Hexagonal Turret Eyepiece Holders

8/17/2019 Hexagonal Turret Eyepiece Holders

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SAVE 50% - WHOLESALE PRICING DIRECT from the MANUFACTURER

Why pay RETAIL for the mediocre, when you can have the best for less!

gonal Turret Eyepiece Holders (turret.htm) http://www.observatory.org/t

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2" to 1.25"x 6 Hex 1 Turret, Item HEX1: $795 (*MSRP: $1495)

2" SCT Quad-Lock AHEX Revolver, click #6 above, Item AHEX: $69

*MSRP = Manufacturers S uggested Retail Price - Your price is in GREEN

3.25"-16tpi to 2"x 6 GIANT HEX 2 Turret w/built-in 2" filter slot, Item HEX2: $1995 (*MSRP:

$3895)

Extra 2" Filter Holder Ring for HEX 2, Item HFH: $693.25" to 2"x 6 DC S ervo Motor Controlled Hex, Item HEXDC (DISCONTINUED): $4995

(*MSRP: $9995)

Features & Specifications: Hexagonal 1 Turret (1.25" format)

NEW QUARTZ mirrors with individual Zygointerferometric analysis documentation

2" barrel-nose [full-aperture] input eliminates

vignetting from low-power 1.25" eyepieces

Exclusive built-in 2" filter slot makes changing filters

for all 6 eyepieces instantaneous

Exclusive dual rotation capabli li ty allows instant

eyepiece and mirror position changes

2" S CT Quad-Lock AHEX Revolver (optional ) for

"locked-in-place" Hex body rotation

Double failsafe, angled self-locking Nylon thumb screws

(10-32)

Eyepiece thumb screws that tighten at an angle - like a lock washer but better

Turret rotation locking thumb screw

Convenient body rotation handle on rear of Hexagonal

Ultra-quality ProtoStar QUARTZ first-surface mirror (see below for specs)

Precision milled from solid 4.5" diameter 6061-T6 aluminum stock for single-piece accuracy

All stainless steel/Nylon hardware

Aircraft-grade 6060-T6 aluminum (NAS620 or AN960 aeronautics specs) or better


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Military specification 18-8 stainless steel (MS15795, MS27183 or ASTM A693) or better

Positive spring-loaded ball bearing click stops at each eyepiece

Luminous [glow-in-the-dark] indents for easy active eyepiece and filter locating in total

darkness

Dual purpose Quad-Lock system for secure Hex body rotation (also built into all VSI focusers)

Filter size: 48 & 50mm (2") with a maximum cell thickness of 5/16" (0.3125")

All SIX eyepiece output ports are 1.25" format

Includes six 1.25" dust plugs and one 2" dust cap

Maximum [eyepiece barrel] insert depth = 1.25"

Dimensions: 4.5" diameter x 4.5" long (including 2" barrel-nose)

Hex 1 weight = 25 oz. (approx. weight w/6 loaded eyepieces = 3 lbs)

Hexagonal 1 Turret General Information

VSI's Hexagonal 1 offers a contoured European styling and

DOUBLE Nylon (10-32) lateral locking thumb screws,

incorporating our exclusive failsafe lateral locking system, on

each eyepiece port. The Hex1 also features spring-loaded, ball

bearing click stops at each of the six ports and rotary eyepiece


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cylinder lock-down thumb screw. Our exclusive, built-in 2"

format filter slot offers instant filter changes for all 6

eyepieces. No removing eyepieces and fumbling with 1.25"

fil ters for each individual eyepiece. You use one fil ter for all 6

eyepieces.

Note that all eyepieces should be [push-pull] parfocal positioned to eliminate refocusing when

rotating from one eyepiece to another. If you have a matched set of parfocal eyepieces, all you do ispop them in and lock them down - you're done. If you have an unmatched set of different eyepieces,

then simply parfocus each eyepiece by push-pulling until all eyepieces are parfocused. Note the

green-white indented dot. It is filled with luminous paint that glows in the dark. This feature will

easily indicate the active eyepiece position in total darkness.

