Meade 647 User manual

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Introduction:

The

Meade

Model

647

CCD

Flip-Mirror

System

(2°)

is

a

major

advancement

in

systems

specifically

designed

for

CCD

imaging

where

large

CCD

chips

(ə.g.,

the

Pictor

1616XT)

are

employed.

One

of

the

most

important

aspects

of

this

system

is

the

dramatic

reduction

in

setup

and

focus

time

after

initial

calibration.

Threaded

on

to

the

rear

cell

of

any

Meade

LxX-series

mirror-lens

telescope

or

to

other

Schmidt-

Cassegrain

telescope

brands,

the

Flip-Mirror

allows

direct

visual

inspection

of

the

imaging

area,

permitting

quick

and

convenient

image

composition

and

focus.

The

Flip-Mirror

may

be

used

with

any

Meade

Pictor

CCD

Autoguider/Imager

or

with

other

CCD

imager

brands,

or

with

removabie-lens

35mm

SLR

cameras.

Detailed

here,

are

the

standard

accessories

for

the

Meade

Flip-

Mirror

(2”),

and

instructions

for

use.

Attaching

the

Flip-Mirror

to

the

Telescope:

Remove

any

attachments

to

the

threaded

rear

cell

of

the

telescope

(e.g.,

eyepiece

holder

or

diagonal

prism/mirror)

and

attach

the

Flip-Mirror,

by

turning

the

Flip-Mirror’s

thread-on,

knurled

ring

(1,

Fig.

2)

clockwise

to

a

firm

feel.

if

a

different

viewing

angle

is

desired,

slightly

tum

the

Flip-

Mirror's

thread-on,

knurled

ring

counterclockwise

to

loosen

the

device

from

the

rear

cell,

rotate

the

device

to

the

desired

position

and

re-tighten

using

the

method

described

above.

Attaching

the

CCD

Camera

to

the

Flip-Mirror:

Meade

Pictor

Autoguider/Imagers

(or

other

CCD

camera

system

brands)

are

attached

to

the

Flip-Mirror

by

means

of

the

T-thread

interface

(4

or

5,

Fig.

2)

or

the

1.25”

Barrel

Adapter

Holder

(3,

Fig.

2).

It

is

also

possible

to

use

the

Pictor

216XT,

416XT,

or

1616XT

with

the

Pictor

Color

Filter

System

(either

#616

or

#616A)

in

conjunction

with

the

Flip-Mirror.

To

attach

the

CCD

camera

to

the

Flip-Mirror

using

the

1.25”

Barrel

Adapter,

first

connect

the

1.25”

Barrel

Adapter

Holder

(3,

Fig.2)

to

the

Flip-Mirror’s

Back

Plate

(2,

Fig.

2)

by

securing

it

with

the

inner

set

of

three

thumbscrews

(1,

Fig.

1),

then

slide

in

the

camera.

Secure

the

camera

to

the

1.25”

Barrel

Adapter

Holder

with

the

outer

set

of

three

thumbscrews

(2,

Fig.

1).

Many

CCD

cameras,

including

all

Pictor

Autoguider/Imagers,

can

be

attached

to

the

Flip-Mirror

via

the

T-thread

interface,

with

or

without

their

corresponding

color

filter

systems.

To

attach

a

T-thread

compatible

CCD

camera

without

a

color

filter

system,

thread-in

the

Long

T-Adapter

(4,

Fig.

2)

to

the

CCD

camera

body.

Then

attach

the

Long

T-Adapter

with

CCD

camera

to

the

Flip-Mirror's

Back

Plate

(2,

Fig.2),

securing

the

Long

T-Adapter

with

the

three

thumbscrews.

To

attach

a

T-thread

compatible

CCD

camera

with

a

color

filter

system

(or

a

removable-iens

35mm

SLR

camera

body

with

the

appropriate

optional

camera-specific

T-mount),

thread-in

the

Short

T-Adapter

(5,

Fig.2)

to

the

camera

body.

Then

attach

the

Short

T-Adapter

with

CCD

camera

to

the

Flip-Mirror's

Back

Plate

(2,

Fig.

