Figure 3: Cut the tip off the paper wedge.
Make sure the template is still clean; place the paper template over the surface of the primary mirror. Carefully register the tem- plate edge with the edge of the mirror (Figure 4). Now, take one of the supplied collimation tar- gets and affix it to the center of the mirror’s surface through the hole of the paper template (Figure 5). The center of the pri- mary mirror is now marked, and you can reinstall the primary mir- ror in the telescope (Figure 6).
Note About Centering the Secondary Mirror Under the Focuser
Centering the secondary mirror under the focuser is an adjustment that can be made with the aid of the LaserMate Deluxe, but it requires marking the center of the secondary mirror in the same way the center of the primary mirror was marked. This is generally undesirable due to the large area of the supplied collimation targets compared to the total area of the secondary mirror. Since centering the secondary mirror under the focuser is an adjustment that very rarely, if ever, needs to be done, we recommend simply making this adjust- ment by eye. Again, refer to the collimation instructions in your telescope’s manual for the procedure on how to do this.
If you wish to use the LaserMate Deluxe for centering the secondary mirror under the focuser, refer to the appendix
Figure 4: Place the template on the mirror surface and carefully register its edge.
Figure 5: Affix the ring label to the mirror surface through the hole in the template.
Note: For mirror cells that use mirror clips to secure the primary mirror in place, it is important not to overtighten the mirror clips. For Orion reflector telescopes, tighten the mirror clip anchor screws until just snug, and then back off each screw by 1/2 turn. Overtightened mirror clips will put stress on the primary mirror's figure, and will introduce astigmatism into the optical system as a result.
Figure 6: The primary mirror’s center is now marked, and it is ready to be reinstalled.
section at the end of this manual.
Figure 7a, 7b: The LaserMate Deluxe fits directly into the drawtube of 1.25" focusers (left). If you have a 2" focuser, you will need to use an optional
Adjusting the Tilt of the Secondary Mirror
The first collimation adjustment made with the LaserMate Deluxe will be to adjust the tilt of the secondary mirror.
Insert the LaserMate Deluxe into your telescope’s focuser drawtube (Figure 7). Secure it in place with the thumbscrew on the drawtube. Then turn the LaserMate Deluxe on by turn- ing its thumbscrew clockwise.
Before looking into the optical tube, take a sheet of white paper and place it across the front aperture of the telescope. If you see a red laser spot on the sheet of paper, then your telescope is considerably out of collimation (Figure 8). Take note of the position of the red spot, and be careful not to place your eye in that posi- tion. Remember, it is safe to view the reflection of the laser beam off mirror sur- faces as long as the beam is
Before You Begin Collimating Using the
not directed into your eye.
LaserMate Deluxe
Accurate collimation of your telescope’s optics using the LaserMate Deluxe will most easily be achieved if you do a rough collimation of the optics with your eye first. This is because if the optics are grossly misaligned, it may be con- fusing to interpret which surfaces the laser is being reflected off of. Refer to your telescope’s instruction manual for the pro- cedure on how to do a rough collimation with your eye.
Red laser spot
Figure 8: Place a piece of white paper in front of the open tube. If you see a laser spot on the paper, be careful not to place your eye in that position.
Look down the front of the optical tube. Remember to keep your eyes clear of any direct reflections of the beam. Notice the red spot on the surface of the primary mirror itself; this is the laser beam being reflected from
2
