Apertura DT Series Configuration guide

DT Series
Dobsonian Telescope
Assembly Instructions and User’s Guide

CAUTION!
NEVER ATTEMPT TO LOOK AT THE SUN WITH
YOUR APERTURA™ DOBSONIAN TELESCOPE
UNLESS YOU HAVE A FULL-APERTURE
SOLAR FILTER (NOT INCLUDED WITH
TELESCOPE) INSTALLED OVER THE OPEN END OF
THE OPTICAL TUBE. NEVER USE AN EYEPIECE-
MOUNTED SOLAR-FILTER ALONE AND ALWAYS
COVER THE FINDERSCOPE EYEPIECE WITH A
PLASTIC DUST CAP. WITHOUT A FULL-
APERTURE SOLAR FILTER INSTALLED, YOU RISK
SEVERE EYE DAMAGE AND PERMANENT
BLINDNESS!
Please take a few minutes to read over
the assembly instructions to familiarize
yourself with the individual parts and
procedures before attempting to
assemble your Apertura™ DT Series
Dobsonian Telescope.
X

Unpacking your Apertura™ DT Dobsonian Telescope
Parts List:
Optical Tube Box (package 1 of 2)
•Telescope optical tube with 2" focuser 8x50
finder scope & bracket
•Two tension adjustment springs
•Two black altitude knobs with hardware
•25 mm Plossl Eyepiece - 1.25"
•2" to 1.25" Adapter (shown in focuser)
•Dust cover for front of telescope

Base Mount Box (package 2 of 2)
Wood Components
1 small panel – front
1 large panel – right
1 large panel – left
6"-10" DT - 2 large round base plates
12" DT - 2 large base plates, 1 round & 1 triangle
1 Four-hole eyepiece tray
1 handle
3 black plastic feet
1 Allen wrench
1 bolt with knob head
1 large washer
1 small bearing washer
1 small washer
1 axle sleeve
10 long black Allen screws (8 for 6"/8" model)
2 medium silver Allen screws
3 medium Phillips screws
2 short black Phillips screws
Hardware
Adjustment Knob Assembly

Assembling the DOBSONIAN BASE HOUSING
Attach handle to the BASE FRONT with
two medium silver Allen screws. The
curved edge of the board is the top of
this part when vertical.
! IMPORTANT ! Make sure the flat
face of the embedded T-nuts are on
the BACK side of the board (opposite
the handle).
Attach BASE RIGHT to BASE FRONT
with two long black Allen screws.
(The BASE RIGHT is the one with
two smaller pre-drilled holes for
the eyepiece tray)
Attach BASE LEFT to BASE FRONT
with two long black Allen screws.
Be sure all three sides are secure.
BACK

Locate the BOTTOM BASE
PLATE.
The BOTTOM BASE PLATE for
the 6" - 10" DT is round as shown
and has 3 holes around its
edge and a brass fitting in the
center hole. The BOTTOM
BASE PLATE for the 12" DT is
shaped like a triangle.
Attach the 3 feet to the BOTTOM
BASE PLATE’s bottom side with
3 medium Phillips screws, with
the wider side of the feet facing
the board. (The bottom side of
this plate has the brass fitting
almost flush with the surface – see
inset picture)
Locate the TOP BASE PLATE. It
has several holes around its edge
(not counting center hole).
Model DT6 & 8 = 4 holes
Model DT10 & 12 = 6 holes
Turn the completed BASE
HOUSING upside down.
Align the holes of the UPPER
BASE PLATE with the
holes of the BASE HOUSING.

Screw long black Allen screws through
the BOTTOM BASE into the BASE
HOUSING making sure the side with
the recessed holes is facing away from
the BASE HOUSING.
Place BOTTOM BASE PLATE
with feet facing down.
Insert AXLE SLEEVE into the
Center hole and place Teflon pads
on plate as shown in next photo.
Place some of the AZIMUTH AXLE
SPACERS over the AXLE SLEEVE.
These washers will control the "feel" of
the azimuth motion. Telescope
movement is a very important aspect of
using a telescope but preferences as to
what that motion should feel like varies
from person to person. The use of the
spacers allows you to set the amount of
resistance you like best. Use fewer
spacers for a stiffer motion and more
spacers for a more fluid motion with less
resistance. It really is that easy.

Pick up the BASE HOUSING
with UPPER BASE PLATE
already attached and place it onto
the AXLE SLEEVE of the
BOTTOM BASE PLATE.
Assemble washers onto the
ADJUSTMENT BOLT in this
order:
Small washer
Ball bearing washer
Larger washer
Thread the ADJUSTMENT
BOLT through all of the
assembled base parts.
Tighten the knob until it feels
firm but not too tight.
TIP: Tightening or loosening
this knob is how you will
adjust the amount of effort it
takes to rotate your Apertura™
Dobsonian telescope on its
base.

Attach the 4-HOLE EYEPIECE
TRAY to the BASE RIGHT panel
of the BASE HOUSING
ASSEMBLY using the two pre-
drilled holes and two small black
Phillips screws.
Assembling the OPTICAL TUBE
Attach SPRING SPACERS to each
of the BASE SIDE BOARDS.
Attach ALTITUDE KNOB,
SPACER and SPRING to each
SIDE BEARING, as shown.

Next, place the TELESCOPE
TUBE into the BASE, with
the large SIDE BEARINGS
seated into the
corresponding semi-circular
cut outs in the side boards.
Then attach a SPRING to
each of the SPRING
SPACERS that you installed
on the side boards of your
Dobsonian telescope's base.