Mounting clamps and saddles

Mounting clamps and saddles: The critical interface of your setup

The mounting clamp, also called the saddle The saddle, is the physical coupling on top of the mount where the telescope's dovetail is secured. This is the most critical point of the mechanical connection: it bears the full weight of the optical tube and accessories and transfers it to the mount's axes. At Telescoop.nl we supply clamps and saddles from specialists such as Bresser, Explore Scientific and Omegon that are designed to eliminate any form of play or flex.

Whether you're replacing a standard saddle for more support or converting an azimuthal mount: a quality saddle guarantees that the optical axis of your telescope remains exactly parallel to the mechanical axis of the mount.

Mechanical standards: Vixen, Losmandy, and Dual Saddles

In astronomy, two main systems are used for the latitude of clamps. Our selection of Omegon and Explore Scientific offers solutions for both standards

• Vixen-style clamps (45mm): The most common standard for light to medium-duty telescopes. Our clamps of Bresser are often equipped with large hand screws, so you can safely lock the telescope even when wearing gloves.

• Losmandy-style clamps (3 inch / 75mm): Necessary for heavy instruments and astrophotography setups. The wider clamping surfaces of Explore Scientific distribute the pressure over a larger surface area of the rail, which significantly increases the rigidity of the structure.

• Dual-Saddles: A hybrid solution that accepts both Vixen and Losmandy rails. This is the ideal upgrade for those who use different telescopes on one mount.

Modular construction and fastening

You will find this hardware under the specific category telescope accessories/mountings/mounting accessories/plates-rails-and-tube-rings/mounting-clamps-and-saddles/.

Within the range of plates, rails, and tube rings saddles are the parts that make your system universal. At Telescoop.nl, we understand that a good clamp should do more than just hold:

1. Clamping Blocks Unlike cheap clamps that press directly into the rail with a screw (and damage it), the clamps of Omegon and Explore Scientific Use brass or aluminum pressure blocks. This distributes the force evenly and prevents burrs on your dovetails.

2. Side mount: For side-by-side configurations, where two telescopes are mounted next to each other on a single mount, we supply separate saddles that can be screwed onto a dual plate.

3. Borging Our professional clamps are equipped with deep grooves and sturdy springs, which prevent the rail from falling out of the clamp immediately when loosened, but allow it to be moved in a controlled manner for balancing.

What do you look for when purchasing?

When choosing a new mounting clamp, three technical factors are crucial for stability:

• Mounting Holes: Check if the bottom of the clamp matches your mount's head. Many clamps have a universal hole pattern (like the 35mm M6 or M8 standard), but some brands require a specific adapter plate.

• Clamping Force vs. Surface Area: For heavy astrophotography rigs, we recommend clamps with a longer bearing surface of Explore Scientific. The longer the clamp, the less chance of vibrations in the optical train.

• Material: Choose anodized aluminum. It is corrosion-resistant and retains its shape across large temperature differences during cold nights.

Advice for your astro setup

Do you want a standard EQ mount Bresser upgrade to a heavier Losmandy clamp, or are you looking for a compact dual-saddle from Omegon for your equatorial mount? At Telescoop.nl, we have the data to determine the correct mechanical match. We ensure that the connection between your mount and telescope is rock-solid, so that your system's tracking performs optimally.