

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Christian Bennich avatar
Christian Bennich avatar

I decided after a couple of nights, that my sleep was more important that fiddling 😄

Bought an adjustable saddle - problem solved in less than 90 seconds.

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