Paramount ME User’s Guide
33
The best approach for leveling the mount is to
simultaneously rotate two Micro-Levelers so that
the mount is tilted either East/West or
North/South. The accuracy of the leveling
required depends on the long-term use of the
mount. If the mount is attached to a permanent
pier, without the intent of portable use, leveling is
less important. When used in a portable sense, a
level mount helps speed the polar alignment
process.
Critical Micro-Lever Note
The Micro-Levelers and Base Plate Attachment Knobs serve different purposes. The Micro-
Levelers stabilize and level the Base Plate. The Base Plate Attachment Knobs secure the
Base Plate to the pier. Both components have unique thread
patterns, and the two will bind together when improperly
adjusted.
The weight of the mount must be resting on all four Micro-Levelers, and not on the Base
Plate. That is, the Base Plate should sit at least one millimeter (or so) above the mounting
surface (such as the top of the pier or, or the pier adaptor plate).
To make sure this occurs, before tightening the
Base Plate Attachment knobs, rotate each
Micro-Leveler clockwise until it makes contact
with the mounting surface. Then tighten it
about 1/16 of a turn (or so) more. Additional
adjustment may be required to accommodate
uneven mounting surfaces. You might want
also want to gently lift the mount when
tightening the Micro-Levelers.
If all four Micro-Levelers are not in contact with
the mounting surface, when you attempt to
loosen a Base Plate Attachment Knob, both will
turn together and bind. They cannot be turned in unison because the threads on the
Micro-Leveler are larger than the threads on the Base Plate Attachment Knob. If the two
become bound, do not try to force them apart! Instead tighten (yes, tighten) both knobs
a small amount until they are no longer bound. At this point, rotate the Micro-Leveler
clockwise until it is in full contact with the mounting surface.
Base Plate Attachment Knobs
The Paramount ME attaches to the pier using four Base Plate attachment knobs near the
corners of the Wedge Base Plate (XFigure 17X). Typically, tightening them by hand is
sufficient to fix the mount into place. Over tightening these knobs is unnecessary and can
lead to binding as described above.
Figure 16: Adjusting Micro-Levelers.
Figure 15: Micro-Leveler (white arrow)
and Base Plate Attachment Knob (gray
arrow).
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