Sizing a Secondary Holder

The secondary mirror size is based on the minor axis, or width.  The secondary holders manufactured by AstroSystems will accommodate a secondary mirror that is within 1% of the nominal holder size.  It is also required that the mirror have an accurate proportion between minor and major axis dimensions.  To check the ratio of the length and width of the secondary mirror, multiply the width by 1.414.  A variation of 20-30 thousandths of an inch (<1/32") is acceptable.  Be sure to measure the outside dimensions of the secondary mirror, not just the polished optical surface.  While it appears that the slit in the side of the shroud would allow it to fit varying mirrors, the forming of a rigid lip limits the adjustability to 1% variance in size.

Minor Axis Major Axis Minor Axis Size Range   Minor Axis Major Axis Minor Axis Size Range
1.30 1.84 1.287-1.313  

3.10

4.38 3.069-3.131
1.36 1.92 1.345-1.375   3.50 4.95 3.465-3.535
1.52 2.15 1.505-1.535   4.00 5.65 3.960-4.040
1.83 2.59 1.810-1.848   4.25 6.01 4.207-4.292
2.00 2.83 1.980-2.020   4.50 6.36 4.455-4.545
2.14 3.03 2.118-2.161   5.00 7.07 4.950-5.050
2.50 3.53 2.475-2.525   5.50 7.77 5.445-5.555
2.60 3.68 2.574-2.626   6.00 8.48 5.940-6.060
2.75 3.89 2.690-2.810   6.50 9.19 6.435-6.565
3.00 4.24 2.970-3.030        

 

To determine the size of your secondary mirror

 

Sizing a Spider - length tip to tip

The spiders manufactured by AstroSystems are made to the size (tip to tip) specified by the customer.  They are welded and not adjustable.  The hexagonal stainless steel vane end is 0.75" long and 0.35" across the tips.  It has a 0.30" deep slit that is welded onto the vane.  This leaves 0.40" of the 10-32 threaded portion available for the mount screw.  Spiders get their rigidity, and hence their ability to hold accurate collimation, by being tensioned.  It is important to size the spider and mount hardware to get the maximum tension possible with the tube materials.  The hardware is provided and is stainless steel, #10-32, with a Phillips drive pan head and #10 washer.

Spider sizes can be customized from the charts below for unusual proportions.  Examples would include but are not limited to:

A small astrograph or very short f/ratio telescope with a large secondary mirror, a large long f/ratio telescope with a small secondary mirror.

1.  Size the spider with 0.06" or more space between the vane end and tube wall to allow for the fact the tube will deform inwards as the attachment screw is tightened.  Large fender washers or internal reinforcement is required on a cardboard tube.

2.  Have at least 0.75" of space between the edge of the primary mirror and the tube wall, as seen from the front of the telescope.  This keeps the shadow, and added diffraction, of the spider's vane end out of the light path.  This space will also allow warm air to escape out the front with minimal effect on the seeing on the inside of the tube and minimize vignetting (light loss) at the edge of the field.

3.   With truss telescopes, the light baffle material can be drilled for the vane end to protrude.  This gets the vane end close to the ring spacer and out of the light path (see bottom drawing above).

4.   The mount screw should be sized to thread into the vane end at least 5 threads (0.15").  If the mount screw is too long and bottoms or the tube wall deforms to allow the screw to bottom, the spider is not tensioned properly and will not hold proper collimation.

 

Example 1:  A tube has an inside dimension of 10" and a wall thickness of 1/2".

The spider will be ordered at  9.88" (10" ID less the 0.06" space at each vane tip) with 7/8" hardware.  The mount screw goes through the 0.5" tube wall, spans the 0.06" gap and will thread 0.31" into the vane end (10 threads).

Example 2:  A truss telescope for a 20" mirror has an upper cage inside diameter of 21" with 1.25" spacer tubes 1/4" outside of the light baffle (see bottom drawing above).  The spider will be ordered at 21.38" with 1.6" hardware.  The light baffle is drilled with a 3/8" hole to clear the vane end.  The mount screw goes through the 1.25" spacer, spans the 0.06" gap and threads 0.29" into the vane end (9 threads).

 

Sizing a Spider - body dimensions and number of vane fasteners

 

Style 1    Heavy Duty

                1.5" wide at the center body, 0.022" thick vanes, single stainless vane fastener #10-32, 3/8" inside diameter center body, supplied with a 1/4"-3/8" bushing for 1/4" mount shaft,

                14" maximum length.  Strong and light, recommended for 1.32" - 2.14" secondary mirror

Style 2    Heavy Duty

                2.5" wide at the center body, 0.029" thick vanes, single vane fastener #10-32, 3/8" inside diameter center body, 22" maximum length

                Strong and light, recommended for 2.5" - 4" secondary mirror

Style 3    Heavy Duty

                2.5" wide at the center body, 0.029" thick vanes, double vane fasteners #10-32, 1" center to center vane end spacing

               3/8" inside diameter center body, 26" maximum length.

                Strong, the double vane ends give extra stability for less rigid mounting - cardboard or aluminum tubing cage mounts, heavier secondaries

                or shorter f/ratios (f/4.5 or less).  Recommended for 2.5" - 4.5" secondary mirrors.

