Solid and Pocketed Dovetail Plate: 20.0" x 7.0" x 0.815"

The new dovetail plate works with many existing dovetail systems on the market, like the Paramount ME's VersaPlate. The unique attribute about this plate is that its bolt pattern, onto the telescope, is much wider, 6.0" on centers, and the plate is thicker than most dovetail plates. The wider bolt pattern and thicker plate both contribute to greater stiffness in the system. As telescope size rises, so should the accessories used to secure them.

Images on this page were shown with a silver color to help display product details. Standard color for these plates is clear or black anodized. Plate is machined from 6061-T6 aluminum. 

 This large dovetail will be offered in both solid and pocketed versions. The solid version ($325) will weigh 9.1 lbs, while the pocketed version ($465) will weigh 4.1 lbs.

The first large batch of dovetail plates has arrived near the end of September, 2007.
 


The VersaPlate on the Paramount ME can bolt onto the declination housing in one of three locations: forward, aft or centered. The hole patterns are spaced 1.06" from each other. When this is used with a 16" Dream Astrograph Tube, which has four bolt on locations for the above dovetail, spaced at intervals of 2.0", it allows the plates to be controlled to within roughly 1" of a wide range of center of gravities. This means the dovetail should never be protruding more than 1/2" from the VersaPlate. This also means all four of the dovetail hand-knob/set pins are used on the VersaPlate. The widest pins are roughly 18.8" apart from each other. Again, a wider connection means more stability in the system.


The 20" Dream dovetail plates will be used on one company's 16" f5 Cassegrains for a world-wide IR project.

16"

20"

24"

32"


pricing, availability and specifications subject to change without notice