- Collimate Newtonian reflectors or SCTs
- Uses innovative Self-Centering Adapter technology for most precise centering and collimation
- Made of aero-space grade lightweight aluminum material
and CNC machined
- 45º faceplate with targeting grid allows more convenient alignment from the rear of the telescope
- Over 65 hours of operation with included CR123 batteries
- Available in 1.25" and 2" models
Laser Collimator with Self-Centering Adapter (SCA)
The HoTech laser collimator separates itself from all other laser collimators with its innovative self-centering adapter technology (SCA). This mechanism allows precise and repeatable installation in all brands of 1.25" and 2" telescope focusers. All laser collimators in the current market have one fundamental problem, slop in the adapting mechanism between the laser collimator and the telescope focuser. This problem is clearly recognized and often discussed among astronomers but so far there has been no definite solution in the market.
No matter how tightly the tolerances machined on the laser collimator or the focuser, a small gap is required to allow installation of the laser collimator. Once the laser collimator is inserted, the required gap becomes a problem. A laser collimator is secured with one or more thumbscrews or unified compression ring. Both methods introduce a very critical issue, namely an off-axis installment that instantly destroys the precision of your collimation instrument along the entire optical axis.
HoTech's Self-Centering Adapter cleverly eliminates the slop by linearly compressing the built-in rubber rings. By doing this, the diameter of the rings expands to compensate the gap. Because all rings evenly expand radially in diameter from the compression, this automatically centers the laser collimator in the focuser draw tube. The SCA adapter accommodates various brands of adapting focusers which have slightly different manufacturing inside diameters so HoTech's laser collimator will be precisely centered for each installment.
In summary, HoTech's SCA adapter serves three critical functions.
First,
its expansion rings accommodate almost all focuser's manufacturing
tolerances. Second, it automatically centers the adapting laser.
Third, it provides at least two evenly distributed circular contacts on
the focuser's inner tube surface preventing the adapting laser from
pivoting. Once the slop factor is taken away,
you can quickly collimate your telescope in confidence to achieve
perfect collimation every time.
Problem Solved with SCA Adapter Technology
HoTech engineers
successfully cut the unnecessary weight on the laser collimator because
they understand that additional weight on a telescope (especially open
structure Newtonians) will create imbalance and structure sagging. In addition, the heavier the device is, the more inertia it will have during an impact from an accidental drop. In
such an accident, the inertia force can cause more damage to the
internal alignment mechanism because there is more energy required to
dissipate from the impact. Therefore, the lightweight design on their laser collimator makes you gain reliable precision collimation. And of course HoTech's laser collimator uses aero-space grade lightweight aluminum material
and CNC machined with the tightest tolerances, then sand blasted and
anodized to protect from harsh environment. Nothing has been
sacrificed while you get a long lasting state-of-the-art collimation
instrument.
Includes 45º Faceplate Viewer with Laser Engraved Targeting Grid
The faceplate viewer helps to display the returning laser spot with a clear visual reference during adjustment. The faceplate allows you to align your primary mirror from the rear of the telescope eliminating traveling to the front of your scope repeatedly during collimation.
In addition, the faceplate viewer’s pattern is laser engraved to ensure a long lasting sharp targeting grid. Unlike other collimators, the target is not a sticker that will peel, or paint that can rub off or chip.
Finest Projecting Laser Dot
Keeping the laser dot to the finest point is the key to precision collimation since it significantly reduces the guess work involved when you try to center the dot; not just centering the laser dot to the center of the faceplate, but also centering the center of the dot itself. Ideally, the laser beam size within the collimation distance (laser collimator to the primary mirror and back to the faceplate) should remain a constant fine point. HoTech has been designing and building laser modules and systems for over 10 years for various professional industries.
High Accuracy Laser Alignment
The HoTech laser collimator is well centered and aligned which are critical factors for accurate collimation.
Long Lasting Battery Life
By
using the CR123, 3V battery as their laser power source, HoTech's laser
collimator has over 65 hours of continuous use battery life
time. The included CR123, 3V lithium battery operates well under a
typical cold night and it has a 10 years shelf life.
Collimation for your SCT
Commercially made SCTs all have slight optical and mechanical alignment errors. The error typically is in the centering of the secondary mirror. As the result, when a laser is installed and emitted from the focuser, the beam will seldom return dead center, even though star testing would indicate perfect collimation. In addition, the secondary mirror, convex shape, magnifies any error by about 5 times. The error of deviation for a typical well collimated SCT will return laser beam at around 0.125" to 0.250" off center. In order to compensate the optical and mechanical alignment errors of SCT, a different collimation approach is required in comparison with Newtonian telescope. If the procedure is followed through correctly, users can still accurately collimate their SCT.
By default, the laser will have to be positioned in the optical center of the SCT. The HoTech SCA laser collimator automatically eliminates the focuser slop without using the thumbscrew and center-positions itself on optical axis. For SCTs, the primary mirror is fixed, but you can collimate by adjusting the secondary mirror to a point parallel to the optical axis.
There is an one-time-only preperation you need to do for SCT laser collimation. First, install the SCA laser collimator and premark the laser position on the target grid of the collimator when your telescope is collimated from the factory or from your star collimation. Then when you check for collimation next time, just adapt the SCA laser collimator on the focuser, 2" or 1.25" and see if the laser falls on the premarked laser position. If not, adjust the alignment screws on the secondary mirror to move the returning laser dot to the premarked postion on the target grid. See illustrations below.
Diffraction Grating Pattern Lens on the SCA Laser Collimator
Since HoTech's SCA Laser Collimator is already accurate with the SCA technology, fine laser dot, and the built-in 45 degree faceplate, there is no need to use the DFG pattern to align the primary mirror of a Newtonian telescope. The purpose of using the DFG pattern is to eliminate gross misalignment the primary mirror. The user aligns the primary mirror by referencing the shadow of the secondary in the projected DFG pattern on a wall, and the user counts the DFG dots around the shadow to center in the shadow. This method cannot achieve accurate alignment because the gap between each dot can make a big alignment difference. At the final alignment stage, the user must bring the laser dot back to the laser exit (the center of the 45 degrees faceplate). HoTech's built-in 45 degrees faceplate allows you to align your primary mirror from the rear of the telescope eliminating traveling to the front of your scope repeatedly during collimation like other collimators. Therefore, there is no need to use DFG lens in conjunction with our SCA Laser Collimator.
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