127mm f/9.4 Cradle Rings Construction - Dovetail Plate and Bar 5

 

The rough cut 13"L x 4.5"W dovetail plate's measurements were spot on!... (Click for enlarged view)

 

Before attaching the dovetail bar to the plate, I measured and drew a line down the exact center of the dovetail plate to aid in facilitating the location for the attachment bolts. Not a difficult task, but I wanted to be as meticulous and accurate as possible with this task. As you can see, my cut of 4.5" inches in width was spot on. With this piece of equipment essentially being the unit that ties the telescope to the mount, it has to be precise in construction. Off-axis guiding would become a pun at that point! LOL!!!