Dual Bars...

[fatwoul]

In a few days I'm going to be getting the bits I need to put both my telescopes onto my EQ6. The telescopes are a Vixen 80M (which will be my guide scope) and my new SW MN190.

Originally, I was planning on a dual bar, but I understand that system can introduce extra wobbles and complications in keeping the rig tracking properly, etc.

So now I am considering mounting the Vixen atop the MN190 with guidescope rings, because I understand those rings give me more adjustment, and will allow me to point both scopes at the same target more easily, should I wish to.

However, I can't make out from photos what components are needed to accomplish this. Most people seem to have a dovetail both above and below their main scope (for stability of the main rings, I guess), but how does one then attach the second telescope to the top dovetail? Does the dovetail need to be longer?

Secondly, I have two Nikon lenses that I'd also like to use on my EQ6, sometimes with the telescope, sometimes on their own. How do I go about attaching an Arca Swiss dovetail saddle to the top of a Vixen dovetail bar? Most of the bars I've seen have holes in specific places, which would make attaching something with its own specific holes difficult.

[Merlin66]

Dual bars work very well. I have a 6" f3.5 Cometracker and a Genesis 4" f5 mounted side by side.

The top rail is usually an ADM minirail which has provision to mount tube rings. I don't know your 190MN so I'm not sure what size rail you would need.

Re the lenses - If the tripod head needs a 1/4" W attachment screw; this can be done by fitting a 1/4" x 20mm bolt through the existing holes in a small Vixen dovetail,.

Ken

(Edit) OK I've just found the Ad for the MN190...looking at the tube rings supplied they have the 1/4" W camera attachment holes at the top. You could get an ADM bar and drill the 6mm attachment holes out to 1/4" and then fit it directly to the top of the MN190 tube rings)

[fatwoul]

Thanks Ken. So there is no "official" solution? I don't mind drilling holes in things, but I didn't want to do it until I was sure that someone wasn't going to say "Oh Company X make something for that purpose".

How come all these telescopes come with a little 1/4W mount on the front ring? It is just for things like cameras? I assumed that, since all the pairs of rings come with them, that they were for piggybacking different scopes, since between two pairs of rings you'd always have a pair of the 1/4W screws.

[Merlin66]

Both rings are drilled and tapped 1/4"W, but only one (it can be positioned at the front ot back - just reverse the OTA!!) has the camera attachment bolt. All SW rings are like this.

Having these two holes on the top of the rings is handy when you want to mount another rail.

( I have a set-up where the ST80+QHY5 sits piggyback on an ED80)

[fatwoul]

Both rings are drilled and tapped 1/4"W, but only one (it can be positioned at the front ot back - just reverse the OTA!!) has the camera attachment bolt. All SW rings are like this...

lol I realise this, but the camera attachment is on the "front" ring when the scopes leave the factory.