Enhance your telescope mount's performance with the Altair TMS Heavy Duty Universal Saddle Plate. Designed for iEQ45, G11, EQ6, and HEQ5 models, this Clear Silver plate offers durability and stability. Improve your astrophotography and observations today!
The USP is a heavy duty saddle plate which is designed to replace the factory clamps on equatorial mounts with a more rigid and precise alternative for imaging or visual use with heavier telescopes. It's not only easier to use, it's also safer and stronger than the factory clamps you get with your mount. The Altair USP is compatible with both the Vixen/Synta-format telescope mounting bars, or the Losmandy-format wider mounting plates. This all-in-one design means you don't have to change clamps for different telescopes, making your mount more compatible.
The USP fits most medium sized equatorial mounts on the market including the iOptron iEQ45, Losmandy G11 and the Skywatcher EQ6, Orion USA Atlas or Skywatcher HEQ5. The Universal Saddle Plate or "USP" is also compatible with the rest of the Altair TMS Telescope Mounting System accessory range.
This is the clear anodised version of the Altair USP, and being a metallic silver colour, it goes very well with the blue anodised hardware range, or indeed any colour of mounting hardware, including black.
Altair Heavy Duty USP Features:
- Compatible with Losmandy-wide-format dovetail plates, and Vixen-narrow-format doevtail bars. Very precisely machined.
- Safe and easy "tip in" saddle lets you place your telescope quickly and easily from the side, while tightening up the clamps with your other hand. This avoids that awkward struggle in the dark, while you try to hold onto a damp slippery telescope, while carefully lining up a saddle plate which will only slide in from the very end. This design feature is now much-copied and is based on feedback and requests from several customers who have nearly dropped their telescopes!
- Chamfered and rounded edges make it even easier to get a heavy telescope placed securely, before tightening the clamps with your other hand.
- Heavy duty hard anodised star knobs, custom-machined for a positive grip with or without gloves.
- The clamp has machined guides for a positive lock.
- No sharp edges or poor machining.
- The heavy duty spring loaded Stainless Steel M8 threads do not corrode.
- Looks great in hard anodised "Altair Blue" to match the rest of the TMS range.
- Readily available, and made locally in the UK at our machine shop on HAAS 4 axis CNC milling machines. That means we have complete control over quality.
Mount compatibility:
- The Altair TMS will fit the iOptron iEQ45 directly using the existing hex screws.
- The Altair USP bolts directly to the Losmandy G11, replacing the factory saddle plate, a very popular upgrade.
- To fit the Altair USP to the Synta Skywatcher EQ6 or Orion USA Atlas mounts, you will need an adapter puck (see the two options below).
- Likewise you can fit the USP to the Skywatcher HEQ5 or equivalent Orion Atlas EQ-G - choose the correct adapter puck below.
- The Altair USP also has a pair of standard M8 "Takahashi" style holes on the base with 35mm separation, enabling the Universal Saddle Plate to be mounted on the William Optics Easytouch, AYO and numerous other mounts, including Takahashi - with the appropriate Takahashi adapter puck.
Please note: If you have an EQ6 mount and require a puck please choose from the options list below. There are two types of puck. Post Sept 08 mounts have the "N" version new puck (USP-C-NEW-EQ6-PUCK) with a conical hourglass profile. Pre Sept 08 mounts require the older puck (USP-C-OLD-EQ6-PUCK) with a straight profile, and side indentations for the mount grub screws. By removing the 3x grub screws surrounding the clamp on your mount and having a look at base of the factory clamp you have, you should be able to tell which you require.
