the secondary mirror off the surface of the primary mirror. The red spot should be centered on the primary mirror’s surface. If it isn’t, adjustments will be need to be made to the second- ary mirror’s tilt (Figure 9). This is done with the secondary mirror collimation screws, usually located on the central hub of the telescope’s spider vane assembly.
Laser spot on primary mirror
Before | After |
Figure 9a, 9b: To center the red laser spot on the primary mirror, you will need to adjust the tilt of the secondary mirror.
Make adjustments to the telescope’s secondary mirror colli- mation screws until the reflection of the laser beam is centered on the primary mirror. If you have marked your pri- mary mirror, then the red spot should fall directly in the center of the collimation target.
Adjusting the Tilt of the Primary Mirror
The final collimation adjustment is to adjust the tilt of the pri- mary mirror. Make certain that the viewing screen on the collimator is facing the rear of the telescope. If it isn’t, loosen the securing thumbscrew on the focuser and rotate the LaserMate Deluxe until it’s viewing screen is clearly visible from the rear of the telescope. While standing at the rear of the telescope (where the primary mirror collimation screws are), look up at the viewing screen of the collimator. You should see the reflection of the laser somewhere on the view- ing screen. If you do not see the reflection, then a large adjustments to the tilt of the primary mirror will be needed. Place a piece of paper in front of the open tube (as was done in Figure 8) and note the position of the laser on the paper. If the primary mirror is grossly misaligned, the laser spot may
Laser point
Viewing screen
Hole
Figure 10: The laser spot has been reflected back to the viewing screen of the LaserMate Deluxe. The object now is to adjust the tilt of the mirror until the laser point is going back into the hole.
Viewng screen
Laser hole
Figure 11: Once the laser spot is going back into the hole the laser beam originally came out of, the telescope is properly collimated.
be hitting the inside wall of the telescope tube or the focuser drawtube. Make large adjustments to the collimation screws as needed to get the laser spot onto the viewing screen.
Once the laser spot is on the viewing screen (Figure 10), you can perform the final collimation. Use the primary mirror colli- mation screws to move the laser spot until it is going back into the hole the laser beam originally came out of (Figure 11). Once this is done, you will see laser spot spray around the hole. You can make certain the laser spot is properly aimed into the hole by slightly adjusting one of the collimation screws to bring the laser spot out of the hole, then return it by turning the collimation screw in the opposite direction by the same amount.
Collimation of the optical system is now complete. Go out and enjoy the view! The alignment of the mirrors should not need to be adjusted again unless the telescope is handled roughly. If you handle the telescope gently during transport, then only slight adjustments will need to be made to the mirrors. Use the LaserMate Deluxe before each observing session to check and make adjustments to the mirrors as needed.
Care and Maintenance of Your LaserMate Deluxe
Your LaserMate Deluxe is manufactured of the highest quali- ty components and is carefully aligned and tested at the factory. Like all electronic equipment, it should be handled with care. If it is dropped or handled roughly, it may need to be returned to the factory for
Installing New Batteries
When the LaserMate Deluxe’s laser beam starts to dim or completely fades, it is necessary to install new batteries. To
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| Top of Laser Mate | |
Laser Mate |
| Deluxe’s case | |
Laser | Top of laser | ||
Deluxe’s | |||
case | housing | housing |
Spring
Batteries
Figure 12: To install new batteries, remove the top of the LaserMate Deluxe’s case and the top of the laser housing.
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