Software Bisque Paramount OTA Ring User manual

Paramount OTA Ring and Paramount Taurus
OTA Installation Instructions
Revision 1.2, January 2018
© 2018 Software Bisque, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Table of Contents
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 4
Getting Started.......................................................................................................................................... 4
Type of OTA Mounting.............................................................................................................................. 5
Scope Mounting Brackets and Scope Rail Instructions................................................................................. 5
Packing List Scope Brackets ...................................................................................................................... 5
Bracket Installation ................................................................................................................................... 6
Front Bracket Installation.......................................................................................................................... 7
Rear Bracket Installation......................................................................................................................... 10
Scope Rail Installation............................................................................................................................. 11
Bracket Dovetail Accessory Plate Installation.........................................................................................14
Mounting Rings and Scope Rail Installation................................................................................................ 15
Packing List Rings .................................................................................................................................... 15
Ring Installation ...................................................................................................................................... 15
German Equatorial Mounts ................................................................................................................ 15
Equatorial Fork Mounts ...................................................................................................................... 21
Ring Use .................................................................................................................................................. 23
Scope Rail Installation............................................................................................................................. 25
Set Screw Adjustment............................................................................................................................. 26
Ring Dovetail Accessory Plate Installation .............................................................................................. 27
Cage Array Installation................................................................................................................................27
Array Assembly Instructions ...................................................................................................................28
Scope Installation Instructions................................................................................................................28
Scope Adjustments .................................................................................................................................28
Scope Rail Installation............................................................................................................................. 28
Scope Assembly Installation for a Paramount Taurus ................................................................................29
Scope Rail Installation............................................................................................................................. 29
Fork Mounting Plates.......................................................................................................................... 29
Telescope Scope Rails ......................................................................................................................... 30
Telescope Installation ............................................................................................................................. 31
Adjusting the Cylinder Assembly During Telescope Installation......................................................... 32
Telescope Balancing................................................................................................................................34
Balancing in Right Ascension............................................................................................................... 35

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Balancing in Declination...................................................................................................................... 37
Relieving Fork Stress ............................................................................................................................... 38

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Introduction
This document describes how to attach a variety of optical tube assemblies (OTAs) to the Paramount
Taurus equatorial fork model mounts.
Software Bisque also manufactures precision OTA mounting rings for:
•14-inch Celestron C14 Schmidt-Cassegrain (SCT) OTAs
•14-inch Rowe-Ackerman Schmidt-Astrograph (RASA) OTAs
•Meade 16-inch SCT OTAs
The rings are compatible with:
•Paramount Taurus 400 equatorial fork mounts
•Paramount ME II German equatorial mounts (GEMs)
•Paramount MX/MX+ GEMs
Please review Table 1 and the steps to determine which sections apply to your setup.
Getting Started
Table 1 lists the apertures of many common commercial telescopes, and the accessories or bracketing
hardware that is required to attach an OTA of this size to the Paramount.
An optional Paramount Taurus Dovetail Plate can be used to mount optics or other instruments to the
OTA itself.
OTA
Aperture
(in/cm)
Paramount ME II
Taurus 400
Taurus 500
Taurus 600
Taurus
Accessory
Dovetail
Plate
Compatible?
24/61
Large Dovetail
Accessory
n/a
n/a
Taurus 600
Brackets
Yes
20/51
Large Dovetail
Accessory
n/a
Taurus 500 Brackets
n/a
Yes
17/43
Standard Versa-Plate
Dovetail
Taurus 400
Brackets
n/a
n/a
Yes
14/36 SCT
Standard Versa-Plate
Dovetail
Celestron 14-inch
Rings
14-inch Cage Array
(up to 6 total)
14-inch Cage
Array (up to 9
total)
Rings Only
16/41 SCT
Standard Versa-Plate
Dovetail
Meade 16-inch
Rings
n/a
n/a
Rings Only
11/28
Standard Versa-Plate
Dovetail
n/a
11-inch Cage Array
(up to 6 total)
11-inch Cage
Array (up to 9
total)
No
Table 1: Paramount OTA mounting options.

