OTA Tube Rings... How Tight?

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chartram United States of America
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OTA Tube Rings... How Tight?

#1

Post by chartram »


Hello everyone,

This is something I’ve never really thought to ask. Is there a such thing as tube rings being “too tight?”

Most of us probably have that fear of watching our telescope slide out of the rings and hit the ground (LOL), and I for one always crank on the tube ring tighteners until they are too tight to turn anymore. But how tight do they really need to be? Does too tight (refractor) cause any aberrations? Thanks!

Mike
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Scopes: WO Star 71 Gen-II (F/4.9), Astro-Tech AT115EDT (F/7), Celestron 8" Edge HD (F/10)
Cameras: ZWO ASI1600MM w/ Baader 1.25" LRGB & Narrowband Filters, ZWO ASI174MM mini, Starlight Xpress Lodestar X2
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Re: OTA Tube Rings... How Tight?

#2

Post by Lady Fraktor »


Yes they can be to tight. I have seen people tighten them enough to snap/ bend the tube clamps or even dent the telescope tube.
Snug them equally but just enough to hold the tube is more than enough pressure.
See Far Sticks: Antares Elita 103/1575, AOM FLT 105/1000, Bresser BV 127/1200, Nočný stopár 152/1200, Vyrobené doma 70/700, Stellarvue NHNG DX 80/552, TAL RS100/1000, Vixen SD115s/885
EQ: TAL MT-1, Vixen SXP, AXJ, AXD
Az/Alt: AYO Digi II/ Argo Navis, Stellarvue M2C/ Argo Navis
Tripods: Berlebach Planet (2), Uni 28 Astro, Report 372, TAL factory maple, Vixen ASG-CB90, Vixen AXD-TR102
Diagonals: Astro-Physics, Baader Amici, Baader Herschel, iStar Blue, Stellarvue DX, Takahashi prism, TAL, Vixen flip mirror
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Re: OTA Tube Rings... How Tight?

#3

Post by chartram »


Thank you ma’am!

Mike
Mike Chartrand
Scopes: WO Star 71 Gen-II (F/4.9), Astro-Tech AT115EDT (F/7), Celestron 8" Edge HD (F/10)
Cameras: ZWO ASI1600MM w/ Baader 1.25" LRGB & Narrowband Filters, ZWO ASI174MM mini, Starlight Xpress Lodestar X2
Mount: Skywatcher NEQ6 Pro
Guiding: Orion ST-80 (f/5) w/ADM MiniMax (side-by-side), ZWO OAG
Software: PHD2, Sequence Generator Pro, PixInsight
Dark Site Transportation System: 2020 Telluride SX
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Re: OTA Tube Rings... How Tight?

#4

Post by turboscrew »


Lady Fraktor wrote: Thu Jun 03, 2021 9:57 pm Yes they can be to tight. I have seen people tighten them enough to snap/ bend the tube clamps or even dent the telescope tube.
Snug them equally but just enough to hold the tube is more than enough pressure.
Would it be a good if one ring can just hold the tube, then tighten the other ring with the same tightness?
BTW, your equipment list... :lol:
- Juha

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Telescope: OrionOptics XV12, Mount: CEM120, Tri-pier 360 and alternative dobson mount.
Grab 'n go: Omegon AC 102/660 on AZ-3 mount
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OAG: TS-Optics TSOAG09, ZWO EFW 7 x 36 mm, ZWO filter sets: LRGB and Ha/OIII/SII
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Some filters (#80A, ND-96, ND-09, Astronomik UHC)
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Re: OTA Tube Rings... How Tight?

#5

Post by Lady Fraktor »


You would end up with one tighter than the other unless you plan on tightening with a torquing bar.
See Far Sticks: Antares Elita 103/1575, AOM FLT 105/1000, Bresser BV 127/1200, Nočný stopár 152/1200, Vyrobené doma 70/700, Stellarvue NHNG DX 80/552, TAL RS100/1000, Vixen SD115s/885
EQ: TAL MT-1, Vixen SXP, AXJ, AXD
Az/Alt: AYO Digi II/ Argo Navis, Stellarvue M2C/ Argo Navis
Tripods: Berlebach Planet (2), Uni 28 Astro, Report 372, TAL factory maple, Vixen ASG-CB90, Vixen AXD-TR102
Diagonals: Astro-Physics, Baader Amici, Baader Herschel, iStar Blue, Stellarvue DX, Takahashi prism, TAL, Vixen flip mirror
Eyepieces: Antares to Zeiss
The only culture I have is from yogurt
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Re: OTA Tube Rings... How Tight?

#6

Post by turboscrew »


Lady Fraktor wrote: Sat Jun 05, 2021 6:11 pm You would end up with one tighter than the other unless you plan on tightening with a torquing bar.
But neither would be very tight.
- Juha

Senior Embedded SW Designer
Telescope: OrionOptics XV12, Mount: CEM120, Tri-pier 360 and alternative dobson mount.
Grab 'n go: Omegon AC 102/660 on AZ-3 mount
Eyepieces: 26 mm Omegon SWAN 70°, 15 mm TV Plössl, 12.5 mm Baader Morpheus, 10 mm TV Delos, 6 mm Baader Classic Ortho, 5 mm TV DeLite, 4 mm and 3 mm TV Radians
Cameras: ZWO ASI 294MM Pro, Omegon veLOX 178C
OAG: TS-Optics TSOAG09, ZWO EFW 7 x 36 mm, ZWO filter sets: LRGB and Ha/OIII/SII
Explore Scientific HR 2" coma corrector, Meade x3 1.25" Barlow, TV PowerMate 4x 2"
Some filters (#80A, ND-96, ND-09, Astronomik UHC)
Laptop: Acer Enduro Urban N3 semi-rugged, Windows 11
LAT 61° 28' 10.9" N, Bortle 5

I don't suffer from insanity. I'm enjoying every minute of it.

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Re: OTA Tube Rings... How Tight?

#7

Post by Lady Fraktor »


They do not need to be tight, just snug enough to hold the telescope in place.
See Far Sticks: Antares Elita 103/1575, AOM FLT 105/1000, Bresser BV 127/1200, Nočný stopár 152/1200, Vyrobené doma 70/700, Stellarvue NHNG DX 80/552, TAL RS100/1000, Vixen SD115s/885
EQ: TAL MT-1, Vixen SXP, AXJ, AXD
Az/Alt: AYO Digi II/ Argo Navis, Stellarvue M2C/ Argo Navis
Tripods: Berlebach Planet (2), Uni 28 Astro, Report 372, TAL factory maple, Vixen ASG-CB90, Vixen AXD-TR102
Diagonals: Astro-Physics, Baader Amici, Baader Herschel, iStar Blue, Stellarvue DX, Takahashi prism, TAL, Vixen flip mirror
Eyepieces: Antares to Zeiss
The only culture I have is from yogurt
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Re: OTA Tube Rings... How Tight?

#8

Post by LDW47 »


It can't completely slide out and hit the floor. If it was too loose and slid it would be caught by the finder / focuser one way or the larger diameter dew shield on the other. But it should be snugged down fairly tight, with the equal pressure around the full circumfirence it would be almost impossible to do damage to anything.
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