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Accessories Designed for the SIDEWINDER (only)

General Purpose Adapters, Drawtubes & Collar Rings

VSI's Exclusive Accessories

Accessories to transform your Sidewinder into the Ultimate Imaging Machine

Inserts & Extension Flanges designed for the Mega-Port Sidewinder

2-inch Pick-off Mirror Insert: This special Insert is designed specifically for the Mega-Port Sidewinder. It incorporates a unique and convenient 2" barrel format pick-off mirror insert (see picture at left). The insert accepts a 1.25" format eyepiece, or similar device with a 1.25" diameter barrel-nose input. This is actually another throw-back from the old VSI Flippers of yesteryear. Being a flip-mirror, with too much profile, it was discontinued in favor of the Slider's short profile, but it had one simple and functional feature; it's separate 2" format side port that accepted our pick-off mirror insert, and could be interchanged instantly for a different device to intersect your primary light cone, like the beam-splitter insert below.

The 2" format pick-off mirror insert offers all the X-Y axis control of the renown Slider 2's side port, but with simpler operating parameters. The first axis of control is like the Slider 2's pick-off mirror angle that's controlled by turning a knob. And by rotating the insert in its port, you achieve the second opposing [scanning] axis of control, like the Slider 2 and Targetron's lever controls.

And there is another important feature that the Slider 2 doesn't possess; by loosening the two set screws on the 2" barrel housing (see picture at left) you can adjust (push/pull) the overall distance the pick-off mirror protrudes into your scope's light cone. This insert incorporates an enclosed first-surface mirror, double 10-32 Nylon thumb screw locks, and includes an Allen wrench to adjust the aluminum, 1" diameter, pick-off mirror drawtube. The 2" format thick-wall tube is machined from a solid, 2.25" diameter rod of vinyl polymer; a substance that is much lighter than aluminum and is indestructable.

2-inch Beam-Splitter Insert (DISCONTINUED): This special [fully-machined] insert is designed specifically for the Mega-Port Sidewinder. Normally, you insert it into the side pick-off port, but it could also be inserted into the top or bottom ports too. Just make sure that you extract the Sidewider's main mirror before insertion or you will create a collision. It incorporates a large 1.5" straight-through clear aperture with a full-aperture 1.25" format diagonal aperture. The beam-splitter has a 40/60% reflection/transmission optical glass surface.

This is actually a throw-back from the old VSI Flippers of yesteryear. Being a flip-mirror, with too much profile, it was discontinued in favor of the Slider's short profile, but it had some unique and functional features that should be revived. The Flipper's 2" format side port could accept our pick-off mirror insert (above), and could also accept a beam-splitter insert to intersect your primary light cone, just like today's Sidewinder.

Why would you want a device like this? Maybe a dual optical recording device that can function on less than optimum light gathering capabilities, like a spectrograph, or a photometer to measure the difference in brightness of double/variable stars, or a second calibration standard of some kind that needs to operate on-axis and simultaneously interact with its counterpart, or just to image using two cameras simultaneously.

VSI has had requests for these types of devices in the past or we wouldn't be offering it now. You will have to tell us what you would do with it, nicely please. It accepts any 1.25" barrel-nose device, like an eyepiece or guiding CCD camera, etc., but could be custom modified to accept other formats. We're trying to say that the Sidewinder design concept has a very wide range of adaptable capabilities, and we are willing to work with you to develop those capabilities to the fullest extent. VSI could even install a beam-splitter on the push/pull/rotate slide tube instead of a first-surface mirror, like we did for JPL a while back. Having a custom mechanical modification, built to your specific optical needs, could cost 10 times the price of the Sidewinder. Something to think about. VSI hopes the above provides a catalyst for new ideas, or a way to solve your existing optical desires at a more reasonable cost. The possibilities are endless! This insert incorporates double 10-32 Nylon thumb screw locks. The 2" format thick-wall tube is machined from a solid, 2.25" diameter rod of vinyl polymer; a substance that is much lighter than aluminum and indestructable.

General Purpose Threaded Adapters, Drawtubes & Collar Rings

The following may be useful in the Sidewinder's three output ports
However, they are not designed for use in the Sidewinder's front & rear ports (see Port Rings links)

2"Threaded 2" Filter Slot Adapter (DISCONTINUED): The 2-inch threaded FSA takes standard 2-inch (48 to 50mm) filters up to a thickness of  5/16" (0.3125"). The FSA is designed to take industry standard double sided, male/female threaded filters. The same type filter cell that screws onto the bottom of a 2" eyepiece, except instead of screwing them on, you just pop them in and out.  Easy, fast and efficient! The threaded FSA adds slightly less than 1-inch to your profile. Even though this adapter is cut in half, there is no flexure from heavy, leveraged equipment loads. VSI guarantees zero flexure up to 10 lbs. The internal adapter walls are 1/4-inch thick aluminum, eliminating any possibility of flexure. Also included with your FSA is a stray light blocking insertion ring (pictured). When you're not using your filters, just insert the ring to block stray light from entering the slot.

