Altair Astro Starwave 70ED Mounting rings with 50mm Guidescope

thingiverse

A series of mounting 'rings' to install my Altair Astro Starwave 70ED refractor and Skywatcher 50mm guidescope onto a dovetail. Mount 1 - A fairly basic, but chunky pair of rings that clamp onto the scope. This version will not allow the dew shield to be fully retracted, but should offer the studiest clamping setup. Mount 2 - A 'Clamshell' style mount that should allow for the dewshield to be retracted when not in use. This design should allow for the scope to be forwards enough to balance the scope properly with the 100mm dovetail I am currently using, as Mount 1 is rear heavy with my DSLR mounted. This is the one I am currently using on my setup. Mount 3 - Thinner versions of mount 1, which I think should be strong enough if printed from PETG or ABS. This version is pretty much just to cut down on printing time and material used. All three versions allow for adjustment of the guide scope to align it with the main optics through 3 M3 bolts or screws installed into the forward top mount holes. Mount 1 was printed in PLA and fastened together with 3.5x20mm wood screws (I would have preferred machine screws, but it's all I had to hand). I have also uploaded a model of the Vixen style dovetail I am using for reference. I would not recommend using a printed version but sourcing a metal one instead. The one I am using is 100mm long, but ideally a 200mm dovetail, with 100mm protruding out the back would be better to allow for the scope to be balanced properly with a DSLR. CHANGE LOG 09/01/22 - Couple of small changes to screwhole diameters and added a groove around the rear of the mount 2 guidescope holder to allow for a piece of wire to be wrapped around to help clamp the cover in place. 10/01/22 - Corrected the ID of Mount 2 to 90mm. There's 400g of PLA I'm not getting back! 12/01/2022 - Mount 2 has been printed and I believe to be the best of the 3, so is the one I'm focussing on. I'll be using on my rig for the foreseeable future and make changes to the design if/as needed. I have updated the model to the latest revision, which improves the spacing of the screw holes slightly from the version I currently have printed, but everything else is the same and fits my scopes really nicely.