10
1. To install the mirror cell in the optical tube, the rear end
ring attached to the lower tube section must first be
removed. This is done by unthreading and removing the
Phillips-head screws that attach the end ring to the tube
(Figure 14), and then pulling the end ring off of the tube.
Warning: Once the rear end ring is removed from
the tube, the raw edge of the tube itself will be
exposed. Be careful not to cut or otherwise hurt
yourself on the tube’s edge. Also, be careful not
to pinch your fingers between cell and tube when
re-attaching the assembled mirror cell!
2. Next, for the XX14g and XX16g, thread the three coun-
terweight mounting bolts into their respective holes in the
rear end ring, as shown in
Figure 15. Use an adjustable
wrench or a 16mm crescent wrench to tighten the bolts.
Do not install the counterweights yet.
3. Next, assemble the telescope’s rear end ring to the pri-
mary mirror cell. Find a clean, flat surface, and turn the
mirror cell over so that the mirror is facing downward.
For the XX14g and XX16g, we recommend placing a
soft towel on a flat surface and placing the mirror face
down on the towel, because the aluminized outer edge
of the mirror will contact the surface. With the XX12g mir-
ror on the other hand, the aluminized mirror itself will not
Figure 17.
Locate the area of tube that is bulging out and
preventing the end ring from fully seating. Press on this bulge to
allow the mirror cell to seat properly on the tube. Be careful not to
pinch fingers!
Spring
Shaft
Figure 16.
Shown for XX12g.
a)
Place the three springs on the
exposed threaded shafts of the mirror cell.
b)
Lower the rear end
ring onto the mirror cell so that the threaded shafts pass through
the end ring, and the end ring rests on the springs.
c)
Thread the
collimation knobs, with nylon washers attached, through the rear end
ring and onto the threaded shafts. Make sure the knobs have at least
three full turns of engagement on the shafts.
Collimation
knob
Nylon
washer
a.
b.
c.
Figure 14.
To remove the rear end ring, unthread the screws that
connect it to the tube.
Figure 15.
Thread the three hex-head counterweight mounting
bolts (XX14g and XX16g only) into the holes in the counterweight
support plates as shown. Tighten using an adjustable or 16mm
crescent wrench.
