Vixen dovetail to Digital Camera Adapter

thingiverse

A Simple Vixen Dovetail Style adapter, also known as a CG-5 or 1.75inch rail, is commonly used on entry-level Astromaster telescopes, Travel Telescopes, and EQ-5, Sky View Pro mounts. This versatile adapter features holes for 1/4-20 bolts. Attaching a DSLR (or certain telescopes like the C90) to a mount has never been easier with this adapter. When paired with the adaptable design from https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1923236, users can enjoy tracked astrophotography with their DSLR (or mirrorless camera), digital camera, or even a cell phone, provided it's equipped with a 1/4-20 adapter. The creator of this adapter designed it specifically for use with their clamp, but after searching for the perfect dovetail, they discovered multiple options that met their requirements. The initial printed design featured three holes, which proved surprisingly useful. To further enhance security, a small screw was added through the front hole to prevent the dovetail from falling backwards when loosened. The spacing of the holes is carefully calibrated (relative to the center hole in the STL file) at -50, -30, -15, 0, 15, 30, and 50. Users can modify these settings as well as adjust the length using OpenSCAD. The adapter's design allows for a comfortable fit of the camera, secured by two nuts on a single 1/4-20 bolt. This setup makes it easy to change batteries if needed. While this design cannot be customized within the platform, users are encouraged to suggest modifications (such as altering the length and hole position) so that these changes can be implemented in future revisions.