Starmax Resource Telescope 127 User Manual

Collimating Orion StarMax and Apex  
Maksutov-Cassegrain Telescopes  
(StarMax 90,102, and 127, Apex 90, 102, and 127)  
(9821,9824,9826,9820,9823,9825)  
Collimating is the process of aligning a telescope’s optics.  
Your StarMax or Apex’s primary mirror was aligned at the  
factory and should not need adjustment unless the telescope  
is handled roughly. This manual contains information on how  
to test the collimation of your telescope and instructions for  
proper alignment should that be needed.  
focus the image with the focusing knob. If the telescope is  
correctly collimated, the expanding disk should be a circle  
(Figure 1). If the image is unsymmetrical, the scope is out of  
collimation. Also, the dark shadow cast by the secondary mir-  
ror should appear in the very center of the out-of-focus circle,  
like the hole in a donut. If the “hole” appears off-center, the  
telescope is out of collimation.  
Star-Testing the Telescope  
If you try the star test but the bright star you have selected is  
not accurately centered in the eyepiece, the optics will  
always appear out of collimation, even though they may be  
perfectly aligned. It is critical to keep the star centered, so  
over time you will need to make slight corrections to the tele-  
scope’s position in order to account for the sky’s apparent  
motion.  
Before you start adjusting the primary mirror of your tele-  
scope, make certain that it is actually out of collimation by  
performing a star test.  
Take your telescope out at dusk and let it acclimate to the  
outside temperature; this usually takes 30-60 minutes. When  
it is dark, point the telescope upwards at a bright star and  
accurately center it in the eyepiece’s field of view. Slowly de-  
Collimating the StarMax/Apex  
To collimate your telescope, remove the diagonal and eye-  
piece and look into rear opening of the tube (also remove the  
dust cover from the front of the tube). This should be done  
indoors, with the telescope pointed at a white wall in a well-  
lit room. Try to keep your eye centered with respect to the  
rear opening of the tube as best as possible. Using an Orion  
Collimating Eyepiece will aid greatly in keeping your eye cen-  
tered and is strongly recommend.  
Alternatively, you can make a crude collimating tool out of an  
empty, black plastic 35mm film canister. It will not have  
crosshairs, so it won’t be as precise, but it will be better than  
nothing. Cut 1/2" from the top lip of the canister and put a  
1/16" to 1/8" diameter hole in the center of its bottom. Insert  
the film canister collimating tool into the focuser like an eye-  
piece with the bottom end out.  
Out of collimation  
Collimated  
Figure 1: A star test will determine if a telescope’s optics are  
properly collimated. An unfocused view of a bright star through the  
eyepiece should appear as illustrated on right if optics are perfectly  
collimated. If circle is unsymmetrical, as in illustration on left, scope  
needs collimation.  
IN 183 Rev A 03/02  
 
Figure 4a  
Figure  
4b  
Figure 4c  
Figure 4d  
Figure 4a: Using the 3mm  
Allen wrench, turn the large  
screw clockwise a small  
Figure 4b: Now, with the  
2mm Allen wrench, turn the  
two adjacent small screws  
counterclockwise no more  
than 1/4 turn.  
Figure 4c: Turn the small  
screw that is 180° opposite  
the first screw clockwise no  
more than 1/4 turn.  
Figure 4d: Turn the two  
large screws adjacent to the  
small screw counterclockwise  
no more than 1/4 turn.  
amount, no more than 1/4 of  
a turn. (Note, actual selected  
alignment screw will vary.)  
If the alignment screw is a large screw  
Turn the two large screws adjacent to the small screw  
(Figure 4d) counterclockwise no more than 1/4 turn.  
First, using the 3mm Allen wrench, turn the large screw clock-  
wise a small amount, no more than a 1/4 turn. (Figure 4a)  
Repeat the above steps until the front opening is centered in  
the direction you wanted it to go.You may need to repeat this  
(or the small screw adjustment process) with other screws in  
order to align it in other directions.  
Now, with the 2mm Allen wrench turn the two adjacent small  
screws (Figure 4b) counterclockwise no more than 1/4 turn.  
Locate the small screw that is 180° opposite the first screw  
(Figure 4c) and turn it clockwise no more than 1/4 turn.  
Figure 5a  
Figure 5b  
Figure 5c  
Figure 5d  
Figure 5a: Using the 2mm  
Allen wrench, turn the large  
screw counterclockwise a small  
amount, no more than 1/4 of a  
turn. (Note: Actual selected  
alignment screw will vary.)  
Figure 5b: Now, with the  
3mm Allen wrench turn the  
two adjacent large screws  
clockwise no more than  
1/4 turn.  
Figure 5c: Turn the  
Figure 5d: Turn the two  
large screws adjacent to the  
small screw clockwise no  
more than 1/4 turn.  
large screw that is 180°  
opposite the first screw  
counterclockwise no more  
than 1/4 turn.  
If the alignment screw is a small screw  
Turn the two small screws adjacent to the large screw (Figure  
5d) clockwise no more than 1/4 turn.  
First, using the 2mm Allen wrench, turn the small screw  
counterclockwise a small amount, no more than a 1/4 turn.  
(Figure 5a)  
Repeat the above steps until the front opening is centered in  
the direction you wanted it to go.You may need to repeat this  
(or the large screw adjustment process) with other screws in  
order to align it in other directions.  
Now, with the 3mm Allen wrench, turn the two adjacent large  
screws (Figure 5b) clockwise no more than 1/4 turn.  
Repeat these two procedures as needed until the view  
through the scope resembles Figure 2b.  
Locate the large screw that is 180° opposite the first screw  
(Figure 5c) and turn it counterclockwise no more than 1/4 turn.  
Finishing Collimation  
If you have gone through this process and your telescope is  
still out of collimation, please contact Orion customer sup-  
port.You may need to return the telescope for repair (covered  
on warranty for 1 year after purchase).  
Once you have finished adjusting your telescope, you will  
need to perform another star test (described earlier) to check  
the collimation. If your telescope appears collimated after  
star testing, it should not need adjustment again unless it is  
roughly handled.  
3
 

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