Farpoint Dovetail Radius Block - Meade 12 Inch SCT

Product Overview

The Farpoint FDM12R radius blocks are the interface between a Meade 12″ SCT and a D-size (Losmandy-style) dovetail bar. The blocks are CNC-machined from aluminum, black anodized, and cut to the radius of the 12″ tube so they sit flush against it rather than bridging it on two edges. They are part of Farpoint's dovetail system and are sold here as blocks on their own, for use with a dovetail bar you already have. Published weight is 1.063 lb, and they are machined in the United States.

Who It's For

This is a good match if you…

• own a Meade 12″ SCT and want to carry it on a D-size Losmandy saddle.
• already have a Losmandy-style bar and need only the tube-side hardware.
• are moving a 12″ SCT off a Vixen-class dovetail onto the wider D profile.
• want the bar to bear on a machined radius rather than on standoffs or spacers.

Key Features & Design

• Cut for the Meade 12″ SCT: the seating radius matches that tube, and Farpoint lists it for that tube alone.
• D-size interface: the blocks carry a Losmandy-style dovetail bar, the wider of the two common profiles.
• Black anodized aluminum: anodizing over machined aluminum keeps the surface hard and non-reflective next to the optics.
• CNC-machined in the USA: produced by Farpoint in the United States.
• Blocks only: the dovetail bar is a separate item, so an existing bar can be reused.
• 1.063 lb published weight: the tube-side hardware adds about a pound to the load on the mount.

Mechanical Design

A flat dovetail bar laid against a round SCT tube touches it along two lines, and everything above that joint pivots on those lines. A radius block removes that problem by putting a curved seat between the tube and the bar: the underside is machined to the radius of the Meade 12″ tube, the top is flat and drilled for the bar. Load then travels from the bar into a broad curved footprint on the tube rather than into two edges. Because the blocks sit at the existing mounting points on the rear cell and tube, the bar ends up parallel to the optical axis without shimming, which keeps the balance point predictable when a heavy imaging train is hung off the back.

Recommended Uses

• Fitting a Meade 12″ SCT to a Losmandy G-11, a Celestron CGX or CGX-L, or another D-size saddle.
• Upgrading from a narrow dovetail on a heavy SCT that is carrying a camera and off-axis guider.
• Rebuilding a mounting setup where a bar exists and only the tube interface is missing.
• Adding a top bar for a piggybacked guide scope, using a second bar of the buyer's choosing.
• Restoring a used 12″ SCT that arrived without its original dovetail hardware.

Compatibility and Accessory Notes

Farpoint lists these blocks for the Meade 12″ SCT and for that tube only — the seating radius is specific to it, so the 14″ version (FDM14R) is the part for the larger tube. The bar side is the D-size Losmandy standard, which fits Losmandy G-8 and G-11 saddles, Celestron CGE, CGEM and CGX saddles, the dual-format saddles on many iOptron and Sky-Watcher mounts, and any other clamp cut for the wide profile. The dovetail bar itself is not included; Farpoint also sells a complete Meade 12″ SCT kit that bundles bar, blocks and screws if starting from nothing is easier. Farpoint does not publish a piece count or a screw list for the blocks-only item. If you would like us to work out which bar length and hardware suits your tube and mount, tell us the mount model and what you are hanging off the back, and we will put a list together for you.

Good to Know Before You Order

• The dovetail bar is a separate purchase. This listing covers the radius blocks that the bar bolts to.
• The radius is specific to the Meade 12″ SCT. A 14″ tube has a different curve and takes the FDM14R block.
• The interface is D-size, not Vixen. A mount with a Vixen-only saddle takes an adapter or a different bar.
• Farpoint publishes no piece count or fastener list for this item. We are glad to check what ships in the box before you order.
• Published weight is 1.063 lb. Our shipping weight is rounded up to the next whole pound.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it difficult to install?

No. The blocks bolt to the existing threaded points on the tube, and the dovetail bar then bolts to the flat tops of the blocks. It is hand-tool work and takes a few minutes once the tube is off the mount.

Does a dovetail bar come with it?

No. This is the blocks only, intended to work with a D-size bar you already own. Farpoint offers a complete Meade 12″ SCT kit with the bar included as a separate item.

Will it fit a Meade 14″ SCT?

No. The seat is machined to the 12″ tube radius; the 14″ tube takes the FDM14R.

Why use blocks instead of bolting the bar straight to the tube?

A flat bar meets a round tube on two edges. The curved seat on the block spreads that contact across the tube's radius, which keeps the bar parallel to the optical axis and the joint stiffer under load.

What material are they?

Black anodized aluminum, CNC-machined in the USA.

Bottom Line

In short: a 1.063 lb set of US-made black anodized radius blocks that let a Meade 12″ SCT carry a D-size Losmandy dovetail bar on a curved, full-contact seat.