How To Collimate A Laser Colliimator

[@MatthewHolevinski]

The Dude is Back!

[@smalloptics753]

Thank you so much my friend. Very much appreciated.

[@laupetre]

I love all of your videos and they have helped me out a lot the past few months! I have managed to colimate my mirrors and have seen the rings of Saturn and Jupiter with its biggest four moons last Saturday for the first time, and I was jumping up and down and giggling like a little girl with happiness. Thank you for your enthusiasm, it has been a big inspiration for me.

[@smalloptics753]

That's great to hear my friend. Happy stargazing.

[@spaceenthusiast-tq6pf]

Thank you for this amazing tutorial, Jason! You've saved me a lot of time and money with this amazing tutorial! It annoys me on why they can't properly build a collimator.

[@smalloptics753]

You're very welcome my friend.

[@StuffyToaster]

I bought a Cheshire based largely on your previous recommendations but find the laser to be much easier to use. Yes, you need to check the laser every so often but alignment isn’t any worse than a finder scope. And who doesn’t like twiddling the knobs and screws on their equipment once in a while? What better way to spend a cloudy night. A V-jig is super easy to build but I think the best one I’ve seen was demonstrated by Reflactor; he drilled a 1.25 inch hole in a piece of wood, clamped it flat (in his case to a step ladder to get more distance but a table or bench will do), and pointed the laser at the floor. I like the simplicity of the Cheshire but when it comes to adjusting the primary mirror the laser is easier because you don’t need to go back and forth to check your adjustments. I’m glad you’re giving them a second chance.

[@tuunaes]

Or just use Barlow (unless primary mirror lacks center mark) and many inaccuracy sources are automatically removed from the equation. Because instead of looking at where laser's dot hits the mirror and its reflection you're now looking only at reflection of center mark.

[@christho1960]

Fantastic video! I've been struggling with focus recently and resorted to not using the collimator. After checking manually I found my scope was way out but it never crossed my mind that the laser collimator could be out, or that it was adjustible. Always learning, thanks. 👍

[@plapbandit]

Anyone with access to a 3d printer, there are some really great collimation jigs for these lasers on the usual sites. Thanks for the vid Jason, appreciate it

[@jamessydenstricker2342]

Great video! Thanks for all your hard work!!! Clear sky’s, everyone!

[@smalloptics753]

Thank you my friend and your more than welcome. Clear skies.

[@brenthann2623]

thanks Jason, this is a great "how to", heck i had no idea i needed to collimate my collimator.

[@billseward8176]

Jason, I watch all your videos and subscribe to the channel. You do a great job at explaining things to newcomers to the hobby. I've been involved with astronomy and telescopes since the early 1960s, and still learn things from you. I just had cataract surgery on both eyes this year. My vision is excellent now, and I'm enjoying my 8 inch Dob more than ever. Keep up the good work, my friend.

[@wriga007]

Thanks Jason great tutorial 👍👏

[@grahamalgeo3867]

The whole process very, very well explained. With realistic expectations. I used 32mm waste pipe clamps for my gig.

[@NewbFixer]

Oh my days! Outstanding fella, Im soo happy to see your still at it and leading the field of amateur astronomy on youtube. Look into doing some "shorts" from your existing videos buddy as they are really popular and will bring new people to your channel as your teaching real valuable skills! Its the most valuable thing in the world. We appreciate you and your efforts. Thank you.

[@smalloptics753]

Thank you so much for your kind words . I'm definitely going to look into the short side of KZbin, so stay tuned. All the best, my friend.

[@NewbFixer]

@@smalloptics753 Thanks buddy.

[@NewbFixer]

@@smalloptics753 Thanks buddy, im sure i replied already but here i am again :) Thank you.

[@lersusallarhand5831]

Thank you so much Jason!" I really enjoyed your video and the valuable information. Greetings from Nuremberg, Germany

[@paullewis7818]

Thank you for the video Jason, very informative, brilliant help

[@JimBrown-nc]

Nice when I did mine I ended up getting totally out even worse like you said and yes I decided to do much like you said. Made them tight and then backed them off. The tricky part was getting the movement consistent. I had to keep track of each set screw and moved one in and one out. VERY minor adjustments. Once I stopped trying to get it done in one shot it started to come in. Patience is what I needed. Like you said you can't really break it. But I was annoyed how far out it was straight out of the box. That soft stuff was such a pain to remove. I agree they should not do that as that was more annoying to get out then the actual collimation was. Actually getting used to collimate the collimator was good to actually collimate the scope since I had learned how to adjust the screws a tiny bit and bring one in and one out. When one does nothing put the screw back the other way and move on to another one. It was basically a balancing act.

[@Stephen-gp8yi]

I collimated my dob for the first time and it was bang on.i was happy until i realised the collimator was out.tried to collimate it with two books then two tins of beans but no good.will try again after watching this thanks Jason!

[@smalloptics753]

Hope you manage to sort it, my friend. Good luck, and thanks for watching.

[@stevew585]

Great video, Thank you Jason!

[@ronm6585]

Thanks for sharing.

[@VickyDreamz]

Nice to see you again! Great tutorial (even tho' I have a refractor I still watched it). Keep it up! Hope you are doing well! Wishing u the best!

[@smalloptics753]

Hello Vicky, thank you. Hope you are well too. Thanks for watching.

[@malinhallberg501]

Amazing tutorial for a noob like me. Thank you so much!

[@Bobi_203]

Great tutorial. I have the Svbony model, which is a few dollars more expensive, and its screws are not covered by the patch, but under a metal ring that unscrews and comes with an Allen key, but it doesn't matter. The first time I collimated it, it really took me a lot of time, but it's always like that the first time, after that you get a routine and don't you think, "without effort there is no science". I also bought a cheshire from Svbony so I could check the secondary mirror if it is in the center of the focuser tube.

