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Dobsonian Goodies

EZ adjust setting circles.
Apertura/GSO motion fix.
Height adjustment stands

 


Comments & Photos


Updated 10/1/24

    
 
ATM Altitude and Azimuth
Bearing Parts

Laminate rings and strips.
Teflon pads.
Azimuth bolt assembly kits
.

Image Sharpening Masks

Visual: TDE soft image fix.    
 
Imaging
: Remove mirror clip flare.
 

Premium Mirror Cells
for 6" to 13.1" mirrors.

Each cell design calculated to optimize your mirror's performance. Eliminates mirror-clip aberrations for true circular aperture.
   

Clamshell & Rotating Rings

For Dobsonian mounts
.
For Equatorial mounts
.
 
 
AstroGoods.com: Which Mount?


About our mounts

Sections below include:

Mount Choices

Materials

Our Process

Shipping



If you are unfamiliar with any terminology, please contact us so we can help.

Dobsonian Mount Choices


Mount, mount with altitude bearings, or mount with clamshell rings and altitude bearings.

Our most economically priced mount.



Standard Solid Mount


Standard solid mount requires your telescope fits within these set dimensions:

Length requirement:
From balance point (center of altitude bearing) to bottom/mirror end of tube maximum: 23 inches.

Width requirement:
Attaching our altitude bearings directly on telescope tube:
13.1 inches tube diameter (requires drilling two holes).
Attaching our altitude bearings on top of existing bearings: Tube + bearings maximum 13.6 inches (no drilling).
Attaching our altitude bearings to a set of tube rings: width of rings from outside flat to flat to a maximum 13.6 inches.

If you are unsure e-mail us here and we can advise whether your telescope will fit.

Custom mounts are designed to specifically fit your telescope.
 


Included with standard solid mounts:

  • Two 12" altitude bearings with laminate strips attached in position.
  • Rocker box (front, two side and bottom boards). All predrilled and countersunk for dowels (7) and stainless steel screws (11).
  • 4 Teflon altitude bearing pads attached in position on side boards.
  • 2 altitude bearings guides attached to side boards, for containing and center bearings.
  • 3 Teflon pads attached in position on ground board.
  • Ground board with three feet. Predrilled and countersunk for dowels and screws.
  • Available as kit or finished.
Optional: Manual setting circles. Mount height adjustment stand, separate or integrated.




Our
most popular mount, designed custom to fit your tube saving size and weight, or to add additional strength.


Included with custom solid mounts:

  • Rocker box (front, two side and bottom boards). All predrilled and countersunk for dowels (7) and stainless steel screws (11).
  • 4 Teflon altitude bearing pads attached in position on side boards.
  • 2 altitude bearings guides attached to side boards, for containing and center bearings.
  • 3 Teflon pads attached in position on ground board.
  • Ground board with three feet. Predrilled and countersunk for dowels and screws.
  • Custom designed to fit your telescope reducing size and weight.
  • Can be designed to place focuser at your height preference.
  • Available as kit or finished.
  • Dowels are internal/hidden between abutting front, ground and side boards to lock in position for stiffness.
Optional: Altitude bearings (12" or 18"). Clamshell rings with altitude bearings. Manual setting circles. Mount height adjustment stand, separate or integrated.





Designed for storage and transportation considerations, custom to fit your tube saving size and weight


 

Custom Collapsible Mounts


Included with custom collapsible mounts:

  • Rocker box (front, two side and bottom boards) a single unit using heavy duty anodized piano hinges.
  • Use clamping knobs (stored in photo at right) install through 2" cutouts into brass wood inserts (installed) clamping boards solidly in place.
  • 4 Teflon altitude bearing pads attached in position on side boards.
  • 2 altitude bearings guides attached to side boards, for containing and center bearings.
  • 3 Teflon pads attached in position on ground board.
  • Ground board with three feet. Predrilled and countersunk for stainless steel wood screws.
  • Custom designed to fit your telescope reducing size and weight.
  • Can be designed to place focuser height preference.
  • Available as kit or finished.