2),

securing

the

Short

T-Adapter

with

the

three

thumbscrews.

,

With

either

T-Adapter

attached,

the

rotational

orientation

of

the

CCD

camera

head

can

be

changed

as

desired

by

loosening

the

T-Adapter’s

three

thumbscrews

slightly

(while

securely

holding

the

camera)

and

changing

the

rotational

position

of

the

CCD

camera.

Secure

the

camera

by

tightening

the

three

thumbscrews

of

the

T-Adapter.

Operating

Instructions

Meade

Model

647

CCD

Flip-Mirror

System

(2”)

=.

=

1

i

pna

pen

—

a

pau

—

-e

—

ps

i

—

FLIP-

MIRROR

SYSTEM

MODEL

647

Fig.

1:

Model

647

CCD

Flip-Mirror

System

(2”)

Choosing

the

Eyepiece

and

Matching

Focus

to

the

Camera:

Once

the

focus

is

matched

between

the

eyepiece

and

the

CCD

camera,

focusing

the

eyepiece

using

the

telescope’s

focus

knob

assures

a

sharp

focus

in

the

CCD

camera.

A

great

many

eyepieces,

both

1.25”

and

2”

O.D.,

match

focus

with

Meade

Pictor

Series

Autoguider/Imagers

and

with

many

other

CCD

camera

brands,

when

used

with

the

fieace

Model

647

—

Flip-Mirror

System

(2”).

Among

the

eyepieces

manufactured

by

Meade,

these

specific

eyepieces

may

be

employed

with

Meade

Pictor

Autoguider/Imagers:

¢

All

Meade

Illuminated

Reticle

Eyepieces

including

PL9mm

and

MA12mm

(1.25”

O.D.)

e

Meade

MA

12mm

Astrometric

Eyepiece

(1.25"

O.D.)

e

Meade

Pléssi

25mm

CCD

Framing

Eyepiece

(1.25”

O.D.)

e

—

All

Series

3000

Pléss!

Eyepieces

(1.25”

O.D.)

¢

_

All

Series

4000

Super

Pléss!

Eyepieces

(1.25”

O.D.)

¢

_

All

Series

4000

Super

Wide

Angle

Eyepieces

(1.25”

O.D.)

e

Series

4000

Ultra

Wide

Angle

Eyepieces

4.7mm,

6.7mm,

and

8.8mm

(1.25”

O.D.)

e

Series

4000

Super

Wide

Angle

Eyepieces

32mm

and

40mm

(2"

O.D.)

NOTE:

Directions

to

tum

the

Mirror

Control

Knob

to

the

“UP”

or

“DOWN”

position

(i.e.,

clockwise

or

counterclockwise)

are

described

as

when

facing

the

Flip-Mirror

Case

Cover

(16,

Fig.

2).

To

match

focus

with

the

selected

eyepiece

to

the

attached

CCD

camera,

place

the

mirror

of

the

Flip-Mirror

in

the

“UP”

position,

by

tuming

the

Mirror

Control

Knob

(6,

Fig.

2)

counterclockwise

until

the

knob

reaches

its

stop.

This

allows

the

light

coming

through

the

telescope

to

reach

the

imaging

plane

of

the

CCD

camera.

Focus

is

made

by

tuming

the

telescope’s

focus

knob

in

the

usual

method

as

described

in

the

camera’s

instruction

manual.

Use

the

instruction

manual

for

the

CCD

camera

to

focus

the

image.

Once

the

image

(¢.g.,

a

star

or

other

celestial

object)

is

precisely

focused

on

the

CCD

camera,

tum

the

Mirror

Control

Knob

clockwise

to

piace

the

mirror

in

the

“DOWN”

position

until

the

knob

reaches

its

stop.

The

Meade

Flip-Mirror

employs

a

2”

O.D.

Helical

Focuser

with

a

removable

2”

to

1.25"

O.D.

Eyepiece

Holder

Adapter

(7,

Fig.

2)

to

allow

use

of

1.25”

O.D.

or

2”

O.D.

eyepieces.

Matching

eyepiece

focus

with

the

attached

CCD

camera

is

achieved

by

releasing

the

Focuser

Lock

Ring

(8

Fig.

