Slot

Groove

Screws at the back-end of the bracket

Locking Knobs

Fig. 48: Mounting the SC bracket and optical tube to the mount.

 

 

e

 

 

lid

 

rd

S

 

 

 

 

 

 

a

 

 

rw

 

 

o

 

 

F

 

 

 

Screws at the back-end of the bracket

Fig. 49: Adjusting the balance of the optical tube when using heavy acces- sories.

APPENDIX E: MOUNTING THE MODEL SC-8 SCHMIDT- CASSEGRAIN OPTICAL TUBE

How to Attach the Optical Tube to the Mount

The LXD55 model SC-8 Schmidt-Cassegrain assembles and operates identically to all the other LXD55 models equipped with an Autostar handbox, with one exception: the optical tube is attached to the mount with a mounting bracket rather than the cra- dle ring assembly. The optical tube is shipped with the mounting bracket already attached. To attach the mounting bracket /optical tube assembly to the mount, perform the following steps.

1.Perform steps 1 through 6 as described in HOW TO ASSEMBLE YOUR TELESCOPE, pages 11 and 12.

2.Slide the mounting bracket into the cradle assembly mounting slot. For most applications, set the groove in the bracket next to the cradle locking knob, so that the bolt of the cradle locking knob will enter the groove when the knob is tight- ened. Tighten both the cradle locking knob and the secondary locking knob to a firm feel. See Fig. 48.

If you are using heavy accessories (such as a camera, microfocuser, etc.) on the back end of the tube, you may need to balance the tube differently to keep the tube from drifting downward: Slide the mounting bracket and tube forward, until the screws at the back end of the tray touch the mount. See Figs. 48 and 49. Then tighten the cradle locking knob and the secondary locking knob to a firm feel.

3.Continue the assembly with step 9 as described in HOW TO ASSEMBLE YOUR TEL- ESCOPE, page12, and complete all the subsequent steps. All other procedures are identical as described earlier in this manual.

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Meade LXD55 How to Attach the Optical Tube to the Mount, Mounting the SC bracket and optical tube to the mount