VSI's 2" to 1.25" x 6 Hexagonal 1 turret offers exclusive

features and build-quali ty that other turrets don't. Our

unique 2" format barrel-nose input with full 1.75" internal

clear-aperture diagonal mirrors (ProtoStar QUARTZ 1.83"

minor axis x 0.375" thickness), el iminates vignetting fromfast scopes and/or low power 1.25" eyepieces (i .e. 40mm,

32mm, 26mm, 24mm, 20mm, etc.). The built-in 2" filter slot

accepts 2" fil ters with a cell thickness up to 5/16" or 0.3125"

(8mm). Just pop the fi lter in the spring-loaded slot and push

the ejection button on the bottom and your filter is instantly

ejected out into your hand (see picture at left). The Hex1

turret accommodates six 1.25" eyepieces (not included).

Functionality and simplicity of operation have always been VSI's trademark of quality. Our new

Hexagonals are no exception. The entire Hex consists of only two major parts (the 2" barrel-nose

tube structure and the rotating 6-eyepiece cylinder), with only one moving part (the rotating

6-eyepiece cylinder itself).

The Hex1 has a locking thumb screw that secures the rotation of the 6-eyepiece cylinder. No other

turret eyepiece holder, that I know of, has this exclusive lock-down capability. Why would you want an

eyepiece rotation lock? Same reason you want a focuser with a moving tube lock. And all individual

eyepiece holders incorporate our exclusive, failsafe angled lock system. By placing the locking thumb

screws at a 45 degree angle to the eyepiece's 1.25" barrel -nose, you apply lateral pressure as you

tighten the thumb screw, locking it in place - like a lock washer. Each eyepiece on the Hex1 has dual

angle, self-locking thumb screws for super secure failsafe operation.

Load your Hex1 with eyepieces once, and you'll

never have to fumble with eyepieces in the dark

again. Find a custom eyepiece case, l ike the one

pictured at right (not included), and you'll be

instantly set up for mobile astronomy in the

field. Just slide your fully loaded Hex1 into your

scope's visual back and you're ready to observe.


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And you'll have the coolest looking, eye-catching

scope at the star party!

Why does the Hex1

have a long 2"

barrel-nose that

wastes profile? Profile i s NOT wasted on the Hex. In conjunction with

our optional AHEX S CT adapter, this added profile is ergonomicallynecessary so you don't hit your head on the back of your scope's visual

back when trying to look through the eyepiece. If the Hex was fitted

with a low-profile 2" threaded slip-ring (like our Sliders), the Hex1

would attach too close to your scope's visual back - ouch! If you have a

secondary focuser docked to your scope's visual back, then you still have

plenty of clearance for your head, and the Hex's 2" barrel-nose profile i s

consumed inside the focuser's moving tube - profile issue equalized. All

1.25" eyepiece turrets should have a 2" barrel-nose (unfortunately, none do), expecially when using

1.25" low-power, wide-field eyepieces because vignetting can be eliminated with a 2" format input.

And Hexagonals also feature a huge internal 1.75" clear-aperture and oversize 1.83" minor-axis,

first-surface QUARTZ mirror. Is this overki ll?

For your convenience, all VSI TOADLOADERS models, that incorporate the [dual purpose]

QUAD-LOCK feature, allow their moving tubes to lock the Hex in place, while stil l providing ful l

rotation of the Hex body (see AHEX S CT adapter below for more info). No other turret on the market

has our exclusive dual rotation feature. Just turn the handle to the most comfortable active eyepiece

position (no thumb screws to unscrew), then simply hold the handle in place and rotate the eyepiece

cylinder to change magnifications. When speed and safety are paramount, this is the eyepiece turret

you need. It's great for star parties, public viewing sessions, quick A/B object comparison using

different eyepieces or filters. Sl ip a 2" filter in the Hexagonal's built-in fil ter slot and this exclusive

convenience becomes a necessity.

NOTE: If you are using a VSI focuser with QUAD-LOCK, you don't need the SCT AHEX Revolver. See

ADAPTERS link for more adapters.

VSI's Exclusive 2" Built-in Filter Slot

Our New 2" format filter slot is now built into both Hex

models - the 1.25" x 6 Hex1 (pictured at left) and the Giant

2" x 6 Hex2 (pictured far below). Each Hex comes with a

fitted 2" OD ring (included) that simply pops into the filter

slot, eliminating stray light from entering the housing when

not in use. This stray light blocking ring is pictured (below


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left), inserted in the Hexagonal's filter slot. The finger

notch, also pictured below left, allows easy grasping of the

ring or filter after pushing the spring-loaded eject button on

the bottom of the Hex1 housing (pictured below middle). The

filter ring is held in place by a plate-type spring (pictured

below right).

