EAGLE has been specifically designed to be installed onto telescopes thanks to the PLUS aluminum chassis that offers many threaded holes on both top and bottom side. This way you can connect it to any telescope, no matter the telescope design and dimensions, by using the PLUS elements (rings, dovetail plates or clamps). You can install the EAGLE between support and guide rings, connected to a Vixen or Losmandy style dovetail bar through the appropriate optional clamp, you can install it below support rings of compact telescopes, in parallel of SC type telescopes, and much more! Let’s explore the various possible configurations, depending on the telescope EAGLE has to be installed on, using both other PLUS elements and different instruments.
CAUTION: in order to connect EAGLE to other mechanical PLUS elements please avoid to use too long screws that may touch the internal electronics of the EAGLE. THE THREADED PART OF THE SCREW THAT EXIT FROM THE ELEMENT (ring, bar or clamp) TO BE CONNECTED TO THE EAGLE HAS TO BE NO LONGER THAN 6mm. If any of the screws touches the internal elements of EAGLE, this could lead to breakage or malfunction.
Connecting to telescopes with PLUS support rings and support rings spaced up to 12cm.
When using compact refractor telescopes, the distance of the support rings is set by the PLUS Vixen or Losmandy style dovetail clamp installed with the telescope. In this case, the EAGLE can be installed directly above the support ring, as if it were a dovetail bar. Thanks to the M5 threaded holes present in the upper part of the EAGLE, you can install in parallel the PLUS guide rings and a guide scope (note: the guide scope must not exceed EAGLE’s weight load capacity to avoid flexure). In order to use the EAGLE with this configuration, insert 2 M6 screws (a) in each PLUS ring (2 screws for each ring) and so fix the EAGLE. If you want to use a guide scope in parallel, you can install the PLUS guide rings. In order to do this, screw 2 M5 screws for each guide ring in the upper part of EAGLE (b).
Connecting to telescopes provided with PLUS support rings and support rings spaced more than 12cm.
If you want to use EAGLE with telescopes equipped with rings PLUS spaced more than 12cm, you can place EAGLE over to the support ring for supporting a compact guide scope in parallel. But to do so you first need to add a PLUS Vixen or Losmandy style dovetail bar above PLUS support rings and then connect EAGLE. In order to use the EAGLE with this configuration, use a PLUS Vixen or Losmandy style dovetail bar (with the same length as the one used under the support rings) and fix it with two M6 screws (c) for each ring. The dovetail bar above the telescope must be fixed in inverted position with respect to the one placed below the optical tube. Then use 4 M6 screws (d) to fix the EAGLE to the dovetail bar. Finally if you want to use a guide scope in parallel , you can install the PLUS guide rings. In order to do this, screw 2 M5 screws for each guide ring in the upper part of EAGLE (e).
Connecting to telescopes not equipped with PLUS rings
If your telescope is not equipped with PLUS support rings, just add the optional “PLUS Vixen + Losmandy style dovetail clamp” that can be screwed directly to the EAGLE and allow you to connect it to any Vixen or Losmandy style dovetail bar also from different brand. Take the “PLUS Vixen + Losmandy dovetail clamp” and, using more M6 screws (f), install it in the bottom plate of EAGLE.
This way you can connect the EAGLE to any telescope equipped with Vixen or Losmandy style dovetail bar.
Connecting to Schmidt-Cassegrain, Aplanatic Schmidt-Cassegrain or Ritchey-Chrétien telescopes
If you have a Schmidt-Cassegrain, Aplanatic Schmidt-Cassegrain or Ritchey-Chrétien telescope, one way to install the EAGLE is by adding a PLUS Losmandy style dovetail bar on top of your telescope and then install the EAGLE on top. Another way is to add the PLUS dovetail Clamp Vixen+Losmandy to the EAGLE and then clamp it to the bar below the telescope. This will allow you to use the EAGLE as a counterweight in order to counterbalance the weight of your imaging train (camera + accessories) you install in the back of your telescope.