Style 4    Super Duty

                3" wide at the center body, 0.048" thick vanes, double vane fasteners #10-32, 1" center to center vane end spacing, 

               1/2" inside diameter center body, 37" maximum length.  Recommended for 4.25" - 5.0" secondary mirrors

Style 5    Super Duty II

                4" wide at the center body, 0.048" thick vanes, double vane fasteners 1/4-20, 2.5" center to center vane end spacing, 

               1/2" inside diameter center body, 40" maximum length.  Recommended for large scopes with heavy secondary mirrors 5" - 6.5".

               Best for short focal length (SFL) having thicker vanes, larger mount screws and wide body.

 


Style 1            1.5" center body spider

 single vane ends  for 1/4" or 3/8" holder mount stud

Maximum spider size of 14" with the 1.5" center body width

 

Heavy Duty Holders (#10 mount shaft)

  A B C D E (2xB) A+B A+B+C Weight Weight
Secondary
Minor Axis
in. in. in. in. in. in. in. (OZ.) (g)
1.32 2.45 0.75 1.55 0.75 1.5 3.20 4.75 1.94 55
1.36 2.65 0.75 1.60 0.75 1.5 3.40 5.00 2.05 58
1.52 2.50 0.75 1.55 0.75 1.5 3.25 4.80 2.00 56

Heavy Duty Holders (1/4" mount shaft)

  A B C D E (2xB) A+B A+B+C Weight Weight
Secondary
Minor Axis
in. in. in. in. in. in. in. (OZ.) (g)
1.83 2.95 0.75 1.80 0.75 1.5 3.70 5.50 3.45 98
2.00 3.1 0.75 1.95 0.75 1.5 3.85 5.60 3.70 106
2.14 3.25 0.75 1.80 0.75 1.5 4.00 5.80 4.00 113
2.25 3.20 0.75 2.50 0.75 1.5 3.95 6.45 4.20 120

 


Style 2            2.5" center body spider

single vane ends  for 3/8" holder mount stud

Spider size 14.1 - 22" with 2.5" center body width

 

Heavy Duty Holders (1/4" mount shaft)

  A B C D E (2xB) A+B A+B+C Weight Weight
Secondary
Minor Axis
in. in. in. in. in. in. in. (OZ.) (g)
1.83* 2.95 1.25 2.25 0.75 2.5 4.20 6.45 3.40 97
2.00* 3.10 1.25 2.00 0.75 2.5 4.35 6.35 3.90 111
2.14* 3.25 1.25 2.30 0.75 2.5 4.50 6.80 4.16 118
2.50 3.15 1.25 2.35 0.75 2.5 4.40 6.75 8.30 235
2.60 3.50 1.25 2.15 0.75 2.5 4.75 6.90 8.63 245
2.76(70mm) 3.25 1.25 2.50 0.75 2.5 4.50 7.00 9.15 260

*These holders have a longer mount stud than listed above under Style 1, making them compatible with the 2.5" wide Style 2.

 

Heavy Duty Holders (3/8" mount shaft)

  A B C D E (2xB) A+B A+B+C Weight Weight
Secondary
Minor Axis
in. in. in. in. in. in. in. (OZ.) (g)
3.10 4.00 1.25 2.15 0.75 2.5 5.25 7.40 10.65 302
3.50 4.05 1.25 2.05 0.75 2.5 5.75 7.35 11.00 312
4.00 5.05 1.25 2.30 0.75 2.5 6.55 9.00 16.00 454

 


 

Style 3        2.5" center body spider

double vane ends spaced 1" center to center for 3/8"Holder Mount Stud

Spider size 15 - 26" with 2.5" center body width

 

 

Heavy Duty Holders (3/8" mount shaft)

  A C D A+E+C Weight Weight

Secondary Minor Axis

in. in. in. in. in. (OZ.) (g)
3.10  4.00 0.8 0.75 2.5   7.30 10.9 311
3.50  4.05 0.8 0.75 2.5   7.35 11.0 312
4.00  5.25 1.05 0.75 2.5   8.80 16.0 454
4.25  5.40 0.80 0.75 2.5   8.70 16.0 457
4.50  5.40 0.90 0.75 2.5   8.80 20.3 576

 


Style 4            Super Duty 3.0" center body spider

double vane ends spaced 1" center to center

1/2" holder mount stud

Maximum spider size of 37" with the 3.0" center body width, double vane end

3" Spider for Super Duty Holders (1/2" mount shaft)

  A C D A+E+C Weight
Secondary
Minor Axis
in. in. in. in. in. (LBS.)
5.00 5.90 1.2 0.75 3.0 10.10 1.45
5.50 5.90 1.1 0.75 3.0 10.00 1.95
6.00 6.10 1.3 0.75 3.0 10.60 2.10
6.25 7.00 1.3 0.75 3.0 11.50  
6.50 6.90 1.1 0.75 3.0 11.00  2.20

 


Style 5            Super Duty 4.0" center body spider

double vane ends spaced 2.5" center to center

1/2" holder mount stud

Maximum spider size of 40" with the 4.0" center body width, double vane end

4" Spider for Super Duty Holders (1/2" mount shaft)

  A C D A+E+C Weight
Secondary
Minor Axis
in. in. in. in. in. (LBS.)
5.00 5.90 1.2 1.0 4.0 11.10 1.45
5.50 6.05 1.0 1.0 4.0 11.05 1.70
6.00 6.10 1.3 1.0 4.0 11.40 2.10
6.25 7.00 1.3 1.0 4.0 12.30  
6.50 7.50 1.3 1.0 4.0 12.80  

 


Back to Products
Back to AstroSystems Homepage  or contact us directly by e-mail at info@astrosystems.biz