ASTRO PHYSICS TELESCOPE MOUNTING RINGS, DOVETAIL AND SADDLE PLATES

The base of each mounting ring is drilled and tapped for common 1/4" - 20 screws. The provided hole patterns will accommodate a variety of popular telescope mounts and tripod heads including all of the Astro-Physics German Equatorial mounts.

The top of each mounting ring is drilled for the Astro-Physics piggyback camera bracket and guide scope rings. Holes provided include one pair each of 10-32 and M8 holes (commonly used for guide scope rings), 8" and 15" Dovetail plates.

The mounting rings are ordered by the pair. The rings are sized based on the actual diameter of the telescope optical tube barrel. Some of the common ring applications include:

Ring Diameter	Astro-Physics Telescopes
4.3"	105mm EDF Traveler
5" (SOLD OUT)	4" f8 and 5" f8 Starfire made before 10/89, 5" f12 Super Planetary
5.5"	13cm EDT/EDF made since 10/89
6"	old 155mm EDF and 6" f12 Super Planetary
6.5"	6" f12 Starfire, 155mm EDF made since 10/89
7.0"	7" f9 Starfire
8.0"	180mm EDT and EDF, 206mm EDF

Dovetail Plates and Slide Bars:

Dovetail plates and associated sliding bars add a new level of convenience and ease of use to our mounts and tube assemblies. These are a few of the handy benefits and applications:

• Aid in re balancing a telescope after switching from lightweight to heavy accessories and back
  
• Quick interchange of telescopes when hardware is employed as a mounting plate
  
• Quick interchange of accessories when employed as an accessory plate
  
• Facilitate quick set up and disassembly of systems in the field
  

Although listed as separate items, the dovetail plates and sliding bars are used together (the exception is the 7" sliding bar when used as a stationary mounting plate). The narrow sliding bar moves within the channel of the dovetail plate until the desired position is achieved. Tightening the knobs of the dovetail plate secures the sliding bar in place.

Dovetail Plates:
• Incredibly well engineered, and almost entirely CNC milled from one piece of aluminum stock
  
• Machined aluminum securing knobs feature machined "floating" brass tips for precise locking,
  and to reduce possibility of marring a slide bar
• Integral safety design feature which will prevent a slide bar from slipping through the dovetail plate
  should the securing knobs be inadvertently loosened
  
• Installation of assembly simple and easy to do
  
• Slide bar installation and removal quick and simple; no tools needed
  
• Finish is anodized in black
  

Slide Bars:

• Precisely milled from one piece of aluminum stock
  
• Multiple holes accept mounting rings or a variety of accessories on the plate
  
• Multiple 1/4" - 20 holes to mount the plate onto standard tripods or other platforms
  
• Finish is anodized in black
  

8" Dovetail Plate (DOVE8)

7" Slide Bar (SB0800) and 8" Dovetail Plate (DOVE8)

For most common applications, suggested slide bar is 7" (SB0800).

This versatile plate is suited for use with the 105mm f6 EDF "Traveler" (suggested slide bar: 7"), 130mm f6 EDF (suggested slide bar: 10"), and 130mm f8 EDT (suggested slide bar: 15") telescopes. It is also suitable for a number of other relatively short telescopes.

• Mounting Cradle Plate - on either 400 or 600 series mount heads.
  
• Accessory Plate - Attached to the top of our Astro-Physics 5" to 8" diameter mounting Rings.
  105 EDF Traveler users should use the "Traveler Dovetail Accessory Plate (ACPLTR)
  

There are many possible uses of this slide bar on either the 8" Dovetail Plate (DOVE08),
or onto the Traveler Dovetail Accessory Plate (ACPLTR)

• Attach to Mounting Rings:
  • Attach to base of telescope mounting rings use with the 105mm f6 EDF "Traveler", TeleVue "Genesis" and "Renaissance" telescopes, and other relatively short telescopes.

• Attach Accessories:
  • 60mm x 700mm Photo guide scope with 3.4" guide scope rings
    
  • Piggyback camera bracket
    
  • Finders: 8x 50mm, Telrad sight, TeleVue "Starbeam" or "Quick Point" sights
    

10" SLIDING BAR (SB1000)

There are many possible uses of this slide bar on the 8" Dovetail Plate (DOVE08). While the uses are similar to those possible with the 8" Sliding Bar, the 10" length is optimized for the Astro-Physics 130mm f6 EDF telescope.

15" Dovetail Plate (DOVE15)

15" Dovetail Plate (DOVE15) and 15" Slide Bar (SB1500)

For most common applications, suggested slide bar is 15" (SB1500).

This plate is suited for use with the 130mm f8 EDT and 155mm f7 EDF telescopes.
It is also suitable for a number of other telescopes.

• Mounting Cradle Plate - on either 400, 600, or 900 series mount heads.
  
• Accessory Plate - Attached to the top of our Astro-Physics 5" to 8" diameter mounting Rings.
  

There are many possible uses of this slide bar on the 15" Dovetail Plate (DOVE15)

• Attach to Mounting Rings:
  • Attach to base of telescope mounting rings use with the 130mm f8 EDT telescope.
    
  • Attach to base of telescope mounting rings use with the 155mm f7 EDF telescope.
    
  • It is also suitable for a number of other telescopes.
    

• Attach to Telescope Optical Tube:
  • Attach to telescope optical tubes such as ARO Maksutovs.
    

• Attach Accessories:
  • 60mm x 700mm Photo guide scope with 3.4" guide scope rings
    
  • piggyback camera bracket
    
  • 80mm x 900mm guide scope with 3.9" guide scope rings
    
  • Piggyback camera bracket
    
  • Finders: 8x 50mm, Telrad, TeleVue "Starbeam" or "Quick Point"
    

15" SLIDING BAR FOR 8" SCT's (SB15SC)

There are many possible uses of this slide bar on the 15" Dovetail Plate (DOVE15)

• Attach to Telescope Optical Tube of 8" Schmidt Cassegrain Telescopes such as the "Celestron C-8" or "Meade 2080"

Traveler Dovetail Accessory Plate (ACPLTR)

Traveler Dovetail Accessory Plate (ACPLTR) shown installed on Traveler with 8x 50 Finder

For use with Traveler telescope only. Suggested slide bar is 7" (SB0800).
Measures 2.75" x 7" and weighs only 8 oz.

This versatile plate is designed for use only on Traveler mounting rings made after May 1994. Rings must be set at 6.3 inches apart (center to center)

• Accessory Plate - Attached to the top of our Astro-Physics Traveler mounting Rings.
  

Losmandy "D" Series Accessory Plate (DOVELM)

For most common applications using Losmandy "D" Series Plate.

Designed for use with any telescope or accessory that has a Losmandy "D" Series Male plate attached.

• Mounting Cradle Plate - on either 400, 600, 900, or 1200 series mount heads.