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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.
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