Orion XX12 User Manual

INSTRUCTION MANUAL

Orion® SkyQuest™ XX12 IntelliScope®

Truss Tube Dobsonian

#9793

Providing Exceptional Consumer Optical Products Since 1975

Customer Support (800) 676-1343 E-mail: support@telescope.com

Corporate Offices (831)‑763‑7000

89 Hangar Way, Watsonville, CA 95076

IN 339 Rev. A 11/08

Finder scope

Eyepiece

Navigation knob

Upper optical tube section

Focuser

Altitude tensioning

(CorrecTension) knob Truss pole assembly (4x)

IntelliScope Object Locator

Lower optical tube section

Dobsonian base

Base handle

Eyepiece rack

Figure 1. The SkyQuest XX12 IntelliScope Truss Tube Dobsonian.

Congratulations on your purchase of an Orion® SkyQuest™ XX12 IntelliScope® Truss Tube Dobsonian

(XX12). It’s a deep sky observer’s dream telescope, offering jumbo 12" Pyrex

optics: a stylish base outfitted with IntelliScope object locating technology, and a sturdy truss tube design that easily disassembles into compact, portable components. This high performance astronomical instrument is designed to provide dazzling views of celestial objects, yet be transportable and easy to use.

With the IntelliScope Computerized Object Locator, you gain the ability to locate and view thousands of celestial objects with the push of a button. Searching for objects is a thing of the past, as the IntelliScope’s high-resolution digital encoders find them for you — in seconds! Genuine Ebony Star on Virgin Teflon azimuth bearings and large 8" diameter adjustable-tension altitude bearings make slewing the telescope and keeping objects centered in the eyepiece easy. Deluxe features, such as a 2" dual-speed Crayford focuser, and full accessory assortment, including a 2" eyepiece and 9x50mm finder scope, provide everything you need to enjoy your journey through the universe.

Please read these instructions thoroughly before beginning assembly and subsequent use of the telescope.

Table of Contents

1. Unpacking .......................3

2. Assembly ........................ 7

3. Aligning (Collimating)

the Optical System ................ 16

4. Using your Telescope .............. 19

5. Astronomical Observing ........... 22

6. Care and Maintenance ............25

7. Specifications .................... 26

1. Unpacking

The telescope is packed in three boxes, one containing the optical tube assembly and accessories (including the IntelliScope Object Locator kit), another containing the unassembled Dobsonian base, and the last containing the primary mirror in its cell. Be careful unpacking the boxes. We recommend keeping the original packaging. In the event that the telescope needs to be shipped to another location, or returned to Orion for warranty repair, having the proper packaging will help insure that your telescope will survive the journey intact.

Make sure all the parts in the Parts List are present. The parts are listed by the box they should arrive in, but some of the parts may be in different boxes than indicated. Be sure to check all boxes carefully, as some parts are small. If anything appears to be missing or broken, immediately call Orion Customer Support (800-676-1343) or email support@telescope.com for assistance.

WARNING: Never look directly at the Sun through your telescope or its finder scope — even for an instant — without a professionally made solar filter that completely covers the front of the instrument, or permanent eye damage could result. Young children should use this telescope only with adult supervision.

Parts List

Box #1: Optical Tube Assembly and Accessories

(refer to Figure 2)

Qty. Description

1 Lower tube section

1 Upper tube section

2 Dust covers

4 Truss pole assemblies

1 IntelliScope Object Locator kit (see Box #1A below for

list of parts)

1 35mm Deep View eyepiece, 2" barrel diameter

1 10mm Sirius Plössl eyepiece, 1.25" barrel diameter

1 9x50 finder scope

1 Finder scope bracket with O-ring

1 Cooling accelerator fan kit

1 Collimation cap

1 Azimuth encoder board

1 Encoder connector board

1 Encoder disk

2 Hex keys (2mm, 2.5mm)

Box #1A: IntelliScope Object Locator kit

(located inside OTA box) (refer to Figure 3)

Qty. Description

1 IntelliScope Object Locator

1 Altitude encoder assembly

1 Controller cable (coil cable)

1 Azimuth encoder cable (24" long)

1 Altitude encoder cable (53" long)

1 Azimuth encoder spacer washer, thin (1/4" outer

diameter, 0.015" thick)