[@tednawn1255]

What is the name of this "checker" from SVBony?

[@Bobi_203]

@@tednawn1255 You have a vision or literacy problem "Einstein". Is Jason now a Svbony "checker" too? No, we are not "checkers", we are just not that blind to buy a red flashlight from your store or brand at a price of only €100.

[@Bobi_203]

@@tednawn1255 sorry for my fault " checker" = cheshire 😀

[@jasonvictor9542]

Another great video!!! Thank you Jason!

[@Nixx177]

Hi! Thanks for the video! My trick to collimate my svbony collimator as i didn't have something to hold it still was to simply put it in my telescope and rotate it in the eyepiece, then watch in the tube how it looks

[@Nixx177]

Of course, don’t point the laser in your eyes

[@smalloptics753]

Hello Nixx, you can certainly check the collimation of the laser with the focus tube but I would recommend doing the paper and holder method for a more precise collimation. Thanks for watching my friend.

[@Georgeolddrones]

Just come across your channel, Jason. I started in astronomy. 1969 at quite a few Telescopes from 2 inch to 18 inch now I’ve got a little refractive of 6 inch which does me can’t be bothered with all this setting up now getting too old but I’m going to go through all your videos because what I have seen up to yet as impress me keep the channel going you’re doing a good job and helping people who can’t afford big Telescopes thanks again George the old man Stoke😂🔭☄️

[@AmatureAstronomer]

Nicely put.

[@UnknownUser93_V2]

Thank you bro❤

[@smalloptics753]

Your welcome bud.

[@BobbyKewley]

I've got the same telescope as you, Jason and I also have that same laser collimator. I'd have to say though, that even after collimating the collimator, the results aren't as good as what I get from using a simple collimation cap. The cap is definitely better

[@angeltensey]

laser and all the cheshire-like solutions does different steps of collimation better.

[@jbmatey3072]

​@@angeltensey ... can you or Jason explain what you mean ??? ...

[@smalloptics753]

Hello Bobby. I don't want to insult your intelligence but have you checked the collimation of the laser? I used to get bad results when using a laser until I checked it, and it was way out... That been said , using just a cap for collimation is absolutely fine for casual work, I've used one for years.

[@BobbyKewley]

@@smalloptics753 Yeah, I checked the laser's collimation. After using a simple cap though, the visuals seemed much sharper and in better focus

[@jbmatey3072]

Hi there ... great info ( as always ) ... just a quick question ... could you please recommend a fair priced lazer collomater that is ajustable ??? ... the ones on Ebay don't seem to have ajuster screws ??? Take care from John

[@Stephen-gp8yi]

Is a Cheshire easier Jason and straight forward?I may get one!

[@smalloptics753]

Hello Stephen, the great thing about Cheshires is they don't need batteries don't need collimating and are safer to use. As for them being easier to use , I think it's more of a personal preference. Collimation of a telescope is fiddly thing to do no matter what aid you use.

[@ArdsleyAstro]

HI Jason, Don't know if I did something stupid or found an easier way. I also have one of these cheap laser collimators that was out of collimation. I placed my 130p on a table in its rings and rotated the focuser vertical. I could then place the laser collimator in the focus tube resting on the focuser. Rotating the focuser 360 degrees I could see the circle formed on the primary mirror. I then just adjusted the laser collimator until rotating it in the focuser it no longer formed a circle on the primary mirror. The only caveat I can see is care must be taken between adjustment to monitor the reflection of the laser from the primary mirror. You do not want the reflected laser light to directly enter your eyes.

[@alisaad1986]

thank you jason for your lovely tutorials about telescope i love it so much and i have a question if i have an Newtonians telescope and i want put a clear glass in a top of it for not let the dirt get the mirror does it work or not ? i mean do i will have a clear image or view off planet can you make a video about it Thank you so much

[@smalloptics753]

@alisaad1986 Hello there, thank you for your kind words, my friend. I would not recommend putting glass on your telescope unless it is a optically perfect grade. Ordinary (window) glass will dramatically reduce the quality of the image . Hope this helps.

[@alisaad1986]

@@smalloptics753 thanks for your lovely reply and i will take that in my calculation i hoped you make test about that too see the difference between the quality of it And again thank you so much

[@sunpointstudio4472]

It should be mentioned that the distance of the collimating cradle to the target should be at least twice the focal length or roughly twice the length of the telescope tube.

[@cucumber_sandwich4562]

Can you make a video on how to make a focusing mask?

[@Lordenzus]

Te quiero Papito ❤

[@vadimuha]

What makes a collimator more or less accurate? Is it amount of threads on a screw or type of laser used?

[@christopherleveck6835]

The easiest way ive found to do this is to set it on a mirror. Or hold it up to a mirror in the bathroom. If the laser goes straight up the hole you are set.

[@NewbFixer]

If you have the time consider doing another live buddy (scheduled to give everyone notice). Come on and get a wee puff and a chatter. Even if its a few of us thats ok. Hope to speak soon pal. ATB.

[@jamesbondaygee]

seriously why the heck don't they do the simple collimating process for customers!!

[@krazyhorse448]

If you have 2 lasers tools and they both show the laser in the hole then I think your Collimator is collimated.

[@tuunaes]

Or both are equally skewed. Just Barlowing laser is easier for collimating primary mirror, unless it lacks center mark.

[@krazyhorse448]

@@tuunaes 2 separate manufactures, the chances of both being off is astronomically improvable