[SJAAboard] Collimation tools for scopes

[Nelsonastro at aol.com]

Thank you for this discussion
 
"Library of Collimators"
 
I don't know if it will be possible to do this suggestion
without 'an unreasonable' amount of overhead to
support it month-to-month.  But in the spirit of
'Loaners are For Trying' it might be appropriate to
think of decoupling the collimation tools from 'a
particular' scope (Pick your Tool).
 
Reference: club use only, Loaner and Workshops
  Laser w/ holographic concentric circles [one copy]
 
Lenders:
 Lasers- Orion w/ Cheshire-like target as
  suggested by Rob [6 ?? copies]
Cheshire's - as suggested by several
  [5 more?? copies]
A-line - as suggested by several
  [all Newts now default? @ $10?]
 
 
I'm also a little bit confused (other than Rob's
specific mention of a particular laser) of what
exact product(s) we may be talking about.  I
have (myself) not been exposed to a lot of the
newer (or better/cheaper) devices and suspect
that this is a good 'club learning' exercise.
 
 
  Laser w/ holographic concentric pattern:
This is a high class optical alignment tool. I
fooled around a bit with Ken Lum's (PAS) several
years ago and also with one they use to align the
22" RC club scope at San Diego.  The concentric
circle beams are produced by a hologram and are
at many fixed angles from the central beam.  This
allows you to see (and adjust) very easily things
like the position of the EDGE of the secondary.
If there is an optic without center dots - it allows
you to use the edges of the various optical
elements as centering guides.
 
  I consider this definate OverKill for ordinary
alignment.  But with 30 telescopes to check and
maintain - any help to speed up the process, and
make it easer and more precise - should be
considered.  This is also a valuable tool to show
how the edge beams of a system travel through
the optics - and can easily visually demonstrate
(and measure) how well a simpler collimator
tool did it's job.  Rich - for the secondary - think
of a projected measure rather than 'sight down
the tube'.
 
Laser square grid hologram $215 shipped
2"-1.25" 635 nm Holographic (brighter in visable)
Howie Glatter
_http://www.collimator.com/coltext.htm_ 
(http://www.collimator.com/coltext.htm) 
(sorry can't find the circular reference yet)
 
 
Laser w/ Cheshire target   Zhumell Delux $49 sale (seems too  cheap)
"as claimed it doesnt work with closed tube f/6 reflectors but it will work  
when
I get my Meade 12in Lightbridge" several not recommended  (construction)
_www.telescopes.com_ (http://www.telescopes.com)    collimators
 
 
Steven



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