Updating the adapter for the Orion 50mm guide scope to Star Adventurer tracking mount

Improving the Orion 50mm guide scope adapter

One of the benefits of working in CAD software and then fabricating a functioning part using 3D printing is the ability to iterate and improve a design relatively quickly and easily. I first had the idea to move the 50mm guide scope on my Star Adventurer mount to the end of the RA axis when I set out to use it with my William Optics GT71 for guiding with PHD2. With the guide scope attached to the GT71, the Star Adventurer would have been over mounted.

With the original design, it was some what cumbersome to attach the 50mm Guide scope to the 3D printed adapter as well as the adapter to the metal RA axis. I had the idea to redesign the adapter in two parts and then “glue and screw” the individual parts together. With the updated version, the parts were printed in PLA on a QIDI X-Plus printer.

The 3D printed adapter worked perfectly in the field to attach the 50mm Orion guide scope to the Star adventurer tracking mount using RA only guiding via ST-4 and PHD2. The object imaged was the Small Cloud of Magellan using a Borg 55FL and ASI1600MM camera with Antlia LRGB filters.

The 3D printed bracket for the Orion 50mm guide scope to Star Adventure mount in CAD.

The 3D printed bracket in CAD ready for 3D printing

3D printed bracket attatched the Orion 50mm guide scope to the Star Adventurer mount

3D printed bracket attaches the Orion 50mm guide scope to the Star Adventurer mount

The two parts of the guide scope adapter on the QIDI printer hotbed.

3D printed bracket attaches the Orion 50mm guide scope to the Star Adventurer mount

A 6mm bolt used to strengthen the 3D print after gluing.

The two parts of the guide scope adapter glued and bolted together

The assembled 3D printed adapter ready for use

In the field with the Star Adventurer mount and Orion 50mm guide scope

Under the night sky with the Borg55FL on the Star Adventurer

The Small Cloud of Magellan and Tucanae 47 captured with the Borg55FL using the Star Adventurer mount

Updated 3D printed bracket for Orion 50mm guidescope

Improving the Orion 50mm guide scope adapterOne of the benefits of working in CAD software and then fabricating a functioning part using 3D printing is the ability to iterate and improve a design relatively quickly and easily. I first had the idea to move...

3D printed bracket for Polemaster to Avalon Instruments M Zero

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