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 Dobsonian Mounts


Read: About Our Mounts
Standard solid
.
Custom solid.
Custom collapsible.

Options:
Manual setting circles: Az and Dec.
Digital setting circle installation.
Mounts for two telescopes.
Height adjustment stands
.
 

ATM Altitude and Azimuth
Bearing Parts

The Bearing Works: get everything.
Or buy individual items:
Laminate rings and strips
Teflon pads
Azimuth bolt assembly kits

    

Image Sharpening

Primary:Fix Turned Down Edge. 
Imaging: Remove mirror clip flare.
Aperture: Eliminate spider spikes.
 

Clamshell & Rotating Rings

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


About Our Mounts

sections below include:

Mount Choices

Materials

Altitude Bearings

Clamshell Rings and Rotating Rings

Our Process

Shipping

Please use the e-mail address above/right for question.


If you are not familiar with terminology, please ask by e-mail and we will clarify.

Dobsonian Mount Choices

Easy to assemble.
Solid mounts assembly uses
only ten screws and ten dowels.
Collapsible mounts may ship assembled.
All holes predrilled and countersunk. Includes all hardware, teflon pads and bearing laminates.

Weight Relief!

"I weighed the base you made for me and it was 23 lbs, a full 10 lbs lighter than the stock particle board OEM base." DH.
(for OEM 12" Apertura mount.)

Standard Solid Mounts

  • Our most economical mount.


This mount requires your telescope fits within specific set dimensions. Custom mounts are made to fit your telescope.

Maximum length of telescope tube from balance point (center of altitude bearing) to bottom/mirror end 23 inches.
Maximum diameter of telescope tube: 13.1 inches, or 13.6 inches from outside flat to flat if using tube in a ring set.

If you are unsure ask here whether your telescope will fit.
 

  • Telescope tube without altitude bearings or a ring set require drilling two 3/8" holes at the balance point for mounting our included 12" altitude bearings.
  • Telescope tube with existing altitude bearings: we may be able attach our 12" altitude bearings to your existing bearings.
  • Telescope tube in a ring set: our altitude bearings can attach your ring set.
  • Only eleven screws and eight 3/8" wood dowels. Assembly is straightforward, easy and we're happy to help if needed.
  • Add optional manual altitude and azimuth setting circles with pointers. Or order only an azimuth setting circle.
  • Arrive unassembled.
  • Rough sanded with 80 grit sandpaper.
  • Predrilled screw and dowels holes.
  • Altitude and azimuth bearing laminate included, arrives attached but not glued.
  • Altitude and azimuth bearing Teflon included, predrilled and screwed in place.
  • Assembly requires Philips screwdrivers for #12 wood screws and #4 brass finish screws), sandpaper, contact cement, 3/8" crescent wrenches, paint/finish.

Custom Mounts:

  • Same as standard solid mount above, except:
    • Custom designed to fit the mount precisely to your telescope.
    • Custom mount can be accommodate specific focuser height preferences.
    • Two altitude bearing sizes are available: 12" or 18".
    • Altitude bearings fit your existing ring set, clamshell rings, or fitted to your existing smaller altitude bearings.
    • Clamshell rings all rotating the optical tube for focuser position, or to avoid drilling tube holes to mount/attach bearings.
    • Rotating rings with altitude bearings are available.
    • Available as either kit or finished, as above in standard solid mounts.

Collapsible Mounts

  • Designed especially for limited storage/transportation considerations.
    • All same materials and/or options as custom solid mount (except uses hinges)
    • Does not use screws and dowels. Uses heavy duty anodized piano hinge instead.
    • Front and side boards are unitized, staying permanently attach together.
    • Folds to 5" height. No loose parts either assembled or collapsed flat. Folds/collapses as follows:
      • :Left side board folds 90 degrees inward and flat against the backside of the front board.
      • Front and left side boards fold forward and right (270 degrees) to outside of right side board.
      • All three board are now back to back to back.
      • All three upright boards fold down inward, lying flat on the rocker box bottom board.

       


      Materials

      We use 3/4" (18mm) Baltic Birch plywood for wooden parts. Altitude and azimuth bearings interfaces use Teflon and Formica Crystal 909-42 laminate. All parts are included, assembly of kits is designed to be very easy to assemble; solid mounts usually use only 11 screws and 8 dowels. Dowel are internal/hidden between abutting front, ground and side boards to lock them in place and add stiffness. Custom "tall" mounts may require additional screws and dowels.



Altitude Bearings
  • Two sizes of altitude bearing are available on our mounts:
    • 12 inch outside diameter (small) full circle bearings. Hand holds incorporated. Laminate applied to half the circle.
    • 18 inch outside diameter (large) half circle bearings.. Hand hold openings are incorporated. Laminate applied to entire half circle.
    • Can attach to telescope tube using 3/8" bolt (you supply). Inside facing arced braces secure bearing to tube.
    • Can attach to outside of clamshell rings, no tube drilling required. Allows repositioning forward/back or rolled for focuser position.
  • We prefer large altitude bearings - better balance changing eyepieces, finer incremental altitude movement. Ask about "tightrope walkers".


Clamshell And Rotating Rings
  • Clamshell Rings allow attaching altitude bearings to your optical tube without drilling holes.
    • Allows rotation of tube to allow reposition of focuser.
    • Allows moving tube forward or back if weight is added or removed to tube.
    • Adds 1" to the width of a mount.
    • Bottom boards by heavy duty anodized aluminum piano hinge.
    • Top boards secured with a 2-1/2" long thumb screw through matching drilled 3/8" holes. Cannot pull out.
    • Inside edge of clamshell sections are 1/8" larger than tube diameter. Line with adhesive back felt or other cushioning.
    • Top halves of clamshell designed with a 1/8" gap, allowing room to tighten around telescope tube securely.
  • Rotating Rings
    • Uses clamshell rings.
    • Solid tubes rotate freely on bearings inside clamshell rings.
    • Lock to stop rotation with finger tightening plastic knurled screw.

Our Process::

  • You submit a request for quote or order.
  • We send you a PayPal invoice within 72 hours with price, shipping costs and shipping date estimate.
  • Quote is valid for 14 days.
  • Ask any questions at this point, we will reply promptly.
  • Shipping date is from time of your approval of design pdf (see below).
  • To order pay invoice.
  • We will respond with a confirmation e-mail containing a design date.
  • Our manufacture process will begin:
    • Design.
    • Send you a PDF drawing showing your order's component parts with pertinent dimensions.
    • You review design. Ask questions, ask to modify, or give your approval.
    • Once the design is approved, the ship date "clock" starts.
    • We send you these benchmark production dates:
      • CNC cutting of parts.
      • Dry fitting and sanding parts.
      • Inscribing manual manual setting circles if ordered.
      • Laminate and Teflon installed.
  • E-mail invoice for paying any balance due.
  • Shipping.

Quotes are valid for 14 days. Benchmark and shipping dates are best estimates based on materials availability.



Shipping
  • Shipping to domestic US via FedEx Home Delivery or US Postal Service Ground delivery.
  • Non-US shipping destinations must meet dimensional packaging size restrictions.