ORION TELESCOPES & BINOCULARS LaserMate Deluxe II User manual

Orion®LaserMate™Deluxe II
Laser Collimator
#5691
INSTRUCTION MANUAL
IN 465 Rev. A06/12
Newtonian reectors perform at their best when primary
and secondary mirrors are accurately aligned. Such
alignment, called collimation, is critical for achieving
a sharp, highly resolved view through the telescope.
Collimation, while intimidating at rst glance, is really
not difficult to do. And it’s made all the easier with the
Orion LaserMate Deluxe II! This handy tool, designed
specically for collimating the optics of Newtonian
reectors, provides a quick, easy way to a) determine if
one or both of your telescope’s mirrors need adjustment,
and b) make the necessary adjustment(s) quickly
andeasily.
The LaserMate Deluxe II’s angled “rear view” screen
allows collimation of the primary mirror to be done at the
back of the scope, where the collimation knobs are, obviating the need
to walk to the front of the scope repeatedly.
This second-generation LaserMate Deluxe improves on the original
design by incorporating a wider ange between the 1.25” barrel and the
adjoining housing, to better ensure that the collimator seats solidly and
squarely in the focuser’s eyepiece holder.
With the dead-on collimation provided by the LaserMate Deluxe II, you
will enjoy the cleanest, crispest images possible from your instrument
every time out!
Contents
1 LaserMate Deluxe II collimator
1 CR2032 3V lithium battery (installed)
1 Sheet of three adhesive center-mark rings
AN EMPLOYEE-OWNED COMPANY

2
Figure 1. The LaserMate Deluxe II laser
collimator
Battery
compartment
cap
Bull’s-
eye
viewing
screen
On/Off
knob
1.25" barrel
WARNING:The LaserMate Deluxe
II emits laser radiation, so it is
important not to shine the beam
into your or anyone’s eye. During
the collimation procedure, avoid
direct reections of the laser beam
into your eye. It is safe to view the
reection off a mirror surface as
long as the beam is not directed
into your eye. It is also safe to view
the laser when it is reected off
a surface that diffuses the light,
such as the white “target” on the
angled viewing screen. Because of
the potential danger from the laser
beam, store your LaserMate out of
the reach of children.
This laser collimator uses a low-
wattage laser to project a red beam
down through the telescope’s focuser.
The beam reects off the secondary
mirror to the primary mirror, then
bounces back up to the secondary
mirror and exits through the focuser
onto the angled, bulls-eye viewing screen of the collimator itself. The beam is
generally not visible, but you’ll see a bright red dot on each reected surface.
The LaserMate Deluxe II works equally well to collimate telescope optics in
daylight or at night in the dark.
The LaserMate’s laser diode has been precisely aligned within its housing at the
factory. Do not remove the label on the housing or attempt to make adjustments
to the LaserMate’s alignment screws (which have been covered to prevent
access); doing so will void the terms of the warranty.
Before You Begin Collimating with the LaserMate Deluxe II
Accurate collimation of your telescope’s optics using the LaserMate Deluxe
II will most easily be achieved if you do a rough collimation of the optics with
your eye rst. This is because if the optics are grossly misaligned, it may be
confusing to interpret which surfaces the laser is being reected off of. Refer
to your telescope’s instruction manual for the procedure on how to do a rough
collimation with your eye.
Is Your Primary Mirror Center-Marked?
For best results in collimating your Newtonian’s optics, the exact center of the
primary mirror should be marked beforehand. Almost all Newtonian reectors

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sold by Orion come precisely center-
marked from the factory, with a tiny
adhesive ring applied to the mirror
surface (Figure 2). It doesn’t interfere
with the light path or degrade the
image you see since it lies in the
shadow of the secondary mirror, so it
should not be removed. If your primary
mirror is not center-marked, see
Appendix A for instructions on how to
mark it using one of the adhesive rings
supplied with the LaserMate Deluxe II.
Adjusting the Tilt of the
Secondary Mirror
The rst step in the collimation
procedure is to check the alignment
of the secondary mirror and adjust
it if necessary. Insert the LaserMate
Deluxe II into your telescope’s focuser
drawtube (Figure 3) and secure
it with the thumbscrew(s) on the
drawtube collar. (If possible, orient
your telescope’s optical tube so that
it is parallel to the ground, with the
focuser straight up, as in Figure 3.
Being perpendicular to the force of
gravity ensures that the collimator will
seat squarely in the eyepiece holder.
In this orientation you do not even
need to tighten the thumbscrew on
the holder that secures an eyepiece
in place – in fact we recommend
you don’t, as doing so can skew the
collimator slightly off the optical axis.)
Then turn the collimator on by turning
the On/Off knob at the top to the On
position. (Alternatively, you could turn
the collimator on before inserting it into
the focuser.)
Look down the front of the optical tube. Remember to keep your eyes clear of
any direct reections of the beam. Notice the red spot on the surface of the
primary mirror itself; this is the laser beam being reected from the secondary
mirror off the surface of the primary mirror. The red spot should be centered in
the collimation target (ring) on the mirror. If it isn’t, adjustments will need to be
Figure 2. A center mark (ring) on a
reector’s primary mirror greatly aids in
collimation.
Figure 3. Insert the LaserMate’s 1.25”
barrel into the eyepiece holder of your
focuser as far as it will go. It should seat
squarely on the 3mm ange at the interface
of the barrel and the wide section of the
collimator’s housing.
3mm
ange