This exclusive feature offers fil ter insertion and extraction in a split second, li terally. No bulky filterwheels or separate sl ide mechanisms that gobble up your valuable profile and induce mechanical

flexure into your imaging train. Our built-in filter slots consume only the profile thickness of the

filter cell itsel f, which is typically less than 5/16" (8mm).

The filter slot was designed to accept the larger format 2" filters to eliminate vignetting caused by

using 1.25" low-power, wide-field eyepieces (i .e. 40mm, 32mm, 24mm, etc.). This larger 2" format was

selected because a 1.25" filter, at an extended distance from the eyepiece base, would cause more

severe vignetting, compared to placement of the filter at the base of the eyepiece. This extended

distance from the eyepiece would only allow the use of hi-power eyepieces. Therefore, this slot will

only accept the larger, thinner 2" format filters with a cell thickness up to 5/16" or 0.3125" (8mm).Most 1.25" filters are actually thicker (0.45") and have an internal ring that reduces the available

clear-aperture even further. S ee ADAPTERS link for other 2" filter slot adapters.

The Inside looks as Good as the Outside


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Hex1 turrets contain oversize optical-grade, first-surface, diagonal mirror flats from ProtoStar that

have a huge 1.83" minor axis with a 0.375" thickness (1:6 ratio), and meet or exceed Milspec MIL-M-

13508C. QUARTZ mirror with individual Zygo interferometric analysis documentation included with

each Hexagonal. Wavefront flatness i s typically better than 0.08 peak-to-valley measured at 633 nm

light. Coatings provide the highest possible reflectivity across the entire visible spectrum with a thin

pre-coat layer of chromium to promote good metal adhesion. Die lectric overcoat layers are applied

using Electron Beam Deposition (EBD), followed by an ultra-hard Ion Assisted Deposition (true argon

IAD) process.

Milling the Rotating 6-Eyepiece Cylinder

Like quality aluminum racing wheels, our Hexagonals are also machined from a solid billet of

aircraft-grade 6061-T6 aluminum. After being turned on a lathe to a perfect cylinder (above left), the

[4.5" O.D. by 1" wall thickness] blank is then milled on a digital mill (shown below) using a rotary

indexing head with arc-second accuracy. This full-machining process is very time consuming and

aircraft-grade aluminum is expensive, but the end result i s far superior to cheap, thin, weak


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pot-metal castings or thin multi-part rotating housings, like the other rotary eyepiece holders on the

market. The original billet blank (above left) weighs a little over 2 lbs (37.5 oz). After a copious

amount of metal is removed (above right), the weight has been reduced to a mere 14 oz.

2" SCT Quad-Lock AHEX Revolver (optional)

This VSI exclusive [2" format] SCT Quad-Lock captive revolver

allows dual rotation of the Hex1. Screw it onto any 2"-24tpi SCT

threaded visual back, slip the Hex1 into the Revolver and tighten

the four [Quad-Lock] Nylon thumb screws. Then back them off a

quarter turn [or so] until you can rotate the entire Hex1 easily.

This unique dual-rotation feature allows the outer eyepiece

housing to rotate normally (like any eyepiece turret) by holding

the rear handle stationary to rotate to a different eyepiece and/or

rotate the entire Hex1 to a more comfortable viewing position by

allowing the rear handle to rotate with the Hex1, which rotates the

entire Hex itself. It has industry-standard 2"-24tpi female SCT


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threads at the base of the adapter (pictured above right), double thumb screws at the top that lock into

standard safety indents (see arrow at left), and our proprietary double thumb screws that are screwed

into the proprietary locking groove in the barrel nose of our Hex1 (see arrow at le ft). It also doubles

as a super-solid [Quad-Lock] SCT 2-inch barrel adapter when you need zero-flexure for

astroimaging, etc.

When the Hex1 is inserted in the Revolver, and the Quad-Lock thumb screws are properly engaged

into the Hex grooves, you simply rotate the Hex body [active eyepiece] by using the convenient handleat the rear. Its like rotating a diagonal, but you don't have to loosen or tighten any thumb screws and

the Hex i s securely locked into the rotator. It's locked in place, but can still rotate by simply turning

the rear handle. You then change your magnifications by holding the handle in place and rotating the

outer cylinder from eyepiece to eyepiece (click - click - click).