The threaded FSA has a standard 2"-24tpi male thread on one end, and a standard 2"-24tpi female thread on the other end (not shown in picture). This adapter's diameter and threads are the same as the visual back on Meade/Celestron Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes (male 2" diameter, 24 threads per inch). This threaded FSA has the same physical dimensions and thread specifications as a standard Meade/Celestron focal reducer, except this adapter has a filter slot in the center of the housing, instead of a glass lens. This FSA is the same type as the built-in filter slot on the rear imaging port of the VP Sliders, and includes the stray light blocking insert ring noted above.

2-inch Threaded Long Barrel Adapter: This adapter is a standard 2"-24tpi male thread to 2-inch standard barrel-nose slide format. Screw this adapter into the front female 2"-24tpi threaded slip-ring (input port) on the Sliders to convert your Slider to 2" barrel nose format for use with 2" TOADLOADERS or any other standard 2-inch focuser. This 2"-24tpi threaded barrel adapter also has a machined safety indent for your thumb screws, which prevents the barrel from slipping out of the focuser's tube even if the thumb screws come loose. The threads on this adapter duplicate the diameter and male threads on all standard SCT visual backs, such as Celestron/Meade Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes. This adapter, to include all the adapters below, can also be used for other industry-standard applications too.
  • Item A2LT: $49
Zero Profile T-Adapter: This zero profile T-adapter (ZPTA) is designed to fit, with a zero profile, in the 2-inch rear imaging port of all Sliders. It has the industry-standard metric 42mm - 0.75mm thread pitch. Note the circular dovetail machined into to housing. This 15 degree dovetail not only provides a safety catch for your thumb screws, but also presses the ZPTA into the Sliders rear port for a zero flexure fit. If you are doing CCD camera work, use your CCD camera's basic female T-thread input and screw the ZPTA directly into your CCD camera head. Then slip it in the Slider's rear imaging port and lock it down with the double thumb screws. If you are doing 35mm camera work, just screw your T-ring on to the ZPTA, connect your 35mm or digital camera to your T-ring. Then slip it in the Slider's rear imaging port and lock it down with the double thumb screws. If you are just doing CCD camera imaging, this is the only adapter you need. Included in packages below.
  • Item AZP2T: $39
2-inch Threaded Short Barrel Adapter: This adapter has a standard 2"-24tpi male slide format (0.75 inches long) designed to fit in the 2-inch rear imaging port of Sliders. Then you can screw your 2-inch focal reducer, or any accessory that has a standard 2"-24tpi female threaded coupling, into the threaded end of this adapter. Note the circular dovetail machined into to housing. This 15 degree dovetail not only provides a safety catch for your thumb screws, but also presses the A2ST into the Sliders rear port for a zero flexure fit. Also, inserted in the Slider's rear imaging port, this adapter has the same zero profile as the ZPTA listed above.
  • Item A2ST: $39
2"-24tpi Female to 42mm T Male Threaded Adapter: This adapter has a standard 2"-24tpi female thread input, just like your Meade/Celestron focal reducers, etc., and the output is a standard male 42mm-0.75mm male T-thread that will attach to any CCD camera or 35mm camera's T-ring adapter. One of many uses for this adapter is to install a focal reducer into the rear port of a Slider by inserting VSI's A2ST (above) in the rear port of the Slider, then screwing on a fairly fast focal reducer (like the Meade f/3.3 FR). At this point you have a 2"-24tpi male threaded output on the rear of your FR that will not screw onto your CCD camera's female T-thread input, so this is where this adapter comes into play. Screw the A2T onto the rear of your FR and simply screw your camera of choice onto the A2T. Using this faster FR configuration, you will need to extend out the top and side ports of the Slider to achieve parfocus. This is just one use for the A2T. I'm sure you can think of many others.
  • Item A2T: $69
2"-24tpi Male to 42mm T Female Threaded Adapter: This very unique accessory  is approx. 0.75" long and has female T-threads on one end and male 2"-24tpi threads on the other end. You can screw this adapter onto the front [slip-ring] port of a Slider to convert its input to female 42mm-0.75mm T-threads allowing you to attach a standard Meade/Celestron T-Adapter for eyepiece projection, or any other accessory that has male T-threads, etc. This special adapter can serve many other purposes, too.
  • Item AT2: $69