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made to the secondary mirror’s tilt (Figure 4a). This is done with the secondary
mirror collimation screws, usually located on the central hub of the telescope’s
spider vane assembly.
Make adjustments to the telescope’s secondary mirror collimation screws until
the reection of the laser beam is centered in the collimation target on the
primary mirror (Figure 4b).
Adjusting the Tilt of the Primary Mirror
The nal collimation step is to adjust the tilt angle of the primary mirror. Orient
the collimator in the focuser so that the viewing screen is facing the rear of the
telescope. While standing at the rear of the telescope (where the primary mirror
collimation screws/knobs are), look over at the bulls-eye viewing screen of the
collimator. You should see the red laser dot somewhere on the viewing screen. If
you don’t, then the collimation is grossly off. In that case, place a piece of paper
in front of the open tube and note the position of the laser dot on the paper.
Make adjustments to the primary mirror collimation screws to move the laser dot
closer to the center and eventually onto the collimator’s bulls-eye viewing screen
(Figure 5a).
Once the laser dot is on the viewing screen, you can perform the nal
collimation. Adjust the primary mirror collimation knobs until the laser dot hits the
center hole of the bulls-eye screen and pretty much disappears, except for some
red “spray” around the periphery of the hole (Figure 5b). You can make certain
the laser dot is properly aimed into the hole by slightly adjusting one of the
collimation knobs to bring the laser dot out of the hole, then return it by turning
the collimation screw the other way.
Collimation of the optical system is now complete! Go out and enjoy the view!
The alignment of the mirrors should not need to be adjusted again unless the
Figure 4. Adjust the secondary mirror collimation screws until the red laser spot, shown
off center in a), is centered within the collimation target (ring) on the primary mirror (b).
a. b.
Red
laser dot
Red laser dot
centered
Center
mark (ring)

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telescope is handled roughly. If you
handle the telescope gently during
transport, then only slight adjustments
will need to be made to the mirrors.
Use the LaserMate Deluxe II before
each observing session to check and
make adjustments to the mirrors as
needed.
To preserve battery life, be sure to turn
the LaserMate OFF after each use.
Care and Maintenance of Your
LaserMate Deluxe
Your LaserMate Deluxe II is
manufactured of the highest quality
components. The internal laser
diode is precision aligned with the
mechanical axis of the housing at the
factory and tested to meet stringent
specications. Like all electronic
equipment, the LaserMate should be
handled with care. If it is dropped or
handled roughly, the internal laser
could become misaligned. Avoid
exposing the collimator to water,
dust, heat, or prolonged periods of
direct sunlight. To extend battery life,
store the collimator in a cool, dry
environment.
Installing a New Battery
The LaserMate Deluxe II is powered
by a single CR2032 3V lithium ion
“button cell” battery. When the laser
beam starts to dim or completely
fades, it’s time to replace the battery.
To do so, unscrew the knurled battery
compartment cap at the top of the
collimator. With a knife tip or the end of
a paper clip, lift the edge of the expired
battery out (Figure 6).
Insert a fresh CR2032 battery with
the positive (+) side up. Then replace
the cap. The CR2032 is a commonly
used battery in watches, calculators,
Figure 5. Adjust the primary mirror
collimation screws so that the red laser
spot, shown off center on the LaserMate’s
viewing screen in a), lands directly on the
center hole of the bull’s eye (b). The laser
spot will mostly disappear except for some
“spray” around the periphery of the hole.
a.
b.
Laser dot
Laser dot
centered
on hole
Figure 6. To remove the 3V button cell
battery, pry the edge up with a paper clip or
knife tip as shown.
3V battery

