CNC Manufactured
About Our Dobsonian Mounts.
  Custom Collapsible Mounts.
  Custom Solid Mounts.
  Standard Solid Mounts.  
Clamshell Rings.
Comments And Photos.

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About Our Dobsonian Mounts


Standard Solid Mounts
This page contains information for:


Mount types available

  1. Rock Steady (RS) Custom Solid Series Mounts.
  2. Singularity Collapse (SC) Custom Collapsible Series Mounts.
  3. Standard Solid Mounts with Bearings: Fixed design that allows one mount to fit multiple telescope tubes.

Solid mounts are theoretically more rigid than collapsibles, but we have received no complaints about collapsible mount rigidity. Collapsibles are primarily designed for easy transportation and storage; folding flat to 5" height. Here is how a collapsible mount "folds" down for storage and transportation:
Mount assembled.
Left board folds inside.
Left and front boards fold out.
Both boards fold around.
All boards fold together.
All boards fold flat.

Within each solid and collapsible mount category, four subcategory types are available: three providing custom design, one a fixed standard design:

  1. Custom Mounts - to fit telescope tubes that have altitude bearings.
  2. Custom Mounts and Altitude Bearings - to fit telescope tubes without altitude bearings, or to upgrade small to larger bearings.
  3. Custom Mounts with Clamshell Rings and Altitude Bearings - allows rotation and repositioning of the telescope tube.
  4. Standard Solid Mount with Bearings - fits up to 12.5" tube diameters allowing approximately 23" swing-through room. Ask how to fit longer tubes.

Each type of mount is available as a kit, or finished:

  1. Kits have all parts included and arrive rough sanded, designed for ease of assembly. You fine sand, paint/finish and assemble. Requires hammer, Phillips screwdriver, crescent wrenches and small bottle of contact cement for bearing laminates.
  2. Finished arrives completed, water resistant red tinted gloss finish applied. Can be shipped unassembled to save cost or meet international size restrictions. In certain cases we may suggest sending easy to assemble parts unassembled.
Which mount type will will work best for you?
Does your telescope have only a tube without altitude bearings?
  Choose either:

1. Standard mount and bearings.
2. Custom mount with fitted altitude bearings.
3. Custom mount with clamshell rings and bearings.
Does your telescope have existing altitude bearings?
Choose either:

1. Standard mount and bearings.
2. Custom mount.
3. Custom mount with fitted altitude bearings: larger bearings would improve altitude control and balance.
4. Custom mounts with clamshell rings and bearings: improved control and balance, allows repositioning the eyepiece.
 
Is your telescope on an equatorial head in existing rings you want to use?
 

Choose either:

1. Custom mount with fitted altitude bearings.
2. Custom mounts with clamshell or rings and bearings: improved control and balance, ability to reposition the eyepiece.

 
Dobsonian Mounts for your SCT, Mak-Newt, Mak-Cass, very long Newtonian, refractor, or tripod mounting a small telescope.
  1. See our other custom mounts for solutions with sufficient stiffness to assure steadiness and comfortable eyepiece height.
Mount Materials
Our mounts are made from 3/4" Baltic Birch plywood. Solid mounts have 3/8" dowels inside the joints between rocker box boards and screwed together, both to add stiffness. Collapsible mounts fold flat to 5" height, are one-piece with all boards connected by heavy duty anodized aluminum hinges, and secured when assembled using clamping knobs. Clamping knobs store onboard when folded flat. Bearing materials are Teflon, Starboard and Formica crystal 909-42 laminate. Rocker box is attached to the ground board using 3/8" bolt, nylon flanged bushing, t-nut and nylock.


 
How we assure you get you what you expect.

First, you are given full control of design decisions on our custom mounts. You can leave it to us and our experience or participate at all levels of design.

We first discuss your goals, consider your requirements, and discuss possibilities and special requests sorting out possible from unrealistic and problem solve to achieve your design. Discussion is by e-mail ensuring clarity and agreement. At that point you can place an order.

AstroGoods next creates the CAD drawing will e-mail you a PDF copy showing all pertinent dimensions. Use the PDF drawing for review to give approval to proceed, or request revisions. Here is an example of a CAD drawing PDF:

 


Upon your approval of the design drawing, these dates are scheduled:

  1. CNC programming.
  2. CNC router time.
  3. Sanding parts.
  4. Dry fitting parts.
  5. Rework if necessary.
  6. Cutting and fitting teflon and bearing laminates.
  7. Spray finishing if applicable.
  8. Estimated ship date.

We reply promptly to all customer job status inquiries.

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