6 Wire clips

1 9V Battery

1 Nylon hook-and-loop adhesive strips

1 Bumper

2 Altitude encoder nylon spacer washers (1/4" outer

diameter, color white)

3 Encoder wood screws (1/2" long)

1 Instruction manual

Box #2: Dobsonian Base

(refer to Figure 4)

Qty. Description

1 Left panel

1 Right panel

1 Front brace

1 Top baseplate

1 Ground baseplate

2 Side braces

20 Base assembly wood screws (2" long, color black)

1 Handle

2 Handle screws (hex head, 1.5" long)

2 Handle washers (5/8" outer diameter)

1 Crescent wrench

1 Hex key (size 4mm)

3 Plastic feet

3 Feet wood screws (1" long)

5 Encoder wood screws (1/2" long)

1 Brass azimuth bushing

1 Azimuth axis screw (hex head, length 2.25")

2 Fender washers (1" outer diameter)

1 Hex lock nut

4 Altitude bearing cylinders

4 Altitude bearing cylinder screws (1.5" long, color black)

1 Vertical stop knob

5 Vertical stop washers, thick (5/8" outer diameter, 1/16"

thick)

2 Vertical stop washers, thin (1/2" outer diameter, 1/32"

thick)

3 Azimuth encoder spacer washers, thick (0.35" outer

diameter, 0.032" thick)

1 Eyepiece rack

2 Eyepiece rack wood screws (3/4" long, color black)

2 Altitude tensioning knobs

1 Tensioning Teflon washer (color white, 1" outer

diameter)

1 Tensioning metal washer (1" outer diameter)

Box #3: Primary Mirror and Cell Qty. Description

1 Primary mirror

1 Mirror cell

3 Collimation knobs

3 Nylon washers (3/4" outer diameter)

3 Springs

Upper tube section

Dust cover (2x)

Truss pole assemblies (4x)

Lower tube section

IntelliScope Object Locator kit

35mm Deep View eyepiece

10mm Sirius Plössl eyepiece

Cooling accelerator fan kit

Finder scope bracket with O-ring

9x50 Finder scope

Collimation cap

Encoder disk

Azimuth encoder board

Encoder connector board

Figure 2. The par ts in the box containing the optical tube and accessories.

Hex keys (2x)

Instruction manual

IntelliScope Object Locator

Altitude encoder assembly

Altitude encoder nylon spacer washers (2x)

Azimuth encoder cable (shorter)

Altitude encoder cable (longer)

Controller cable

Figure 3.

The parts in the IntelliScope Object Locator kit.

Side braces (2x)

Left panel

9V Battery

Encoder wood screws (3x)

Bumper

Wire clips (6x)

Azimuth encoder spacer washer, thin

Nylon hook-and-loop adhesive strips

Top baseplate

Right panel

Ground baseplate

Metal insert

Front brace

Azimuth

Eyepiece rack

axis screw

Eyepiece rack

Fender

wood screws (2x)

washers (2x)

Base assembly wood screws (20x)

➊ Encoder wood

Hex lock nut

screws (5x)

➋ Azimuth encoder spacer washers, thick (3x)

➌ Vertical stop

Feet (3x)

knob

➍ Vertical stop washers, thick (5x)

➎ Vertical stop washers, thin (2x)

Feet wood screws (3x)

Altitude bearing cylinders (4x)

Altitude bearing cylinder screws (4x)

Figure 4. The par ts in the box containing the Dobsonian base.

Altitude tensioning metal washer

Altitude tensioning knobs (2x)

➊

➌

➋

➍

➎

Altitude tensioning Teflon washer

Brass azimuth bushing

Handle washers (2x)

Handle

Hex

screws (2x)

key

Handle

Crescent wrench

Azimuth encoder spacer washers, thick (2x)

Encoder wood screw

Pilot hole

Azimuth encoder spacer washer, thin

Figure 6. To install the azimuth encoder board, insert an encoder

board mounting screw through the slotted hole in the board. Then, add two thick and one thin encoder spacing washers onto the screw. Now, insert the modular connector on the encoder board into the square hole in the the top baseplate, and thread the screw into the pilot hole using a Phillips head screwdriver.