For your added convenience, all VSI TOADLOADERS have Quad-Lock, and mimic the AHEX

function (pictured above le ft). This exclusive body rotation bonus is part of the VSI focuser

Quad-Lock feature that [also] locks your Hex into your VSI Toad, while stil l allowing instant Hex

body rotation, just like the AHEX adapter. So, if you are using a VSI Toad with Quad-Lock, you don't

need our AHEX SCT adapter. See ADAPTERS link for additional adapters.

Note that this special AHEX adapter, or a VSI focuser, is not required to use our Hexagonals. Our

1.25" Hexagonal turrets (above) fit in any standard 2" format focuser, etc. This proprietary feature,

utilizing the AHEX adapter and/or our VSI focuser's Quad-Lock feature, just makes it a little more

secure and very convenient to operate, allowing the Hex housing to rotate freely without loosening

any thumb screws.

Features & Specifications: Hexagonal 2

Turret (2" format)

QUARTZ mirrors with individual Zygo

interferometric analysis documentation


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Exclusive built-in 2" filter slot, includes two

insert rings

Stainless steel ADJUSTABLE click-stops (see

below)

Double failsafe, angled self-locking Nylon

thumb screws (10-32) on all 6 ports

Thumb screws tighten at an angle and lock

like a lock washer

Turret rotation locking thumb screw on all

Hexagonal models

Convenient body rotation handle on rear of Hexagonal

Gigantic 2.6" QUARTZ first-surface flat, 0.65" thick (see below for details)

Precision milled from solid 6" diameter aluminum billet (6061-T6)

All stainless steel and Nylon hardware

Positive spring-loaded ball bearing click-stops at each eyepiece

Luminous [glow-in-the-dark] handle indent for easy positioning in total darkness

All six eyepiece output ports are 2" format

Maximum [eyepiece barrel] insert depth = 1.5"

Dual Nylon locking thumb screws on threaded housing allow easy Hex body rotation

Dimensions: 6" diameter x 7" long

INPUT NOSE: 3.25"-16tpi female (for other docking, see CONVERTERS below)

Weight (less eyepieces) = 4 lbs.

Hexagonal 2 Turret General Information


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VSI's 2" format HEX2 has been completely re-designed

and simplified. The old Hex2 was just too complex and too

expensive to manufacture. The new 2" HEX is designed

similar to the 1.25" Hex above, just much larger in

proportions. To give you an even better 2" HEX size

comparison, look at the pictures (left) of the 10" SCT

with a 2" HEX installed. This is the smallest scope

[recommended] for the 2" HEX, and you will need some

serious counterweighting, but it'll work great. Also see

Scott's C14, that did not require counterweighting, at our

USER INSTALLATIONS link and pictured above.

VSI's 6-eyepiece

manual turret

Hexagonal also has

our exclusive built-in

2" filter slot with two insert rings included (see picture at right

and "Filters for your Hexagonal Turret" section below). The stray

light blocking insert ring provides a 2.75" internal clear aperture,

and is inserted when you are not using a filter. The other ring

holds a 2" format filter (up to 0.5" filter cell thickness) that can be

locked into the insert ring using three set screws (extra 2" fil ter

holders available , Item HFH). Each fil ter insert ring is held in

place with two spring plates (just pop it in), and removed with an

ejector button on the bottom (just push the button to eject the


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ring).

Eyepiece holders accommodate six 2" eyepieces (not included).

1.25" format eyepieces can be used in the HEX2 by inserting a standard 2" to 1.25" reducer, like our

item #AR21 (see ADAPTERS link). All 2" eyepiece holders incorporate failsafe double [Angled

Locks] Nylon thumb screws for a total of 12 Nylon knobs, shown on the back of the HEX. As with our

1.25" Hex1, the back also has a large luminous dot to indicate active eyepiece position in total

darkness. Internal spring loaded, ball bearing click stops assure accurate optical path alignment. Youcan use non-parfocus 2" eyepieces and parfocus each one individually, or simply insert a set of

parfocus 2" eyepieces and lock them down to eliminate refocusing when rotating from one eyepiece

to another.

