Does anyone have experience collimating an RC 8" scope using the OCAL collimator?
I think it should work well, it definitely works well with an SCT.
Thanks,
Jerry
I think it should work well, it definitely works well with an SCT.
Thanks,
Jerry
OCAL3.0 (or 3.0 Max) and RC Telescopes
Well Written
Hi Jerry,
I have both an 8” and a 12” RC both from TS-Optics and I collimate them with the Ocal 3.0. So far I have only needed to touch the secondary mirrors, never the primary anyway. I achieve perfect collimation very easily and I also used it on my Newt with excellent results.
Maybe I’ve been lucky that they came from the factory with the primary holding collimation. Don’t know if I’ll have any trouble when I need to do that in the future. Chances are that when you receive yours the secondary will be off (my 8 inch was very off and my 12 inch way way off) but fixing it was so easy with the Ocal tool.
I have both an 8” and a 12” RC both from TS-Optics and I collimate them with the Ocal 3.0. So far I have only needed to touch the secondary mirrors, never the primary anyway. I achieve perfect collimation very easily and I also used it on my Newt with excellent results.
Maybe I’ve been lucky that they came from the factory with the primary holding collimation. Don’t know if I’ll have any trouble when I need to do that in the future. Chances are that when you receive yours the secondary will be off (my 8 inch was very off and my 12 inch way way off) but fixing it was so easy with the Ocal tool.
Helpful
Hi Alvaro,
Thank you for sharing that information. It really helps a lot. I have the OCAL 3.0 and it works well with my SCT but I want to try imaging now with an RC. You're using the OCAL 3.0, not the max? I wonder if the Max will be better…
Best,
Jerry
Thank you for sharing that information. It really helps a lot. I have the OCAL 3.0 and it works well with my SCT but I want to try imaging now with an RC. You're using the OCAL 3.0, not the max? I wonder if the Max will be better…
Best,
Jerry
Well Written Respectful
Jerry Gerber:
Hi Alvaro,
Thank you for sharing that information. It really helps a lot. I have the OCAL 3.0 and it works well with my SCT but I want to try imaging now with an RC. You're using the OCAL 3.0, not the max? I wonder if the Max will be better...
Best,
Jerry
Hi Jerry,
I’m using the 3.0. There is a tutorial by Ocal on collimating an RC with it that you can use as a reference (I did). It is on YouTube. Helped me identify which circle corresponds to each thing. If it helped me, being a hopeless case for tech as I am, I’m sure it will serve anyone! 😅
Helpful Respectful Engaging Supportive
Hi,
I collimate my GSO RC10 with my OCAL as a "daytime preparation" for the startest. This works OK, but sometimes it is hard to see the shadow of the primary (OCAL PRO 2.0).
My scope is not very precise mechanically and the optical axis does not align with the mechanical axis, unfortunately. I can never get all rings concentric.
But when I consider this "mechanical offset" the scope looks fine most of the time, just some small nudges to the primary under the stars and I am set.
CS
I collimate my GSO RC10 with my OCAL as a "daytime preparation" for the startest. This works OK, but sometimes it is hard to see the shadow of the primary (OCAL PRO 2.0).
My scope is not very precise mechanically and the optical axis does not align with the mechanical axis, unfortunately. I can never get all rings concentric.
But when I consider this "mechanical offset" the scope looks fine most of the time, just some small nudges to the primary under the stars and I am set.
CS
Helpful Insightful Respectful
Hi Jerry,
I was using the OCAL 2 to collimate my RC8 but now I use the OCAL 3 and it's a lot more sensitive making collimation a bit more easy. Below is a screenshot of how mine looks in action. I use one of those portable video lights to do my collimation and comes in handy if I need to make adjustments in the field. I should also point out that I use a imagetrain-primary decoupler that a person on Cloudy Nights created. Here's the link if you are interested: https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/827768-finally-made-an-rc-collimation-adapter/ This allows me to align the imaging train with the secondary and do a rough collimation of the primary using the spider veins as a guide. Then just star collimate the primary only like you would with a much larger RC.
Clear Skies!
Dave
I was using the OCAL 2 to collimate my RC8 but now I use the OCAL 3 and it's a lot more sensitive making collimation a bit more easy. Below is a screenshot of how mine looks in action. I use one of those portable video lights to do my collimation and comes in handy if I need to make adjustments in the field. I should also point out that I use a imagetrain-primary decoupler that a person on Cloudy Nights created. Here's the link if you are interested: https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/827768-finally-made-an-rc-collimation-adapter/ This allows me to align the imaging train with the secondary and do a rough collimation of the primary using the spider veins as a guide. Then just star collimate the primary only like you would with a much larger RC.
Clear Skies!
Dave
Helpful Supportive
David Huff:
Hi Jerry,
I was using the OCAL 2 to collimate my RC8 but now I use the OCAL 3 and it's a lot more sensitive making collimation a bit more easy. Below is a screenshot of how mine looks in action. I use one of those portable video lights to do my collimation and comes in handy if I need to make adjustments in the field. I should also point out that I use a imagetrain-primary decoupler that a person on Cloudy Nights created. Here's the link if you are interested: https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/827768-finally-made-an-rc-collimation-adapter/ This allows me to align the imaging train with the secondary and do a rough collimation of the primary using the spider veins as a guide. Then just star collimate the primary only like you would with a much larger RC.
Clear Skies!
Dave
Hi Dave,
I just bought the OCAL 3.0 Max. I've been using the 3.0 on my Edge HD 8" and it works very well. I'm looking forward to seeing how much improvement the MAX gives. I've decided not to get an RC and continue using the Edge. I'll post the collimation results with the 3.0 Max when I get them..
I just purchased a used RC8 and need to decide on a method to collimate it and purchase the required accessories.
I'm very interested in the Ocal and the SKW collimator software. I like the flexibility the Ocal offers with daytime operation and both PC and Android software. But I've heard the SKW software in the end offers more precise results.
because of the price point of both the SKW licenses and the Ocal 3 max, I'm also considering temporarily using a ts-optics TRSColli device. Do any of you have any experience with those?
I'm interested in your opinions.
Does the Ocal provide a good enough final collimation on the GSO RC8? Do any of you have experience with the SKW software?
Thanks
I'm very interested in the Ocal and the SKW collimator software. I like the flexibility the Ocal offers with daytime operation and both PC and Android software. But I've heard the SKW software in the end offers more precise results.
because of the price point of both the SKW licenses and the Ocal 3 max, I'm also considering temporarily using a ts-optics TRSColli device. Do any of you have any experience with those?
I'm interested in your opinions.
Does the Ocal provide a good enough final collimation on the GSO RC8? Do any of you have experience with the SKW software?
Thanks
Engaging