Paramount User Guide
63
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P a g e
OTA Mounting
Advantages
Disadvantages
Parallax
Instruments OTA
Tube Rings
Extremely rigid mount-to-telescope
attachment.
Allows multiple optics to be rigidly
mounted.
Repeatable all sky pointing.
Hardware is usually
more expensive.
Paramount Versa-Plate Knobs
The Versa-Plate Knobs (three on the Paramount MX, Paramount MX+ and Paramount M
Y
T, four on the
standard Paramount ME II; up to six with the optional Large Dovetail Accessory Rail) are designed to
securely captivate a male Losmandy-compatible dovetail. Rotating the knob clockwise advances an
angled brass plunger on the inside of the dovetail. The angled brass plunger wedges the male dovetail to
the opposite side of the female dovetail to prevent any slippage or rocking of the payload, regardless of
the mount’s orientation.
To mount an OTA with a male dovetail to the Versa-Plate:
1.
With the counterweight shaft oriented vertically, lock the right ascension axis in place.
Model How to unlock axis…
Install the right ascension locking bolts and rotate the right
ascension Two Position Switch to the Balance position (page 89).
Rotate the right ascension axis Three Position Switch to the Lock
position (page 73).
Rotate the right ascension axis Two Position Switch to the
Balance position (page 73) and pull and rotate the Transport Lock
Knob to the Lock position (page 73).
Rotate the right ascension axis Two Position Switch to the
Balance position (page 73) and pull and rotate the Transport Lock
Knob to the Lock position (page 73).
2.
Carefully slide the male dovetail on the OTA into the Versa-Plate’s dovetail until the OTA is
approximately balanced in the declination axis.
Figure 28: The brass plunger compresses the male dovetail (from left to right in the above diagram).