VSI has introduced a relatively new feature - adjustable

click-stops on all HEX2 models. This very special feature

allows you to easily and accurately set, using an Allen

wrench, the spring pressure on the ball (see picture at

right). By doing so, you achieve the sensitivity necessary

for any eyepiece and/or accessory load. Such as all 2"Nagler "grenades" or all 1.25" eyepieces (using 2" to

1.25" reducers) which are much lower in weight, or even

empty eyepiece sockets. Although this adjustable

click-stop upgrade would not be beneficial for the smaller

Hex1, it is almost a necessity for the HEX2 because it

extends the load capabil ity and adds substantial

versatility to the array of eyepieces and accessories you can install on the HEX2.

To accomplish this task, the HEX2 had to be re-designed almost from scratch, again. Although the

new adjustable click-stop looks like an easy modification, it was not. You can easi ly see the new

raised section in the picture at right, with the stainless steel [ball & spring] insert mechanism, but

you can't see any of the other design changes because they are mostly dimensional and internal. In

other words, none of the previous HEX2 parts are interchangeable with this newer model HEX2.

Unfortunately, this does mean that none of the old models are upgradeable to this new model .

HEX2 turrets contain optical-grade, first-surface mirrors

from ProtoStar that have a giant 2.6" (minor axis) diagonal

flat with a 0.65" thickness, and meet or exceed Milspec

MIL-M-13508C. HEX2's have QUARTZ mirrors with

individual Zygo Interferometric analysis documentation

included with each Hexagonal (see mirror picture at left).

Wavefront flatness is typically better than 0.08 peak-to-

valley measured at 633 nm light. Coatings provide the

highest possible reflectivity across the entire visible

spectrum with a thin pre-coat layer of chromium to promote

good metal adhesion. Dielectric overcoat layers are applied

using Electron Beam Deposition (EBD), followed by an Ion

Assisted Deposition (true argon IAD) process.


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When speed and safety are necessary, this is the eyepiece turret you need. It's great for star parties,

public viewing sessions, quick A-B object comparison at different magnifications, and even switching

between different imaging devices (i.e. CCD cameras, spectroscopes, photometers, comparator

devices, etc.). Input port is an industry-standard 3.25"-16tpi (female) thread that screws directly onto

Meade or Celestron (with optional converter, Item AMC33 below) visual backs (also see DOCKING

CONVERTERS link for stock docking converters for other scopes). Output ports (6) are standard 2"

female format. S ix dust caps are included with your HEX. See "Why do you need a Hexagonal

Turret?" (bottom of this page) for picture of first 2" Hex prototype built in 1992.

WARNING: When this turret HEX is loaded with Six 2" Nagler "grenades" (or equivalent eyepieces) you

need a large telescope, or some very serious counterweighting, to balance your instrument's weight.

Filters for your Hexagonal Turret

Once you've experienced our Hexagonal, with its exclusive

built-in 2" filter slot, you'll never be able to return to a simple

diagonal again. No more dysfunctional eyepiece and/or filter

exchanging. No more time consuming fi lter changing

operations that involve removing the eyepiece, screwing in a

filter, observing, removing the eyepiece, unscrewing the filter

and endlessly repeating this obsole te, cumbersome process. In

total darkness, this scenario can become a literal nightmare.

No bulky filter wheels or separate sl ide mechanisms that

gobble up your valuable profile and induce mechanical flexure

into your imaging train.You can even perform double filter

comparisons (stacking) by screwing one into the base of your

eyepiece and then switching them in and out of the spring-

loaded filter slot.

The 3" outside

diameter, stray light

blocking insert ring on

the HEX2 provides a 2.75" internal clear aperture, and is

inserted when you are not using a filter. The other 3" OD

ring (both included) holds a 2" format filter (up to 0.5" fil ter

cell thickness) that can be locked into the insert ring using

three set screws (extra 2" filter holders, Item HFH). The filter

slot's 3/8" thick-wall construction is rock-solid. Just install a

2" filter in the filter ring and pop it in the slot, and it's

automatically locked in place by two tensioned spring plates,

one on each side of the slot (see left picture). And removing a


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filter is as simple as pushing the ejection button on the bottom of the Hex (see right picture).