2),

by

turing

it

counterclockwise

and

tuming

the

Helical

Focuser

Tube

(9,

Fig.

2)

clockwise

or

counterclockwise

until

the

image

is

sharp

as

seen

through

the

eyepiece.

Do

not

turn

the

focus

knob

of

the

telescope

to

focus

the

eyepiece,

as

such

operation

negates

the

precise

focus

to

the

CCD

camera’s

imaging

plane.

Thread-on

Knurled

Ring

Back

Plate

1.25”

Barrel

Adapter

Holder

Long

T-Adapter

Short

T-Adapter

Mirror

Control

Knobs

2”-1.25”

1.D.

Eyepiece

Holder

Adapter

.

Helical

Focuser

Lock

Ring

.

Helical

Focuser

Tube

YO

PNAA

aw

Fig.

2:

Meade

Model

647

Flip-Mirror

System

(2")

—

Exploded

View

Lock

the

eyepiece

focus

in

position

by

tuming

the

Focus

Lock

Ring

to

a

firm

feel.

Depending

on

the

eyepiece

selected,

the

Helical

Focuser

Tube

may

be

turned

to

furthest

threaded-out

position,

where

it

may

be

necessary

to raise

the

eyepiece

barrel

out

of

the

eyepiece

holder

to

achieve

correct

focus.

In

this

circumstance,

loosen

the

eyepiece

holder's

thumbscrew

and

lift

the

eyepiece

until

the

image

is

sharp.

Tighten

the

eyepiece

holders

thumbscrew

to

secure

the

proper

focus

position

of

the

eyepiece.

.

.

Horizontal

Mirror

Adjustment

Lock

Screws

-

Horizontal

Mirror

Adjustment

Screws

.

Vertical

Mirror

Adjustment

Screw

.

Vertical

Mirror

Adjuster

Locking

Nut

-

Mirror

Control

Knob

Set

Screw

-

Mirror

Shaft

Tension

Adjuster

Screw

.

Flip-Mirror

Case

Cover

.

Case

Cover

Attachment

Screws

Important

Note:

Provided

that

the

camera/eyepiece

combination

remains

unchanged,

the

Flip-Mirror

remains

calibrated

to

match

focus

during

subsequent

imaging

runs,

greatly

reducing

setup

and

focus

times

when

taking

CCD

images.

Without

the

CCD

imaging

camera,

the

Flip-Mirror

can

replace

the

telescope’s

usual

2”

diagonal

mirror

and

can

be

used

with

any

1.25”

or

2”

O.D.

eyepiece

for

visual

observing.

Special

Note

Regarding

Use

with

Focal

Reducers:

When

used

with

a

Meade

(or

other

brand

of)

Schmidt-Cassegrain

telescope,

the

Flip-Mirror

may

not

reach

focus

in

conjunction

with

a

focal

reducer

lens

such

as

the

Meade

£/3.3

or

f/6.3

Focal

Reducer/Field

Flattener.

Mirror

Adjustments:

Once

the

eyepiece

focus

has

been

matched

to

the

CCD

camera,

the

next

step

is

to

adjust

the

internal

mirror

so

that

what

is

centered

in

the

eyepiece

is

also

centered

in

the

CCD

camera.

Prior

to

using

the

Flip-Mirror

.

System,

the

System’s

internal

mirror

must

be

adjusted

so

that

the

center

of

the

CCD

image’s

focal

plane

(ie.,

with

the

System's

internal

mirror

in

the

“UP”

position)coincides

with

the

center

of

the

eyepiece’s

field

of

view

(i.e.,

with

the

System’s

internal

mirror

in

the

“DOWN?”

position).

To

make

horizontai

adjustments

to

the

mirror,

use

the

supplied

hex-head

wrench

to

release

(tuming

counterciockwise)

one

of

the

hex-head

Horizontal

Mirror

Adjustment

Lock

Screws

(10,

Fig.

2).

Then

tum

the

two

hex-head

Horizontal

Mirror

Adjustment

Screws

(11,

Fig.

2)

clockwise

or

counterclockwise

by

equal

amounts.