Optional: Altitude bearings (12" or 18"). Clamshell rings with altitude bearings. Manual setting circles. Mount height adjustment stand, separate or integrated.


Collapsing the mount flat:

Mount in upright assembled position.
Left side board, hinged inside, (1) swing inward to back of front board back. (2) Front board is hinged to right side board. Left and front boards in unison (3)swing forward and around (4) to meet outside of right side board. Three upright boards hinged on rocker box board fold inward together to lay flat.
1
2
3
4
Mount laid flat and folded is 5" height.



 


If your tube needs altitude bearings, or you wish to upgrade to larger altitude bearings we offer two sizes with our mounts:

12 inch outside diameter (left photo) full circle bearings. Hand holds incorporated. Laminate applied to half the circle.
18 inch outside diameter (right photo) half circle bearings.. Hand hold openings are incorporated. Laminate applied to entire half circle.

Bearings attach to your telescope through a 3/8" hole centered in the bearing. Inside facing arced braces secure bearing to tube. Or:
Bearings can attach to your existing ring set, on the drilled flats. Or:
Bearings can attach to outside of clamshell rings we supply. Allows repositioning forward/back or rolled for focuser position.

18 inch altitude bearings suggested for 10" and larger telescopes and/or long tubes. Provide more stable balance and finer incremental altitude movement.

 

 

Clamshell Rings allow:

  • Attaching altitude bearings to your optical tube without drilling holes.
  • Provides ability to rotate tube and reposition of focuser.
  • Allows moving tube forward or back if weight is added (binoviewer for example) or removed to tube.
  • Adds 1.5" to the width of a mount.
  • Bottom clamshell boards connected by heavy duty anodized aluminum piano hinge.
  • Top boards secured with by thumbscrew transversally through 3/8" holes into 1/4-20 wood insert. Cannot pull out.
  • Top of clamshell is gapped 0.1875" to allow tightening securely to your tube. Add adhesive back felt or other cushioning if desired.

Materials we use:

  • 3/4" (18mm) Baltic Birch plywood is standard for most of our wooden parts.
  • Altitude and azimuth bearings use Formica Crystal 909-42 laminate riding on Virgin Teflon pads.
  • Small parts for assembly may include:
    #8x1.25" exterior grade Torx wood screws with bronze epoxy coating provides 4 layers of corrosion protection.
    3/8" wood dowels.
    2" wide heavy duty anodized aluminum piano hinge.
    1/4-20 clamping knobs.
    1/4-20 ID 3/8" OD knife edge brass wood inserts.
    Various nylon bolts.
    1/4-20x2.5" spade thumb screws.

    #4 brass finish screws for laminate strips.#6 stainless steel wood screws for securing Teflon pads and piano hinge.


Finishes three coats General Finishes High Performance Gloss - colors vary but generally a light red tint. Special attention to edges.


Our Process:

We receive your quote or order request.
We send a PayPal quote/invoice to you within 72 hours with price, shipping costs and estimated shipping date.
Quotes are valid for 14 days. Completion/shipping dates are best estimates.
You may ask questions at this point, we will reply promptly.
To initiate order play invoice.
Upon receipt of payment we respond confirming order and provide a date to e-mail the design drawing.
You next receive a PDF design drawing. You review, request modification, or approve.
Shipping date estimate is from date of your design approval.

Next steps are:
Programming CNC cuts.
CNC cutting of parts.
Assembly of parts to assure proper fit.
Sanding parts.
Inscribing setting circles if ordered.
Applying wood finish if ordered.
Laser cutting of laminate ring.
Install altitude and azimuth laminate and Teflon.
Competition notice and e-mail.

If any balance due, you receive PayPal invoice.
Balance due is paid.
Your order shipped.



Shipping

U.S. Destinations via FedEx Home Delivery or US Postal Service Ground delivery. International orders shipped US Postal Service.

Countries shipped to:
Australia
Brazil
Canada
Czech Republic
Dubai
England
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Ireland
Israel
Japan
Mexico
Netherlands
Norway
Singapore
South Korea
United States