Whether you are using fil ters for lunar, planetary, comet, deep-sky observing or just cutting your

light pollution, you wil l find the Hex indispensable. You can switch fil ters instantaneously for A-B

comparisons. When viewing subtle planetary contrast changes using color filters, nebulous deep-sky

objects using narrow band-pass and UHC filters, or simple polarizing fil ters to cut the Moon's

brightness, the Hex is a "must-have" necessity.

Eyepiece Strategies for your Hexagonal 2

The

question, "Why don't you create a Hex that wil l take one

2" and five 1.25" eyepieces?" is asked frequently. So a

section on this basic topic will help answer that question,

and probably provide a few other answers too.

People are probably thinking of the old Unitron Unihex from many years ago. At one time, Unitron

offered a dual format, 6-eyepiece turret that accepted one 1.25" eyepiece and five 0.965" eyepieces.

This was feasible because the difference between a 0.965" and a 1.25" eyepiece is about a quarter of

an inch. The difference between a 2" eyepiece and a 1.25" eyepiece is three quarters of an inch - 3

times the diameter difference. This increase is the reason a turret with one 2" port and five 1.25"

ports would be impractical, at best.

To insert one, or six 2" format eyepieces in a turret, you would still need a turret with a rotating

housing profile exceeding the 2" format, like the Hex2 , which has a rotating housing profile of 2.5

inches (see size comparision picture at right). Essentially, to make a turret with one 2" port and five

1.25" ports, you would need to make a turrret with the same dimensions as the Hex2. So why not just


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make the Hex2 and use 2" to 1.25" reducers, such as our AR21, in the 2" ports? Note the left Hex2

picture, that creates the reality of the above question, one 2" eyepiece and five 1.25" eyepieces, using

five AR21 reducers. And, you now have the versatil ity to install any combination of 2" and 1.25"

eyepieces.

Docking Ring Converters for your HEX 2

VSI can CUSTOM MACHINE any docking ring or adapter you need to dock our HEX2 to your scope's

visual back. If you don't see your specific docking converter listed, just call. That's all it takes. FYI,

the above docking ring was custom machined to transfer the HEX2 from a client's Meade S CT

(3.25"-16tpi, bottom larger thread above) to his second scope, a Takahashi refractor (M72-1mm

thread pitch, top smaller thread above) while still maintaining a 2.5" internal clear aperture.

Anything is possible!

One exception i s noted. This GIANT HEX 2 is just that - GIGANTIC! Therefore, VSI wil l not [even]offer docking converters for 2" format focusers or any type of 2" docking (i.e. S CT 2"-24tpi, 2"

barrel-nose, etc.). The weight, with six 2" format eyepieces installed, would overwhelm any 2"

focuser, except our 2" TOADLOADERS of course. However, even if you could [mechanically] dock the

HEX2 to our 2" TOADLOADER, the typical 1.75" internal clear aperture would cause vignetting with

lower power, wide-field eyepieces, especially at an extended distance from the eyepiece.

Threaded Docking Ring Converters for your HEX 2

Meade 4"-16tpi female to Meade 3.25"-16tpi male Docking Ring Converter, Item ACR43 (above left):


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This converter is designed to screw onto the Meade 16" LX200 Schmidt-Cassegrain scope's 4"-16tpi

male threaded visual back so you can dock a HEX 2, or any other 3.25"-16tpi device, on your 16"

Meade SCT. At last check, Meade did not offer this accessory and said they had no plans to offer it.

Meade 3.25"-16tpi male to Celestron 3.29"-16tpi female Docking Ring Converter, Item AMC33

(above right): This 3.29"-16tpi female to 3.25"-16tpi male threaded converter is used to convert your

larger 3.29" Celestron (C11 or C14, etc.) threaded visual back to Meade's smaller 3.25" threaded

visual back format.

Meade 4"-16tpi female to Meade 3.25"-16tpi male Converter, Item ACR43: $195

Meade 3.25"-16tpi male to Celestron 3.29"-16tpi female Converter, Item AMC33: $99

Threaded Docking Ring Converter for VSI 3" TOADS

3.1" Flange to 3.25"-16tpi Male Threaded Docking RingConverter for 3" TOADLOADERS , Item A325 (above): This

converter will allow you to dock any Meade 3.25"-16tpi large-

format accessory to the output [moving tube] of your 3" TOAD.