Check

for

horizontal

centering

in

the

eyepiece

by

locking

(turning

clockwise)

the

hex-head

Horizontal

Mirror

Adjustment

Lock

Screw

(10,

Fig.

2).

If

the

object

has

moved

within

the

field

of

view

of

the

eyepiece

in

an

undesired

direction,

return

the

Horizontal

Mirror

Adjustment

Screws

to

their

original

position.

Then

make

adjustments

to

the

other

set

of

screws

on

the

opposite

side

of

the

Flip-Mirror.

To

make

vertical

adjustments,

locate

the

Vertical

Mirror

Adjustment

Screw

(12,

Fig.

2)

and

release

it’s

Locking

Nut

(13,

Fig.

2).

Turn

the

Vertical

Mirror

Adjustment

Screw

clockwise

or

counterclockwise

as

necessary

until

the

object

is

perfectly

centered

in

the

eyepiece.

Turn

the

Vertical

Mirror

Adjustment

Locking

Nut

clockwise

until

it

is

snug.

Using

the

Flip-Mirror:

With

the

focus

matched

and

the

mirror

adjusted,

the

Flip-Mirror

is

now

ready

for

use.

To

take

an

image

follow

this

procedure

+

Turn

the

Mirror

Control

Knob

clockwise

to

place

the

mirror

in

the

“DOWN”

position

until

the

knob

reaches

its

stop.

e

—

Confirm

that

the

object

is

in

the

field

of

view.

e

Look

through

the

telescope

eyepiece

and

verify

focus.

Make

any

focus

adjustments

using

the

telescope’s

focus

knob.

*

To

take

an

image,

turn

the

Mirror

Control

Knob

counterclockwise

to

place

the

mirror

in

the

“UP”

position

until

the

knob

reaches

its

stop.

This

allows

the

light

coming

through

the

telescope

to

reach

the

imaging

piane

of

the

CCD

camera

so

an

exposure

can

be

made.

NOTE:

Changing

the

focus

position

of

the

Helical

Focuser

negates

the

matched

focus

of

the

camera.

If

there

is

any

change

to

the

eyepiece/camera

combination

the

focus

and

mirror

adjustment

sections

of

these

instructions

must

be

verified.

If

the

camera

is

rotated

for

a

new

image

orientation,

the

mirror

adjustment

must

be

verified.

Maintenance:

!f

the

Mirror

Control

Knob

shaft

loses

tension

it

is

unable

to

hold

the

mirror

in

a

given

position.

To

increase

tension

to

this

shaft

use

the

supplied

hex-head

wrench

to

remove

the

left-side

Mirror

Control

Knob

(6,

Fig.

2)

from

the

shaft

by

releasing

the

hex-head

set

screw

(14,

Fig.2).

Then

remove

the

four

Case

Cover

Attachment

Screws

(17,

Fig.

2)

from

the

Flip-Mirror

Case

Cover

(16,

Fig.

2)

on

the

left

side

of

the

Flip-Mirrors

Case

to

gain

access

to

the

Mirror

Shaft

Tension

Adjustment

Screw

(15,

Fig.

2).

Turn

the

hex-head

screw

slightly

clockwisa,

while

testing

the

tension

by

tuming

the

remaining

Mirror

Control

Knob.

Avoid

cleaning

the

flip-mirror

optics:

a

little

dust

on

the

surface

of

the

mirror

causes

virtually

no

degradation

of

image

quality

and

should

not

be

considered

reason

to

clean

the

mirror.

DO

NOT

disassemble

the

flip-mirror

to

clean

the

interior

surfaces.

When

absolutely

necessary,

dust

should

be

removed:

with

gentle

strokes

of

a

camel

hair

brush

or

blown

off

with

an

ear

syringe

(available

at

any

pharmacy).

DO

NOT

use

a

commerci

i

i

r.

If

you

have

any

questions

regarding

the

use

of

the

Flip-Mirror,

please

call

Meade

Customer

Service

at

(949)

451-1450.

Customer

Service

hours

are

from

8:30

A.M.

to

4:30

P.M.

Pacific

Time,

Monday

through

Friday.