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Home > Mounting hardware > Altair TMS Telescope Mounting System > Altair TMS Heavy Duty Universal Saddle Plate for iEQ45, G11, EQ6, HEQ5 (Clear Silver)

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Altair TMS Heavy Duty Universal Saddle Plate for iEQ45, G11, EQ6, HEQ5 (Clear Silver)

Altair TMS Heavy Duty Universal Saddle Plate for iEQ45, G11, EQ6, HEQ5 (Clear Silver)

Weight 0.00 gm

Price: £129.50
Incl. VAT 20% ( £21.58 )

Choose a puck for your EQ mount

Product code: USP-C-ONLY

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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.

Losmandy Dovetail plate

Losmandy Vixen Saddle Plate

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.

Old New EQ6 Mount Puck Conical

Old New EQ6 Mount Puck Conical

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Customer feedback

Customer Reviews

Author: Charles Harris
As an engineer I can confirm this system is very good quality with a good finish and you can tell that whoever made this actually cares about what they're doing. Each part feels individually made. The dovetail is a worthwhile improvement to my HEQ5 and is much more solid than the standard part on the mount with a much more secure grip.
Author: Archie Bergman
This is the best upgrade I've done on my EQ6 so far and a credit to the engineer. Installation is easy and common-sense i.e. if you can remove the standard clamp and puck, you can add this product. It would be nice to see the inclusion of an Allen key and instructions however I really can't criticise this product.
Author: Gavin Fletcher
Firstly I'm glad to see this is made in the UK and secondly you can tell it's made by someone who knows what they're doing. If only other equipment was this well made and presented. I was slightly put off by the price however when I recieved the package I understood why it costs a bit more than your average mounting equipment due to the materials and precision with which its machined. Proper British engineering! Fletch.

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