However, it's main purpose is to dock our Giant Hexagonal 2 turret

to the output of our 3" TOADLOADERS (see picture at left).

3.1" Flange to 3.25"-16tpi Male Threaded Ring Converter for 3"

TOADS, Item A325: $99

Docking Ring Converter for your Custom Scope


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4.5" Round [flat-bottom] Base to 3.25"-16tpi Male Threaded Docking Ring Converter for Custom

telescopes, Item ACR45 (above): This round, flat-bottom, bolt-on converter includes mounting

hardware and is designed to dock our HEX2 directly to a [usually] custom scope's flat visual back.

Where the scope has existing primary focus control/operation by moving the secondary or primary

mirror and needs no external secondary focuser attached to the scope's visual back. This converter

would also dock one of our 2" TOADLOADERS, as a secondary focuser. Fully machined from a

massive 1-inch thick cylinder of extruded 6061-T6 aluminum. Mounting base angle is adjustable

using push-pull set screws and Allen bolts (included). Converter has three counter-sunk [Allen bolt]

holes opposed by 120 degrees.

4.5" Round to 3.25"-16tpi Male Threaded Ring Converter, Item ACR45: $149

Why do you need a Hexagonal Turret?

Besides the obvious

fact that Hexagonals

look really cool, our

exclusive dual-rotation

system (explained

in-depth later) also

offers the ultimate in

eyepiece security,

whil e providing instant

[and secure] active

eyepiece repositioning

and instant

eyepiece/magnification changes. During the early days of Black Forest Observatory (1986-2001), I

util ized a gigantic custom Hexagonal (2.6" format, pictured right and left), that I created at BFO's

machine shop (the first Hex), exclusively for public sky tours (for more info on BFO's 30-inch

Cassegrain, see Installations l ink, bottom of the page). When you have 40 people in your observatory,

you have to reposition the scope with the utmost alacrity of purpose. Public people have no patience.

They don't want to stand around all night freezing in the dark, waiting for the next celestial object to


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become available in the telescope's eyepiece.

That's where this super Hex, with the dual-rotation feature, came into play! Simply turn the handle

(giant star knob in this case) on the rear to a comfortable viewing position, without loosening or

retightening anything. It's locked in place, but the active eyepiece body is still fully rotatable. This

exclusive Hex body rotation function, that no other turret offers, is identical to rotating your single

eyepiece diagonal to a more comfortable viewing position, but with the Hex, you don't have to loosen

and retighten thumb screws. Even single eyepiece diagonals don't do body rotation. Of course, to takeadvantage of VSI's exclusive turret body rotation feature, you need to use it in conjunction with our

SCT Captive Retaining AHEX Revolver (Item AHEX above) or any model VSI focuser with the [dual

purpose] Quad-Lock feature. If you use the Hex with other focusers, you simply lose the [double

locked-in-place] body rotation feature. That simply means you wil l have to loosen [hopeful ly] two

thumb screws, rotate the head to a more comfortable viewing position and tighten the thumb screws -

an inconvenience that accompanies all other [less functional] eyepiece turrets and standard

diagonals on the market.

While you are rotating the Hex body to a more comfortable viewing angle, you can simultaneously

hold the rear pull-type handle (star knob pictured above) in place to rotate to a different eyepiece(click - click, etc.), and you're ready to view. Instantaneous, quick, Hex body and eyepiece rotation

with one homogenous action. It doesn't get any better than that! Changing viewing positions and

eyepieces takes only a second, literally. No fumbling around in the dark. Total eyepiece security. You

can even install two identical power eyepieces, with different 1.25" filters, for instantaneous A/B

comparisons. If you have matched sets of eyepieces for your binoviewer, you're already there.

At first, you may think that this Hex device is a frivolous luxury. After you've actually experienced

the Hex advantage first-hand/eye, you will find that it has become an undeniable necessity for your

visual observing - I guarantee it! This extra, exclusive Hex body rotation feature was so fluid and

functional, that I eventually developed a conditioned response, operating my Hex without even having

to think about what I was doing. These two new, much lower priced, Hex models are a fantastic way to

visually tour the celestial wonders of the night sky. Beyond the above facts, I simply wanted to offer a

new observing experience to all my friends in Astroland - PBVS


Hexagonal Turret Eyepiece Holders

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