Laser Collimator

[Darron]

Well after 3 weeks of waiting it finally arrived this morning!

Read the instructions and thought wot!!

Gave it a go this afternoon.

Took the primary mirror out, gave it a quick polish, made a paper mask and stuck a small sticky paper doughnut in the centre of the mirror.

Centred the collimator in the eyepiece holder with one wrap of masking tap around the collimator.

Switched the laser on.

That much out of collimation that the beam misses the secondary mirror after hitting the primary mirror.

A few turns of the adjusting screws of the secondary mirror and the beam is in the centre of the doughnut in the primary mirror!!!

Slackened the fixing screws of the primary, a few turns of the adjusting screws and the beam is targeted on the collimator. Tighten up the fixing screws and the job is a good one.

Just needs to stay cloud free tonight and see how good the scope actually is.

Collimation :pottytrain3: P.O.P. :pottytrain3: don't know what I was so worried about.

Darron

[Naz]

Sounds so simple Darron, money well spent then.

naz

[Darron]

Seems to be Naz £37 from Skies & Scopes

Darron

[FLO]

Which scope are you collimating?

[Darron]

An 8" Newt Steve.

Darron

[orion f6.3]

Don't forget to check the collimation of the collimator its self! especially after a trip through the post! This is a tool I made myself to do this. You rotate the laser collimator and adjust the alining screws so as the red dot is on the target center. Orion f6.3

[Darron]

Thats a bit more technical than placing it in an open book and aiming it at the wall!!

Darron

[MartinB]

Took the primary mirror out gave it a quick polish,

:shock: now that is a brave man! How did you polish it Darron.

Interesting to see how it performs on Jupiter and Saturn with the accurate collimation

[tom.yates]

Its a great set up for coli in the laser i just put a small circle on the wall and rotate the laser

[Jamie]

How did you polish it Darron.

Mr Sheen???????

[Naz]

Silver polish?

naz

[daz]

Wire brush and Dettol!!

Oh, different topic!!

Darron - I have just such a wooden collimating jig (my laser colli died a little while ago) PM your address and I'll send it to you if you want.

Not quite as flash as Orion's, but works the same!

[Darron]

Mr Sheen???????

Silver polish?

Wire brush and Dettol!!

Don't give my secrets away they will all be doing it!!!

Darron