user manual

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.
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
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 re-alignment. It should not be
exposed to water, dust, heat or sunlight. To extend battery life
store in a cool, dry environment.
Installing New Batteries
When the LaserMate Deluxe’s laser beam starts to dim or
completely fades, it is necessary to install new batteries. To
3
Figure 9a, 9b: To center the red laser spot on the primary
mirror, you will need to adjust the tilt of the secondary mirror.
Laser point
Laser spot
on primary
mirror
Before
After
Hole
Viewing screen
Laser hole
Viewng screen
Laser Mate
Deluxe’s
case
Laser
housing
Batteries
Top of laser
housing
Spring
Top of Laser Mate
Deluxe’s case
Figure 12: To install new batteries, remove the top of the
LaserMate Deluxe’s case and the top of the laser housing.
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.
Figure 11: Once the laser spot is going back into the hole the
laser beam originally came out of, the telescope is properly
collimated.