127mm f/9.4 Cradle Rings Construction - Cradle Ring Assembly 1
 

First steps in the assembly of one of the Cradle Rings... (Click for enlarged view)

 
Partially assembled, we see the two hinge plates connected to the rounded end of one of the cradle ring halves using two crown nuts, a 1/4"-20 threaded pivoting rod, two large and two small washers. This process will be the same for all cradle ring hinge connection points. Note the solid brass 1/4"-20 threaded rod (left of center), Once its slotted head has been sawed off, it will threaded and epoxied to an installed dowel nut and used to clamp the cradle ring halves around the main tube.