SkyQuest IntelliScope label on it. The screws go through the holes in the panels and thread into the starter holes in the side braces. Use the 4mm hex key to firmly tighten the screws.

3. Connect the front brace (B) to the two side panels (C) with six of the base assembly screws. The screws go through the holes in the side panels and thread into the starter holes in the front brace. The side panels should be oriented so the side braces are facing outward. The

Figure 5. Exploded view of the Dobsonian base.

2. Assembly

Now that you have unpacked the boxes and familiarized yourself with all the parts in front of you, it’s time to begin assembly.

Assembly of the Dobsonian Base

Refer to Figure 5 during base assembly. The base need only be assembled once, unless you disassemble it for long-term storage. The assembly process takes about an hour and requires, in addition to the supplied tools, a Phillips screwdriver, and two adjustable crescent wrenches. (You can substitute a 10mm crescent wrench for one of the adjustable crescent wrenches, or use a pair of pliers.) When tightening screws, tighten them until firm, but be careful not to strip the holes by over-tightening. If you use an electric screwdriver, do final tightening with a standard screwdriver to avoid stripping.

1. With a Phillips screwdriver, screw the feet (Q) into the underside of the ground baseplate (A) using the feet wood screws provided. Insert the screws through the feet and thread them into the predrilled starter holes.

2. Connect the side braces (N) to the side panels (C) using three of the base assembly screws for each panel. Connect each brace to the surface of the panel with the

front brace should be oriented so that the surface with the metal insert (Figure 4) faces inwards. Do not completely tighten the screws yet.

4. Connect the assembled structure to the top baseplate (D) with the remaining eight base assembly screws in the predrilled holes. The side of the top baseplate with the Ebony Star laminate bearing surface ring should be facing downwards.

5. Firmly tighten the six base assembly screws installed in step 2.

6. The azimuth encoder board (E) attaches to the underside of the top baseplate (D). The azimuth encoder board can be found in the box with the optical tube. Between the azimuth encoder board and top baseplate goes two thick spacer washers (P) and one thin spacer washer (O). These washers are critical in providing the proper spacing for the assembled azimuth encoder. The two thick azimuth encoder spacer washers are included with the base, but the thin azimuth encoder spacer washer is included with the IntelliScope Object Locator kit. Insert an encoder wood screw through the slotted hole in the azimuth encoder board so that the head of the screw is on the side of the encoder board without the modular connector. Now, place the two thick and one thin azimuth encoder spacer washers on the screw (Figure 6).

Azimuth encoder board

Top baseplate

Azimuth encoder board

Top baseplate

Ground baseplate

Brass azimuth bushing

Encoder disc

Figure 7. Lower the top baseplate onto the bottom baseplate.

The brass bushing should pass through the center hole in the top baseplate (and the large hole in the azimuth encoder board).

7. Inser t the modular jack on the azimuth encoder board (E) into the square-shaped hole in the top baseplate (D) and align the encoder board so the screw lines up with the pre-drilled pilot hole in the baseplate, and the large hole in the encoder board lines up with the central hole in the baseplate (Figure 6). Thread the encoder wood screw (with spacer washers attached) into the pre-drilled pilot hole with a Phillips screwdriver and tighten until just tight.

Note: After the azimuth encoder board is installed to the bottom of the top baseplate, do not rest the baseplate on the ground, or the encoder board could be damaged. At this stage, rest the partially assembled base on its side.

8. Position the ground baseplate (A) so that it is standing on its plastic feet. Place one fender washer (H) onto the azimuth axis screw (I), then insert the screw up through the hole in the ground baseplate.

9. Place the encoder disk (J), flat side down, over the azimuth axis screw (I) and onto the ground baseplate (A). The encoder disk is found in the box with the optical tube assembly.

10. Place the brass azimuth bushing (F) onto the azimuth axis screw (I) so the wide end of the bushing is closest to the encoder disk (J). Seat the bushing onto the encoder disk so the registration feature on the bushing goes into the hole in the encoder disk.

11. Carefully position the top baseplate (D) over the ground baseplate (A) and lower it so the brass azimuth bushing (F) goes through the center hole in the top baseplate (Figure

7). When the top baseplate is resting on the ground baseplate, the brass bushing should extend just above the top surface of the top baseplate.