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Type of OTA Mounting
There are five types of OTA mounting mentioned in Table 1 for the listed telescope apertures and
systems:
1. Standard Versa-Plate Dovetail
a. All Paramount ME II mounts include the standard Versa-Plate with a dovetail that
requires no extra mounting hardware. See the Paramount User Guide (GEM Models) for
a description of this component.
2. Large Dovetail Accessory
a. The Paramount ME II can be fitted with an optional Large Dovetail Accessory. Click on
this link to read the referenced PDF document for instructions on how to install the
mounting hardware, and the telescope.
3. Mounting Brackets
a. Mounting brackets have a unique set of instructions and packing list for each Taurus
model (400, 500, or 600).
4. OTA Mounting Rings
a. OTA mounting rings can be used to attach an OTA to the Paramount ME II or Paramount
Taurus 400. For Meade 16-inch and Celestron 14-inch OTA mounting rings, see the
section “Mounting Rings and Scope Rail Installation” on page 15 for installation
instructions.
i. For Paramount ME II mounting instructions, see “German Equatorial” on page
15 under “Mounting Rings and Scope Rail Installation”.
ii. For the Paramount Taurus 400, see “Equatorial Fork Mount” on page 15 under
“Mounting Rings and Scope Rail Installation”.
5. Cage Arrays
a. Cage arrays are shipped mostly assembled, but the scope rails must be mounted.
Additional documentation coming soon.
For the optional Taurus Accessory Dovetail Plate, see the “Bracket Dovetail Accessory Plate Installation”
for OTAs using brackets, or “Ring Dovetail Accessory Plate Installation”for OTAs using mounting rings.
Scope Mounting Brackets and Scope Rail Instructions
Scope mounting brackets are used to mount the scope rail component to Officina Stellare or Planewave
model OTAs. The scope rail component is used to mount the OTA to the Paramount Taurus fork arms.
These mounting brackets are easily installed on an existing scope as described below.
Packing List Scope Brackets
Picture
Part Description
Front mounting bracket (has channel*, 2 pieces).

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Picture
Part Description
(side view)
(side view)
Rear mounting bracket (has no channel*, 2
pieces)
* The Paramount Taurus 400 brackets are the
same for the front and back rings.
Scope rail plate.
Socket Head Cap Screws (SHCS)
(40) 5/16-18 x 1-1/8-inch SHCS
(8) for Stainless Steel Rail/Mounting
Thinner plate mounting component
¼-20 x 5/8-inch SHCS (6 pieces)
Thicker plate mounting component
¼-20 x 1-1/8-inch Array Assembly Instructions
SHCS (6 pieces)
Bracket Installation
These brackets get mounted 90 degrees from each other on the OTA. Typically, they are attached on the
two sides that do not already have Losmandy dovetail installed (Figure 1).

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Figure 1: Mounting brackets (circled in yellow) to be installed on sides 90 degrees of Losmandy dovetail plate (the blue
component is the Officina Stellare dovetail).
The brackets for the scope rail are the same brackets used for the scope accessory plate. This means the
instructions described in under “Bracket Installation” on page 6 apply to both components.
If more than one accessory plate will be installed, other mounting plates such as the Losmandy dovetail
shown in Figure 1 must be removed before installing Software Bisque’s brackets.
Front Bracket Installation
The front bracket has a channel as shown in Figure 2. This bracket gets mounted toward the front of the
scope on the center ring of the OTA assembly (shown in Figure 3).

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Figure 2: Front bracket mounted with channel highlighted in blue.
Figure 3: Center ring of the OTA assembly highlighted in blue.
There are four or eight 5/16-18 x 1-1/8-inch SHCSs depending on the OTA for each of the brackets. The
threaded holes used for the 20-inch Officina Stellare 500 model OTA are shown in Figure 8, and for the
20-inch Planewave CDK20 OTA in Figure 5. The threaded holes for 24-inch Officina Stellare 600 model
OTA are shown in Figure 6. The threaded holes for an Officina Stellare model 400 OTA are shown in
Figure 7.
Figure 4: Eight 5/16-18 threaded holes for Officina Stellare 500 OTA bracket (front on the left, rear on the right).
Figure 5: Four 5/16-18 threaded holes for Planewave 500 OTA bracket (front on the left, rear on the right).

