Baader Universal Filter Changer (UFC): Visual use example (Part 6)

Visual Use Example:

Now that we have covered the main overview of the Baader UFC system in our previous blogs (parts 1-to-5), we thought it would be appropriate to give some examples of how the UFC system can be used. Firstly, this is not meant to be exhaustive as there are many combinations of telescopes and accessories. In this blog, we will consider an example of the UFC being used visually.

One of the simplest ways of using the UFC visually is with 1.25"/2" eyepieces and with a suitable telescope that uses a 1.25"/2" focuser (or 2" focuser with 1.25" adaptor). If we go back to our first blog (Overview of the UFC system), we said that although the UFC system looks complicated, its actually quite simple. At the most basic level, all that is required is a telescope side adaptor, the UFC Base and a camera/eyepiece adaptor. The image below is a simplified diagram showing the UFC system: camera/eyepiece side adaptors on the left; telescope side adaptors on the right, and in the middle is the UFC Base to which the telescope and camera side adaptors are connected. The three main versions of filter slider are also shown below the UFC Base.

 

So what do we need for the example set up outlined above?

• We need the UFC Base - see here for a full description on this component. This is the main component of the UFC system and it is to which all the UFC adaptors, and the UFC filter slider, attach to.

• 

  Baader UFC S70 / T-2 Adapter Telescope-Adapter (optical height: 1 mm) (#2459130 , € 25)

  If we look at the telescope-side adaptors, on the right side in the image at the top, there is a Baader UFC S70 / T-2 Adapter Telescope-Adapter (optical height: 1 mm) (#2459130 , € 25) . This is attached to the telescope side of the UFC Base befestigt and will allow Baader's Astro T-2 system to be used (or other T-2 threaded accessories).

More information on the telescope-side adaptors

• 

  Baader Nose piece 1¼" / T-2 (T-2 part #14) (#2458105 , € 27)

  By using the Baader Nose piece 1¼" / T-2 (T-2 part #14) (#2458105 , € 27)  above, we can use Baader's 1.25" nosepiece with safety groove, from their (very large) Astro T-2 system. The nosepiece will now simply screw into the UFC T-2 telescope side adaptor thus allowing the UFC to be inserted into a 1.25" telescope focuser.
  

Turing now to the eyepiece (/camera) side of the UFC Base

Looking at the exploded diagram of the UFC system at the top, we can use the T-2 male threaded camera/eyepiece adaptor Baader UFC T-2 (m) Camera-Adapter (optical height: 2 mm) (#2459115 , € 29) mit T-2 Außengewinde, links außen. This adaptor attaches to the UFC Base using eight Allen-key hex screws. As with the telescope side, we can now use an appropriate eyepiece holder accessory from Baader's Astro T-2 range.

More information on nthe camera/eyepiece UFC adaptors

To hold a 1.25" eyepiece, there are a few options from Baader's Astro T-2 system:

• Baader 1¼" / T-2 Eyepiece Holder (#2458120 , € 20) (economy model)
• Baader Focusing Eyepiece Holder 1¼" / T-2 (T-2 part #08A) (#2458125 , € 46) , with three eyepiece clamping screws and fine focus
• Baader ClickLock Eyepiece Clamp 1¼" with built in diopter-adjustment (T-2 part #08) (#2458100 , € 87)

All the adaptors above have female T-2 threads so will simply screw on to the UFC male T-2 eyepiece/camera adaptor. For this example we will use the latter component – the Baader ClickLock Eyepiece Clamp 1¼" with built in dioptre-adjustment.

We now have all the components for using the UFC with 1.25" eyepieces and a 1.25" focuser. Lets first "lay them all out" all together so we can see how they are all ordered.

 Diagram showing layout of the UFC parts (filter slider not shown)

We have left out the filter slider in the image above so we can just see the UFC parts that attach to the telescope. You will need to select a suitable filter slider - see our blog on the filter slider.

Finally, below you can see an animated GIF that shows the components, with the Filter Slider, being assembled from the parts above to produce the final 1.25" UFC adaptor.

 

>> View all UFC-Products <<

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About the author

Dr. Lee Sproats has been interested in astronomy since watching Star Wars in 1977 and has appeared on the UK Sky at Night TV programme. He then went on to study Astronomy where he obtained a degree and then a PhD in the subject at University College London/Mullard Space Science Laboratory. He has worked in Australia in radio astronomy and used optical/infrared telescopes on Hawaii and La Palma and Lowell and Kitt Peak observatories in the USA. After working for the University of Surrey to promote the use of computers for teaching in UK higher education and then as an IT trainer for a stock market company, he went on to work for Greenwich Observatory Ltd where he ran their northern branch and then worked for David Hinds Ltd dealing with our and Celestron products. He is often involved in flight excursions that take passengers to observe the northern lights, has led trips to see the great USA 2017 eclipse near Hopkinsville and was lead astronomer onboard a specially chartered 737 to view the 2015 total solar eclipse at 38,000ft. Lee`s astronomical interests include Lunar observing, astrophotography, photometry and pro-am collaborations.

Since David Hinds stopped operation in December 2020, Dr. Sproats works for Baader Planetarium as our UK representative/consultant and is responsible for looking after our UK/Eire dealers, dealing with Baader Planetarium/PlaneWave/10Micron product support, writing articles and also is involved in our large telescope and observatory instrumentation projects.

View all posts from Lee Sproats