ZWO AM5 PE200 pier adapter for iOptron piers

This adapter connects ZWO AM5 PE200 pier extension to an iOptron Permanent Pier or Tri-Pier.
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102
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1690
updated January 16, 2025

Description

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UPDATE:  I have been using this pier adapter continuously for over a year and it has been outside mounted in all conditions, including Michigan winters.  It works well.  However, I recently bought another iOptron pier and another ZWO PE200 and made an update to this adapter to use four bolts instead of two.  The other two bolts are M5x30 socket head cap screws mounted on the other two holes that are offset at an angle from the rest. I'm not sure what the original intent for these two holes are for, and they are threaded M6, but I've used them as a through hole to mount a bolt connected to a nut in the adapter so the load is spread out along two axes instead of one. That being said, my original one has held up just fine for over a year…

This adapter connects a ZWO PE200 pier extension for ZWO AM5 mount to an iOptron pier, either the iOptron Permanent Pier or the iOptron Tri-Pier. It won't fit the bolt pattern of the original iOptron Tri-Pier 360 (now out of production), but will fit the bolt pattern of the new replacement version iOptron Tri-Pier 360A.

The ZWO PE200 was designed to be able to be attached to both SkyWatcher and iOptron tripods. For iOptron tripods, there are two holes/slots spaced 100.5mm apart. This works for some iOptron tripods, but those holes are not included on either the iOptron Permanent Pier or iOptron Tri-Pier. This adapter solves that problem.

You'll need (updated):
3X M10x20 socket head cap screws
3X M10 flat washers
2X M6x30 socket head cap screws (the M6x25 included with PE200 are too short)
2X M5x30 socket head cap screws (for the two smaller offset holes)
2X M6 flat washers
2X M5 flat washers
2X M6 hex nuts
2X M5 hex nuts

I used 100% infill for best strength and stiffness.

Material recommendations are PLA, PLA+ or PETG. I like PLA+ or PLA Pro for strength and stiffness. Currently using Polymaker PLA Pro.

Model origin

The author marked this model as their own original creation.

License