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Figure 6: Eight 5/16-18 threaded holes for Officina Stellare 600 OTA bracket (front on the left, rear on the right)
Figure 7: Eight 5/16-18 threaded holes for Officina Stellare 400 OTA bracket (front and rear are the same)
The plates are mounted in the orientation shown in Figure 8.
Figure 8: Front bracket installed (Officina Stellare top, Planewave bottom)
Install the second front plate on the opposite side of the scope (90 degrees from the first) as shown in
Figure 1.

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Rear Bracket Installation
The rear bracket which has no channel is mounted on the back ring of the telescope opposing the front
bracket, see Figure 9 and Figure 10.
Figure 9: Rear bracket mounted.
Figure 10: Rear ring of OTA (highlighted in blue).
The other four or eight 5/16-18 x 1-1/8-inch SHCSs for the rear bracket are the same as the front bracket
as shown in Figure 4 and Figure 5. Again, the orientation the plates are installed in is shown in Figure
11.

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Figure 11: Rear bracket installed (Officina Stellare top, Planewave bottom).
Scope Rail Installation
There are two scope rails, and the orientation of the rail is critical for easy installation into the forks. As
shown below in Figure 13, the U-Shape section of the scope rail needs to be installed facing toward the
ground when the scope is in the position of 0 degrees altitude. Each of the plates are identical, so both
need to be mounted on the front and rear brackets described in the instructions above.
Figure 12: Scope rail installation orientation.
The scope rails can be attached in two different positions to allow OTA balancing. In Figure 13 the rail is
mounted in the further-back position for back-heavy OTAs. The plates have slotted holes to

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accommodate the dimensions between the front and rear rings of the telescope (see Figure 15 and
Figure 17).
Figure 13: Scope rail 500 installed in further-back position (earlier model with circular holes shown).
The three screws shown on the left of Figure 13 are installed in the thinner part of the plate and
therefore require ¼-20 x 5/8-inch SHCSs; the three screws shown on the right in Figure 13 are installed
in the thicker part of the plate required ¼-20 x 1-1/8-inch SHCSs.
If the center of mass of the OTA plus instruments is going to be heavier toward the front, shift the plate
the other way, and attach the longer screws in the front bracket and the shorter screws in the rear
bracket as shown in Figure 14.
Figure 14: Scope rail 500 installed in further-forward position

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Figure 15: Scope rail 600 (with slotted holes).
Figure 16: Scope rail 500 (with slotted holes).
Figure 17: Scope rail 400 (with slotted holes).

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Bracket Dovetail Accessory Plate Installation
The optional scope rail dovetail accessory plate has a smaller dovetail to mount additional telescopes, or
other accessories. Since the length between the front and rear rings of OTAs is different for each scope,
adapter plates are needed to mount the accessory plate. The adaptor plate is attached the same way as
the scope plate, but has no specific orientation. There are six holes for ¼-20 x 5/8-inch SHCS (three of
which are slotted) to attach the adaptor plate to the brackets.
Figure 18: Paramount Taurus 600 accessory plate and adapter on front and rear brackets.
The dovetail accessory plate comes attached to the adapter plate with eight ¼-20 x 5/8-inch SHCSs.
Each adapter plate has eight ¼-20 threaded holes that can be employed to customize where the dovetail
accessory plate is mounted. For the 400 and 500 models, the dovetail accessory plate must be removed
from the adapter plate before installing the adapter on the brackets. From there, the dovetail accessory
plate can be placed where it fits best for the system.
Figure 19: Model 400 accessory plate and adapter (adapter shown in blue).

