Mount and Drive Systems
Final installation of the Paramount ME. The basic set-up is shown top left. No cameras or addiitonal weights. The Orion ED80 is the mounted refractor. The attachment of the Cave OTA to the Paramount's 'versa plate' is through 8 bolts (4 on each side) which can be seen in the top right. I shipped the rotating ring assembly out to Andy Homeyer, who machines cradles for various OTA's and has knowledge of the versa plate's specs. The OTA adaptor set-up consists of heavy duty precisely machined radius blocks with subplates bolted on for a multiple point fixation. Please go to this page for details on the radius blocks and subplate attachment. Also shown above is the computer system which handles ALL camera equipment and the Paramount, eliminating the need for multiple laptops being transported in and out of the observatory. Ultimately, this new system can be operated remotely. The cannon shaped instrument is something called 'The Cantenna' which can increase wireless reception. The Paramount is attached to a steel pier (above left), which itself is bolted onto a concrete pad. The pad is a 13" square below which is a 12" sonotube sunk down into the footing below. The square hole was cut into the deck after the deck was completed and the dome assembled! Not an easy task! Now listen people, it CAN be done after the fact if you have the right help without taking apart the whole dome, but save yourself the hassles and do it right the first time! A 1" thick dense foam separates the pier from the surrounding deck so this is now a great set-up for imaging.

The pier
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