Assembly of the Optical Tube

Encoder wood screw

Bumper

Altitude encoder assembly

Figure 16. Install the bumper into the pilot hole above the altitude encoder assembly using one of the encoder wood screws.

Encoder connector board

Altitude encoder board assembly

Altitude	Vertical stop knob
encoder cable

Cable clips

Azimuth encoder cable

Figure 17. Recommended cable routing and cable clip placement. If you don’t intend to disassemble the base routinely for transport, you could use additional cable clips.

from its jack on the altitude encoder board and from the clip at the bottom of the right side panel. Both cables could be left connected to the encoder connector board on the left side panel.

22.Insert one end of the controller coil cable into the larger of the two jacks on the top of the IntelliScope Object Locator. Insert the other end into the “IntelliScope Computerized Controller Port” in the left panel of the Dobsonian base.

23.Two hook-and-loop strips (one strip of “hooks” and one strip of “loops”) have been provided to hang the IntelliScope Object Locator in a convenient location on the base when not in use. Place the “hooks” strip on the back of the controller, and the “loops” strip on the base in a convenient spot. Make certain the location of the strip on the base will not cause the Object Locator to inter- fere with the motions of the telescope. We recommend the placement shown in Figure 1. You may want to con- sider using the optional holster instead of the supplied hook-and-loop strips. The holster is a metal holder cus- tom designed to fit the IntelliScope Object Locator. When installed at the top of the Dobsonian base, it provides a firm mounting for the Object Locator at a convenient posi- tion for easy access. The Object Locator can be removed or kept in the holster during use.

24.Slide the battery cover off the back of the Object Locator and insert the 9-volt alkaline battery. Make sure the posi- tive and negative terminals of the battery are oriented as shown in the bottom of the battery compartment. Replace the battery cover.

25.Attach the handle (M in Figure 7) to the front brace (B) with the two handle screws. Place one handle washer on each screw, then press the handle against the front brace (the end of the handle with the Orion logo should be fac- ing upwards). Thread the screws from the interior surface of the front brace into the handle until tight using the sup- plied crescent wrench.

26.Thread the vertical stop knob into the threaded insert on the inside of the front brace (B) until just tight (Figure 17). The position of the vertical stop is adjusted by add- ing or removing one or more of the supplied thick and/ or thin washers. Adjusting the vertical stop is required when using the IntelliScope Object Locator, since the optical tube must point precisely vertical during the ini- tial alignment procedure. The manual included with the IntelliScope Object Locator kit details the procedure for adjusting the vertical stop. Once the vertical stop is prop- erly adjusted, it should not need to be adjusted again for subsequent observing sessions.

27.The aluminum eyepiece rack holds three 1.25" eyepieces and one 2" eyepiece in a convenient place on the base, within easy reach while you’re observing. Above the oval cutout in the left side panel you will notice two pilot holes located approximately 6" apart. Thread the eyepiece rack screws into the holes with a Phillips screwdriver until the screw heads are about 1/8" from being flush with the side panel. Place the large portion of the eyepiece rack’s “keyhole” mounting slots over the two screw heads, then slide the rack downward. If you want to be able to remove the rack for transport or storage of the telescope, be sure the screws are loose enough so you can lift the rack and remove it from the base through the large opening of the “keyhole.” If you wish to permanently attach the rack to the base, tighten the two screws until the rack is secured in place.

The primary mirror is shipped in its cell separately from the optical tube, to prevent possible damage to both the mirror and the optical tube. Once the primary mirror is installed in the telescope, there will be no need to remove the mirror, except if cleaning is necessary (see “Cleaning Mirrors”).

First, the mirror will be installed into the tube, then, the upper and lower sections of the tube will be assembled together with the truss poles.