The Ambermile MM-3D – Now you can have the mount flexibility you’ve always wanted! 
 

Scroll down the page for the latest exciting pictures of the Ambermile WASP system! 
 

Once it was clear that the design concepts inherent in the Ambermile DTM (Dual Telescope Mount) range, climaxing in the popular DTM3, made it too popular - such that others felt it necessary to copy the design - it became essential to move forwards, building on the simple strengths of that design but in turn offering more to the astronomer than a simple parallel system ever could.  

 

The Ambermile DTM3 doing what it does best - mounting two different OTA’s solidly and rigidly 

Early brainstorming sessions produced a daunting list of requirements that any worthy successor to the DTM3 was going to need to fulfil: 

• Freedom of telescope positioning – not just side-by-side
• Freedom of mount selection - Synta/Vixen, Losmandy, CGE
• Multiple telescope options – i.e. more than two
• Total guiding solution – offer everything needed in one option
• Little or no added balance weight – move telescopes closer to mount C of G
• Affordability – as ever with Ambermile designs
• Upgradability – make it modular with a simple upgrade path
• Transferability – easy to move from mount to mount

 

With the above list looming over, the design process of drawing, prototyping and rejection lasted some 30 weeks from late Spring of 2008 until finally, the Ambermile Multimount concept became a reality. 

The result of all that energy and activity was a truly innovative and revolutionary multi-dimensional mounting system which breaks new boundaries in robust yet compact telescope mounting for the discerning astronomer... 

The Ambermile MM-3D system assembled and waiting for some telescopes 

Up to four 120mm telescopes can be mounted simultaneously with the MM-3D’s exclusive side mounting capability allowing the telescopes to be mounted without increasing the cross mounting bar length, thus reducing the potential for rotational stress on the mount head and using significantly reduced counterweights. Combinations can include guide cameras, wide field cameras, telescopes and even more obscure devices like the LHires III spectroscope, making the MM-3D a perfect solution for Solar imaging - users could parallel mount Hydrogen Alpha, CaK, White Light and Spectroscopic imaging systems side by side. The MM-3D system, when used with fewer telescopes, can take even greater loads per telescope, with up to 8 inch Maksutov Newtonians sitting easily in parallel with a guide telescope, whilst the integrated screw fittings on the dovetail bars permit fitting of camera tripod threaded-products directly to the mount – and all with less total strain on the mount itself. 

The Ambermile MM-3D doing what it does best – mounting multiple telescopes on a single mount allowing total control over viewing and imaging systems choices 

Suitable for Losmandy (with available MM-3D components) and Synta/Vixen systems. 

The completely modular solution allows for both Losmandy and Vixen style mounts and mounting. Users can mount any combination of Vixen and Losmandy devices, allowing a level of flexibility never seen before. The Vixen clamps use a completely new design, permitting even wider footprint telescopes to be directly mounted, such as the Coronado PST range, and the Meade Series 5000 refractors.  It is a totally modular system – you buy the parts you need, not the parts you don't. 

Parts of the Ambermile MM-3D system – bars, Losmandy/CGE and Vixen/Synta clamps, 6” parallax rings, Losmandy to Vixen/Synta adapter 

The MM-3D is offered in two baseline configurations for ease of setup, (a starter system and a complete guiding system), but users can also mix and match any combination of parts to best suit their needs. This modular approach means you don’t pay for components you simply won’t use or need.

New clamp design guarantees secure clamping of dovetails.

The innovative Vixen/Synta-style clamp and dovetail design also means that telescopes are held more securely then ever before. With no possibility of slip or dropout, the dovetail’s extra width permits parallel mounting of a wide range of options, including camera adapters and other non standard width fitting dovetails, whilst still allowing lateral adjustment of dovetails once clamped. 

 
 

Total user-controlled and configured 3D mounting options 

One truly unique feature of the MM3D is the ability to mount the clamps laterally on the side of a mounting bar. Not only does this increase the available space on the top of the bar to add additional telescopes or cameras, without increasing the overall bar length, but it also helps to reduce rotational inertia on the mount, thus helping to prolong its life… more telescopes no longer has to mean more counterbalance weight or even counterweight bar extensions. 

 

Outstanding build quality 

As ever, Ambermile cut no corners with build quality, and your MM-3D comes with a 20 year warranty against any degradation in the anodizing. The 6” guide rings are made with a 3/8” wall thickness aluminium to eliminate any flexure when guiding, and telescope clamp bolts come with rubberized feet to avoid scratching your guidescope OTA. The complete kits come with Allen keys and screws meaning that you are up and running in minutes with everything needed in the box at the outset. 

Rapid Configuration 

The innovative design means that configuration changes can be made in a matter of minutes. Previously, switching between telescopes and setups when you have only one mount to hand had notoriously been a chore. With the MM-3D, this issue is a thing of the past.  

The Ambermile MM-3D in guiding mode - long dovetail, two clamps, short dovetail with 6” rings.

 

Review Quotes 

“The anodized black finish really does polish off a truly stylish, unique and brilliant product, and one which is priced in these difficult economic times at a very good point. If mounting multiple telescopes is a need for you, especially with the benefits for imaging this can bring (mounting a mono camera on one telescope, and a colour one on another, whilst guiding with a third), then you need look no further than the MM-3D” 

Astronomy Now 
 
 

Introductory Prices...  

320mm dovetail            £52.00

224mm dovetail            £42.00

Vixen/Synta clamp        £62.00

6" Rings                       £60.00

Starter kit (2 x Synta clamps, 1 x 224mm bar) £160.00 
 

Full Guide Set (2 x Synta clamps, 1 x 224mm bar, 1 x 320mm bar, 2 x 6" rings) £265.00 
 

Availability mid-April 2009 - (Losmandy adapters and clamps available early May 2009)  
 
 
 

Please Note:

Ambermile and MM-3D are trademarks.

The MM-3D design and system derivatives are protected by International Design and Copyright legislation, which will be vigorously used to protect the design and those derivatives from theft.

 
 
Various images above are the copyright of Nick Howes

 
 
 
 
 
 

The MM-3D design allows previously undreamt-of mounting options and here at Ambermile we are taking full advantage of this with the WASP (Wide Angle Space Photography) imaging array. Four Celestron 4" refractors mounted all together on a Synta HEQ5 and fitted with four cameras. Note that, because the MM-3D allows underslinging of scopes that the weight limits of the HEQ5 are not yet reached. In the pictures below, the mount clutches are both off and the balance/counterweight bar is not at full extension! Future plans involve fitting four Canon dSLR cameras to the system - this will allow either a huge mosaic image to be captured at one go or the shooting of LRGB frames at the same time - in both cases cutting imaging time significantly. This allows the astronomer to make the maximum use of both his own time and good skies whilst also putting available equipment to the best and most efficient/effective use.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Clearly, while exciting, this is an ongoing project and one that we hope to get ready for the coming Autumn 2009 season - so look for the Ambermile WASP at a star party near you!