2-inch to 1.25-inch Reducer: Industry standard reducer has a 0.375-inch profile and reduces your 2" format focuser to 1.25" so you can utilize 1.25" barrel-nose eyepieces and accessories. This reducer also has a circular dovetail cut into the outside 2" diameter to provide better security. When locked down with double thumb screws, it is impossible for this adapter to fall out. The thumb screws pushing against this circular dovetail also provide lateral pressure creating a very solid connection.
  • Item AR21: $29
2" SCT Captive Retaining Adapter: Industry-standard 2"-24tpi female threads (see picture at right), double thumb screws at the top for standard barrel indents, and our proprietary double thumb screws below for locking into the special groove on the barrel of our Hexagonals (see TURRETS link for additional info). This adapter can also be used to convert 2"-24tpi SCT visual backs to accept 2" format barrel nose eyepieces, etc. The extra set of lower locking thumb screws can be used for additional [Quad-Lock] security or to create true zero-flex imaging trains when inserting conventional 2" barrel-nose camera equipment, eyepieces and accessories, or not used at all.
  • Item AHEX: $69
2-inch to 2-inch Drawtube: This "shorty" drawtube is specifically designed to insert in the 2" top port of the Slider to parfocus a longer camera focus point out the rear port, but can be used in any application where a 2" format extension drawtube is required. VSI's Sidewinder [etc.] would be a good use for this 2" to 2" drawtube. 1.25" drawtube insertion length to fit all the way inside a Slider's top 2" port and 1.25" drawtube length to fully insert most 2" format eyepieces into the drawtube's knurled end. Double black Nylon thumb screws opposed by 90 degrees. One-piece construction machined from 6061-T6 aircraft-grade aluminum.
  • Item AD22: $49
2-inch to 1.25-inch Drawtube: This "shorty" drawtube is also specifically designed to insert in the 2" top port of the Slider to parfocus a longer camera focus point out the Slider's rear port, but can be used in any application where a 2" to 1.25" format extension drawtube is required. VSI's Sidewinder [etc.] would be a good use for this 2" to 1.25" drawtube. 1.25" drawtube insertion length to fit all the way inside a Slider's top 2" port with a 3/8" shoulder. 1.25" ID through hole that should accept any 1.25" format eyepiece. Double black Nylon thumb screws opposed by 90 degrees. One-piece construction machined from lightweight gray polymer resin that is nearly indestructable.
  • Item AD21: $39
1.25-inch to 1.25-inch Drawtube: This "shorty" drawtube is specifically designed to insert in the 1.25" side pick-off port of the Slider 2 to parfocus a longer camera focus point out the rear port, but can be used in any application where a 1.25" format extension drawtube is required. 1.5" drawtube insertion length to fit all the way inside a Slider's side pick-off port and 1.25" drawtube length to insert most 1.25" format eyepieces fully into the drawtube's knurled end. Double black Nylon thumb screws opposed by 90 degrees. One-piece construction machined from 6061-T6 aircraft-grade aluminum.
  • Item AD11: $39
This unique, and exclusive, VSI 2" collar ring is necessary to lock-in a repeatable eyepiece and/or camera parfocusing position. Just slip the collar over your eyepiece or camera tube, and lock down the double thumb screws at the parfocus point. From then on, even when you change your setup, your eyepiece or camera will reinsert at the exact parfocus point, with repeatable zero tolerance. No need to waste your valuable time to reparfocus your entire system. Since the collar rings are 0.25 to 0.3 inches thick, you will need at least that amount of clearance between the eyepiece housing and the top of a female port to utilize these collar rings. Double black Nylon thumb screws opposed by 90 degrees. Machined from 6061-T6 aircraft-grade aluminum.
  • ITEM CLR2 2" Collar Ring (above left): $17.50
This unique, and exclusive, VSI 1.25" collar ring is necessary to lock-in a repeatable eyepiece and/or camera parfocusing position. Just slip the collar over your eyepiece or camera tube, and lock down the double thumb screws at the parfocus point. From then on, even when you change your setup, your eyepiece or camera will reinsert at the exact parfocus point, with repeatable zero tolerance. No need to waste your valuable time to reparfocus your entire system. Since the collar rings are 0.25 to 0.3 inches thick, you will need at least that amount of clearance between the eyepiece housing and the top of a female port to utilize these collar rings. Double black Nylon thumb screws opposed by 90 degrees. Machined from 6061-T6 aircraft-grade aluminum.
  • ITEM CLR1 1.25" Collar Ring (above right): $12.50

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