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Mounting Rings and Scope Rail Installation
The Software Bisque Ring Accessory attach mounting rings to 14-inch and 16-inch tube type telescopes.
These rings can then be used to mount the telescope to a Paramount ME II Versa-Plate. When paired
with scope rails the rings are also used to mount 14-inch and 16-inch telescopes on the Paramount
Taurus 400 model.
Packing List Rings
Picture
Part Description
(2) Scope rail plate
(8) Ring Segments
(16) ¼-20 x 1/2 SHCS for ring assembly
Thinner part of plate mounting
¼-20 x 5/8-inch SHCS (12 pcs)
Thicker part of plate mounting
¼-20 x 1-1/8-inch SHCS (12 pcs)
Ring Installation
The following section describes how to attach the Software Bisque OTA mounting rings for use with a
Paramount German equatorial mount, and a Paramount Taurus equatorial fork mount.
German Equatorial Mounts
Before mounting the rings, evaluate to make sure there is enough room for the telescope to travel
forward or backward to achieve balance when all the instruments are installed. Balance needs to be
achieved both within the rings and when the rings are installed on the mount in the declination axis.
Once you have an idea of the location of the balance point, install the two ring segments in the position
you want on the Versa-Plate or top plate of the mount by using at sixteen of the ¼-20x 1-inch SHCS from
the bottom of the Versa-Plate as shown in Figure 20. There are many different positions and spacing
that can be used. Keep in mind, this may take a few tries, and installing the furthest back ring segment
may require removing the Versa-Plate (for further instructions please see section Removing/Re-
Attaching the Versa-Plate below).

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Figure 20: Ring installation holes on bottom of Versa-Plate.
Figure 21: Versa-Plate with first two ring segments installed.
Place the scope inside the mounted rings (see Figure 22) and assemble the rest of the three ring
segments around the telescope using eight ¼-20 x ½-inch SHCS (Figure 23) without tightening them
down all the way. This allows for ring adjustment so the telescope is the in the desired orientation, as
well as the long flats being parallel. The rings may not fit snug against the telescope body yet, once
you’re satisfied with where the rings are install, move on to “Set Screw Adjustment” section.
Be careful, the telescope is not all the way secured! Do not let go of the telescope until
the “Set Screw Adjustment” has been made.

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Figure 22: Meade 16-inch with two OTA mounting rings segments attached.
Figure 23: Ring Segment assembled and 1/4-20 holes.
Removing/Re-Attaching the Versa-Plate
As described in the Paramount User Guide, there are two positions that the Versa-Plate can be mounted
in depending on your system’s setup. The standard mounting position is shown in Figure 24 and Figure
25. If the payload is “camera-end heavy,” mount the Versa-Plate at the forward most position so that

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the payload can be more easily balanced. The “balance” mounting position depends on your
equipment, so there may be a bit of trial and error to find the optimal spot.
Figure 24: Standard Versa-Plate orientation.
Figure 25: Standard Versa-Plate mounting holes (top view).
Lock the declination axis (see Figure 26) using one or two bolts found in a red velvet bag in the accessory
kit.

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Figure 26: Dec axis locking (with already mounted Versa-Plate).
Snake the cables that are coming out of the declination tube through the hole in the Versa-Plate, and
orient them so that they run along the channel cutout shown in Figure 27 and Figure 28 below.
See Figure 24 to be sure the Instrument Panel (10-32 tapped holes for the Instrument Panel are circled
in yellow in Figure 27) is in the correct position with respect to the direction of light “star and arrow”
image machined on the declination gear. Next, choose which set of holes to mount the Versa-Plate
(again see Figure 25) and screw all eight of the ¼-20 x 1-inch SHCSs in about halfway.

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Figure 27: Versa-plate cable channel and instrument panel holes (bottom view).
Figure 28: Declination gear cable channel.
Ensure the cables run along the channel underneath the Versa-Plate, as well as in the cutout of the
Instrument Panel shown in Figure 29. Install the four 10-32x1/2 in. SHCSs and screw them in most of the
way. To prevent cables from becoming crushed or pinched, double check that all run through this
cutout before fully tightening any of these twelve screws.
Once cables are in the clear, tighten down the four Instrument Panel screws followed by the eight Versa-
Plate mounting screws.