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Got my Cheshire Collimator---proper way to use it?
Last post 08-15-2008 08:35 AM by johnm. 6 replies.
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  • 08-14-2008 12:13 PM

    Got my Cheshire Collimator---proper way to use it?

    Finally broke down and got a cheshire collimator from scopestuff. I also have the orion lasermate deluxe. What is the proper way to  use this?

     

    thanks

     Steve

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  • 08-14-2008 03:24 PM In reply to

    Re: Got my Cheshire Collimator---proper way to use it?

    There is an excellent tutorial at this site:

    http://www.andysshotglass.com/Collimating.html

    It should help you out.

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  • 08-14-2008 05:37 PM In reply to

    Re: Got my Cheshire Collimator---proper way to use it?

     Steve,

    After you get the basics down, the Andys Shot Glass article is great, then check your seconary alignment in the normal manner. Instead of the paper ring on the mirror that most have now for using a laser, make a square of something black. I use plain old electrical tape, with a hole in the center to reflect a laser beam in case I ever use one. With my cheshire a square about 5/16 to 3/8 is about right. You want a square the size of the black occluded spot of the cheshire. When properly collimated you will see the 4 tiny corners of the square sticking out of the cheshire spot. A triangle works too, you just need those tiny points to know when you are perfectly aligned.

    After you think you are collimated, you can reach in the top of the tube and gently twist the secondary to and fro, you'll see the black square move in and out of center of the cheshire spot. I have an old junky, and also pretty dirty, 6X30 finder I stick on the cheshire and can see a really magnified image, I can dial the secondary in just about as close as I can get it with the auto collimator. 

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  • 08-14-2008 06:41 PM In reply to

    Re: Got my Cheshire Collimator---proper way to use it?

    Hi John,

     

    thanks for the info. I dont have a way to reach down in the scope. It has a corrector plate on top. I got it setup where the both crosshairs are lined up and the circles are all centered. The only thing that does not look right is the view of the secondary(the black part) its pointed to about 5 pm in an oval. Is that what its suppose to be like?

     Also I dont want to take out the primary mirror to put the tape on. I'm not that qualified yet. LOL

     Steve

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  • 08-14-2008 07:12 PM In reply to

    Re: Got my Cheshire Collimator---proper way to use it?

     Oh, you've got a Schmidt-Newt don't you. Let me think about it, Those things are a pain because you can't get in there and move things around. I'll read through my old Menard book again and try to fit a SN in with a classical newt.

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  • 08-15-2008 08:29 AM In reply to

    Re: Got my Cheshire Collimator---proper way to use it?

    Thanks for the support John. Its appreciated

     Steve

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    www.theurbansky.com
    Meade LXD75 SN8
    Astrotech AT66
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  • 08-15-2008 08:35 AM In reply to

    Re: Got my Cheshire Collimator---proper way to use it?

    Steve,

    I'm going to get a PM or email off to you before too long. 

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