Dovetail size for CEM60

[biswasg]

I am trying to mount my Vixen A105 MII on the CEM60. However, I realize that the Vixen dovetail plate which came with the Vixen telescope is too short in length. It is around 190mm in length. When I measure the CEM60 grip it is 200mm, so what should be the minimum length of the Vixen dovetail plate?

[Lady Fraktor]

Measure the length of the plate holder?

If the telescope has the factory dovetail and rings on it you may find that the tension knobs for the rings will not fit onto the mount.
If you purchase a longer dovetail bar you can either attach the old bar to the new one or purchase new tube rings.

[biswasg]

Measure the length of the plate holder?

If the telescope has the factory dovetail and rings on it you may find that the tension knobs for the rings will not fit onto the mount.
If you purchase a longer dovetail bar you can either attach the old bar to the new one or purchase new tube rings.

The length of the CEM60 plate holder is 200mm.
I am attaching 2 images, one highlighting the problem and the second is the underside of the vixen dovetail on the telescope.

[KathyNS]

I got a pair of 14-inch Vixen dovetails for my 200 x 800mm Newtonian. It originally came with an 8", which was too short. The longer dovetail makes for a more secure support for the scope and it avoids issues with the CEM-60's clamp. At the time I ordered them, I got two just because I figured that, sooner or later, I would need another one. It came in very handy when I upgraded my guide scope mounting system. The second dovetail is on top of the scope rings, supporting a pair of small rings that hold the guide scope.

[biswasg]

I checked the website of my local Astronomy store, it has a 211mm Vixen dovetail, which I think might still be short for the 200mm long CEM60 clamp. The store has a 355mm Losmandy style plate also. Wondering if this would work as the CEM accepts both Vixen and Losmandy style plates? But then not sure if it will attach to the rings due to the tension knobs, maybe on the other side of the rings.

[Lady Fraktor]

A Losmandy plate is to large really for a lightweight refractor.

Teleskop-Service sells many 300mm Vixen style dovetail plates, I prefer to use solid bars instead of extruded but the cost is higher for those.
With the weight of the 105mm a extruded bar will work fine though.
https://www.teleskop-express.de/en/moun ... l-bars-308

They are also available from Astroshop: https://www.astroshop.eu/mountings-acce ... Prism+rail

APM Teleskope sells 300mm plates as well: https://www.apm-telescopes.net/en/geopt ... nght-330mm

Bresser is the Europe distributor of Vixen so you may want to call/ email them and see if they have anything in stock.

You will have to purchase a new set of tube clamps/ rings though and all three of these sites sell them as well.

Enjoy the Vixen, I love my SD115s and unfortunately I had to pass along a A105M II at the beginning of the month.
Wonderful refractors.

[biswasg]

Many thanks to KathyNS and Lady Fraktor for their helpful suggestions.
After a further consultation with my local astronomy equipment store, I bought this Vixen plate https://www.optiqueperret.ch/acs-vixen/ ... bar-m.html.
It worked well, replaced the original Vixen dovetail plate and installed this new one. It also had bolts to replace the large clamping bolts.
The telescope now snuggly sits in the CEM mount. I am attaching two photos.

[Lady Fraktor]

When I wanted to place my SD115s on a different mount I purchased a 330mm dovetail bar.
I removed the handle and bolted the plate to the top of the rings.
This way I could mount it on the Vixen or Celestron mount just by flipping the tube.

[JayTee]

This way I could mount it on the Vixen or Celestron mount just by flipping the tube.

Smart!

[Lady Fraktor]

This way I could mount it on the Vixen or Celestron mount just by flipping the tube.

Smart!

Occasionally the various brain cells bump into each other