Dovetail

[keef_uk]

Not sure if I can explain my question properly, but in astronomy kit is a Dovetail bar universal in terms of connection size?

Or are there differnt fitting widths depending on scope?

[Photosbykev]

It depends on the mount rather than the scope. From what I've learned there are two main types of dovetail, the vixen/skywatcher and then the losmandy. Similar profiles but the losmandy dovetail is wider.

I think

[brantuk]

Yup - they're the only two types I've come across too.

(That's not to say there aren't others though)

[AndyH]

There's an Intes/Intes-Micro dovetail too. Same idea as the skywatcher/vixen type but wider. Sometimes 'just' fits into the aforementioned saddles.

Andy.

[chiltonstar]

Even with so-called Skywatcher compatible dovetails, I've had two which were a few mm too wide to fit comfortably. Solution was to mount them sideways on in a bench vice and plane off a small amount of the bottom (narrower) edge down one side with a 1" file. It is easy as they are aluminium alloy and therefore pretty soft.

Chris

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

Vixen/Skywatcher dovetail size is the most common in smaller scopes (but is used quite extensively in bigger scopes as well), Losmandy size is seen only in bigger scopes as a rule

[BlueAstra]

I discovered the 'vixen/SW' dovetail fitted to the Meade 5000 ED80 APO doesn't fit in the EQ6 mount 'vixen/SW' clamp. Its slightly too wide. Solution were either file off an edge (as mentioned above) or screw the scope dovetail to an actual 'vixen/SW' dovetail. I choose the latter as I could screw it to a longer dovetail to aid balancing. Another solution would have been to use scope rings on a dovetail bar.

[jaffons]

About dovetails:

For matter of flexure, does it matter which one I choose if im doing some imaging? Is the cheapest skywatcher PS32 (33cm long) good enough?

[John]

About dovetails:

For matter of flexure, does it matter which one I choose if im doing some imaging? Is the cheapest skywatcher PS32 (33cm long) good enough?

Solid CNC bars are more solid that the standard Skywatcher item. More £'s as well of course

[jaffons]

Solid CNC bars are more solid that the standard Skywatcher item. More £'s as well of course

Yes I keep that obvious but does it make the cheapest skywathcer dovetail bar too flimsy for 200-1200mm focal?

What I try to ask is "has someone fixed flexure setup with dovetail bar upgrade? "

Afterall 30cm bar(profiled or solid) is allways MUCH more solid than 200p Newton tube..

[Ben Ritchie]

Yup - they're the only two types I've come across too.

(That's not to say there aren't others though)

Takahashi are "almost but not quite" Vixen, some Tak 'scopes (e.g. the Mewlon) also have a 'puck' adapter for the mount that's drilled like nothing else on Earth ... like everything else they make, you seem to need an expensive, out-of-stock adapter.