12. Place the remaining fender washer (K) onto the shaft of the azimuth axis screw (I), then thread the hex lock nut (L) onto the end of the azimuth axis screw and tighten it finger tight, for now.

13. To tighten the hex lock nut (L) onto the azimuth axis screw (I), tilt the assembled Dobsonian base at a slight angle

Figure 8. To connect the baseplates, tilt them only slightly, as

shown. Do not place them on their side. (a) Use one wrench (or pliers) to hold the hex nut steady (b) while turning the hex head of the azimuth axis screw with another wrench.

to lift the ground baseplate off the ground. Now, with one wrench (or pliers) hold the head of the azimuth axis screw still while turning the hex lock nut with the other wrench. Figure 8 shows this being done. Tighten the hex lock nut just until the top fender washer is no longer moving freely, then tighten the hex nut 3/16 to 1/4 turn beyond that. This provides the proper spacing between the encoder disk and the azimuth encoder board.

14. Two altitude bearing cylinders (R) connect to the interior surface of each side panel. Line up one of the altitude bearing cylinders with one of the two through holes in each side panel. The beveled end of the cylinder should be facing away from the side panel. Push a bearing cylinder screw through the side panel and thread it into the built-in nut in the cylinder with the included 4mm hex key (Figure

9). Repeat this for the remaining three bearing cylinders.

15. Attach the encoder connector board to the interior surface of the left side panel. The encoder connector board can be found in the box with the optical tube. Place the board against the left panel so that the modular jack fits into the square-shaped hole and using a Phillips screwdriver, thread four encoder wood screws through the connector

Altitude bearing cylinder screw

Altitude bearing cylinder

Figure 9. Push a bearing cylinder through the side panel and

thread it into the altitude bearing cylinder. The beveled end of the cylinder should be facing away from the side panel.

Right panel

Altitude encoder assembly

Encoder mounting screw

Altitude encoder spacer nylon washer

Left panel

Encoder wood screws (4x)

Altitude encoder jack

Azimuth encoder jack

Figure 10. Attach the encoder connector board to the left panel

with four of the encoder board mounting screws.

board and into the pre-drilled pilot holes in the left panel until tight (Figure 10).

16. The altitude encoder assembly and its mounting hardware can be found in the box with the IntelliScope Object Locator kit. The altitude encoder assembly is installed onto the base’s right side panel. Below the 5/8" through hole in the right panel, there are two predrilled starter holes in the inward-facing surface. Take two of the encoder wood screws supplied in the IntelliScope kit and push them through the two slotted holes in the bottom of the altitude encoder’s board. The screw heads should be on the same side as the altitude encoder’s modular jack. Now, place an altitude encoder nylon spacer washer on the end of each screw (Figure 11).

17. Thread the encoder wood screws into the starter holes in the right side panel with a Phillips screwdriver (Figure

11). The shaft on the altitude encoder assembly should protrude through the 5/8" through-hole in the right panel. It will take a bit of dexterity to keep the nylon spacer washers on the ends of the screws when installing, so don’t

Figure 11. To install the altitude encoder assembly onto

the interior surface of the right panel, insert two encoder board mounting screws through the slotted holes in the board. Then, add an altitude encoder spacer nylon washer onto each screw. Now, insert the shaft of the altitude encoder through the hole in the right side panel, and thread the screws into the two pilot holes using a Phillips head screwdriver.

Encoder wood screw

Bumper

Altitude encoder assembly

Figure 12. Install the bumper into the pilot hole above the

altitude encoder assembly using one of the encoder wood screws.

get frustrated if it takes a couple tries. The screws should not be fully tightened; they should be tight, but not tight enough to prevent the altitude encoder from moving up and down within the slots in the encoder board.

Note: The right panel does not have a white nylon bushing pressed into its 5/8" through hole like the left panel does. This is an intended design.

18. There is a pilot hole above the altitude encoder assembly; this is where the plastic bumper (found in the IntelliScope kit) which protects the altitude encoder assembly will be installed. Take the remaining encoder wood screw from the IntelliScope kit, push it through the bumper, and use a Phillips screwdriver to thread it into the pilot hole until tight (Figure 12).

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