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cameras, and other electronic devices, so you’ll be able to nd one at most drug
stores or online.
Appendix A: Marking the Primary Mirror
To achieve the best accuracy when collimating with the Orion LaserMate Deluxe
II, your scope’s primary mirror should be precisely center marked. If your mirror
was not center-marked at the factory, you can do it yourself with one of the
supplied collimation targets. This will not affect the telescope’s performance at
all. To accurately locate and mark the mirror’s center point, you must rst make a
paper template.
First, remove the primary mirror from your telescope. If you are unsure how to
do this, consult your telescope’s instruction manual. If the primary mirror is glued
into its cell, it is not necessary to remove it from the cell. Handle the mirror by its
edges only, and be careful not to touch the surface with your ngers.
Get a clean sheet of paper that is big enough to cover the mirror’s entire surface.
For large-diameter mirrors, you may need to tape several sheets of paper
together. Lay the primary mirror on the paper and trace its outline with a pencil
(Figure 7a). Next, cut out the circle you have just traced with a pair of scissors.
Fold the paper circle into quarters by folding the circle precisely in half, and then
folding it in half again (Figure 7b and c). Now, cut about 1/4 inch off the tip of
the paper wedge you have created (Figure 7d). Unfold the paper, and you will
nd that you have a paper template of your mirror with a hole at the center.
Figure 7. To mark the center of an unmarked primary mirror, a) trace the outline of the
mirror on a piece of paper and carefully cut out the circle, b) fold the circle in half, and
c)then in half again, d) cut the tip off the paper wedge, e) place the template on the mirror
surface and carefully register its edge, f) stick the ring label to the mirror surface through
the hole in the template. Then remove the paper template
a.
d.
b.
e.
c.
f.

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Make sure the template is still clean; place the paper template over the surface
of the primary mirror. Carefully register the template edge with the edge of the
mirror (Figure 7e). Now, take one of the supplied adhesive collimation targets
and affix it to the center of the mirror’s surface through the hole of the paper
template (Figure 7f). The center of the primary mirror is now marked, as in
Figure 2, and you can reinstall the primary mirror in the telescope.
Note: For mirror cells that use mirror clips to secure the primary mirror in place,
it is important not to overtighten the mirror clips. For Orion reector telescopes,
tighten the mirror clip anchor screws until just snug, and then back off each
screw by 1/2 turn. Overtightened mirror clips will put stress on the primary mir-
ror’s gure, and will introduce astigmatism into the optical system as a result.
Appendix B: Centering the Secondary Mirror Under the Focuser
Centering the secondary mirror under the focuser is an adjustment that can be
made with the aid of the LaserMate Deluxe II, but it requires marking the center
of the secondary mirror in the same way the center of the primary mirror was
marked. This is generally undesirable due to the large area of the supplied col-
limation targets compared to the total area of the secondary mirror. Since center-
ing the secondary mirror under the focuser is an adjustment that very rarely, if
ever, needs to be done, we recommend simply making this adjustment by eye.
Check the collimation instructions in your telescope’s manual for the procedure
to do this.
However, if you wish to use the LaserMate Deluxe II for centering the secondary
mirror under the focuser, read on. First, you must mark the center of the
secondary mirror. Do this by rst removing the secondary mirror from the
telescope and making a paper template the same way you made a template for
the primary mirror. Then use the template and one of the remaining collimation
targets to mark the secondary mirror’s center. Reinstall the secondary mirror
once it has been marked.
Next, place the LaserMate Deluxe II into the telescope’s focuser and turn it
on. Now, peer into the optical tube and look at the primary mirror. Notice the
reection of the secondary mirror on the primary mirror; you will see a bright red
spot on the secondary mirror where the laser beam is reecting off it. The red
spot should be exactly at the center of the collimation target on the secondary
mirror. If it is not, you will need to make adjustments to the secondary mirror’s
position until it is. For adjustments perpendicular to the optical axis, lengthen
and shorten the spider vanes. For adjustments parallel to the optical axis, loosen
or tighten the center screw of the spider hub. You may also need to adjust the
rotation of the secondary mirror relative to the focuser.

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Specifications
Laser power: < 5mW
Laser wavelength: 630 – 670nm
Alignment: ± 3 arcmin
Barrel size: 1.25”, ts 2” eyepiece holders with optional 2”-to-1.25”
adapter
Housing: aluminum, black anodized
Dimensions: 4” long x 1.5” diameter (widest)
Weight: 3.4 oz.
Batteries: One CR2032 3V lithium
Certication: meets all FDA regulations applicable at the time of
manufacture
This Class 3R laser complies with US 21 CFR 1040.10 and 1040.11 and is FDA
certied and IEC compliant.
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Toll Free USA & Canada: [phone]
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Customer Support: [email protected]
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instruction or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied, modied or adapted, without the
prior written consent of Orion Telescopes & Binoculars.
AN EMPLOYEE-OWNED COMPANY
One-Year Limited Warranty
This Orion product is warranted against defects in materials or workmanship for
a period of one year from the date of purchase. This warranty is for the benet of
the original retail purchaser only. During this warranty period Orion Telescopes &
Binoculars will repair or replace, at Orion’s option, any warranted instrument that
proves to be defective, provided it is returned postage paid. Proof of purchase (such
as a copy of the original receipt) is required. This warranty is only valid in the country
of purchase.
This warranty does not apply if, in Orion’s judgment, the instrument has been abused,
mishandled, or modied, nor does it apply to normal wear and tear. This warranty
gives you specic legal rights. It is not intended to remove or restrict your other legal
rights under applicable local consumer law; your state or national statutory consumer
rights governing the sale of consumer goods remain fully applicable.
For further warranty information, please visit www.OrionTelescopes.com/warranty.