Optec - Equuleus Orthogonal Adjuster.

Optec - Equuleus Orthogonal (Tip-Tilt) Adjuster

The original Equuleus Orthogonal Adjusting Device (OAD) was designed to provide a simple method for aligning a camera imaging plane perpendicular to a telescope's optical axis. Images from cameras which are not perfectly orthogonal to the optical axis will display out-of-round stars in one or more corners. If the non-orthogonality is severe enough, inside-focus and outside-focus optical aberrations may begin to appear on opposite sides of the images.
   Most camera manufacturers provide either a fixed factory adjustment or provide a user adjustment to ensure the camera's mechanical interface is parallel to the imaging sensor. However, the addition of filters wheels, camera rotators, off-axis guiders, and focusers to the imaging train will nearly always introduce even more non-orthogonal mis-alignment or sag to degrade the final image. Adjusting the camera to re-align the sensor will usually require removing the camera to tweak a small screw or worse, add shims, to the camera faceplate.

                         

   The basic design for the Equuleus OAD is a pair of parallel plates with robust spring tensioning, locating screws, and side-mounted adjustment cams. Collimation is accomplished by loosening the locking nuts and making very slight adjustments to the cam shaft mechanisms. Collimating in the Z-axis is similar to the typical X-Y collimation performed on telescopes. Three adjustment screws work against each other and the spring tension to provide a slight tip/tilt between the two plates.  After adjustments are completed in real-time using live images, the adjustment camshaft mechanisms are locked into place.

Technical Features:

• Outside Diameter: 5.25" (133mm)
• Nominal Thickness: 0.50" (12.7mm)
• Clear Aperture: 2.95" (75.0mm)
• Weight: 9.2 oz. (260 g)
• Back-focus Usage: 0.50" (12.7mm)
• Camera Payload Capacity:  5 lbs. (2.3kg) 
• Maximum Deflection/Adjustment:  2mm *
• Maximum Tilt adjustment:  1-1/2 degrees

                *Measured corner to corner on 50mm diagonal CCD imaging plane.

Mechanical Interface:

• 3"x24tpi female thread, both sides.