IMACS progress report no. 34

B. Bigelow						5 February 2001

1)	Project Status

Currently scheduled tasks:				Status:

a)	Disperser server (DSS) design (Bond)		delayed (see below)
b)	DSS drafting (Meyers)				on sched.
c)	DSS fabrication (Kowal)				on sched.
d)	SCAM filter server (Asa)			started
e)	Field lens mechanics (Hare)			done
f)	Field lens drafting (Myers)			on sched.
g)	Calibration system mech. des. (Hare)		on sched.
h)	Mask server integration (Asa)			late (90% compl.)
i)	Coll. fabrication (Danco)			late (90% compl.) 	
j)	Coll. opto-mech assembly (Bigelow)		late start (Feb?)
k)	Long camera drafting (Cleary)			on sched.
l)	Center field guider mechanics fab (Storts)	on sched.
m)	Science Array controller fab (Burley)		late (95% compl.)
n)	Short Camera mech. design (Bigelow)		on sched.
o)	Filter procurement (Sutin)			on sched.
p)	Grism procurement (Sutin)			on sched.
q)	Motion control (MC) electr. design (Carr)	late (70% compl.)
r)	MC fab. (Asa)	    				late (50% compl.)
s)	Control software design (Birk)			on sched.

Project events:

Latest construction images can be seen on the IMACS web site:

http://www.ociw.edu/instrumentation/imacs

2)	Optics (Sutin) 

 1) We have a proposal for holographic testing of aspheres from Jim Burge.
 
 2) We will be visiting REOSC during February to check out their facilities.

 3) No change in filter quotes.  We have two replies from filter
    manufacturers, Barr and Custom Sci.  Both bids require revision.  No
    word from Omega.  The clear glass spectrograph dummy filters are being
    bid out to TORC for fabrication.

 4) No change in CaF2 status.  Corning/Optovac is waiting for a reject
    from the lithography CaF2 to send to us.  Sadly, they are apparently
    having good yields.  We are also attempting to purchasing a backup
    blank from the Russians for the S02 element.
 
 5) Due to a sign error by Yours Truly, one side of L06 was made with one
    curvature concave instead of convex.  Luckily, TORC had earlier
    started making a previous L06 with the same error, so two wrongs made
    a right.  TORC is making the previously bad blank into the correct part.

 6) Epps has computed the pick-up surface on L04 for the long camera,
    and TORC is now finishing up that part as well.
    
 7) Spectrum TF is scheduled to begin coating the CaF2 elements C05 and
    L05 at the beginning of February.

 8) Newport TFL created a design for 0.34-1.1 microns with had rather
    large ripple, but could be reliably produced.  They also had a
    design for 0.4-1.1 microns which had very good transmission and
    little ripple.  They had not yet found a design in between that
    is reliably reproducible.  I am calling them every few days.

TODO:

Grism designs

3)	Electronics (Asa)

Slit Mask Server:

Four V-guides were removed and replaced by six additional V-rollers.
Parts for this were machined, assembled, and tested. The appropriate
drawings have been modified.  Limit switch brackets were designed,
built and tested for the hard limits of the stage.  The control
electronics have been assembled, and await testing with Christoph's
help.

Shutter:

All parts have been anodized.  Modifications were made to the plastic
rail assembly.  Trial electronics have been assembled for Christoph's
testing.  Final assembly and adjustment will take place in the next
few days.

Filter Server:

Dummy filters have been assembled and inserted in the server.  The
filter server is ready for final testing by Christoph.

4)	Software (Birk/Clardy)

During January I programmed the new shutter micro-controller.  It
works great and will be ready for a demonstration at the SAC meeting.
In February I plan to run the full-load test of the first
filter-server.

5)	Mechanics (Bond/Hare/Bigelow)

Bond:

January was spent finishing up small tasks for the grating tilt
mechanism, and the filter server system.  This included ordering
parts, and signing off on drawings.  As well, I worked on the design
details of the "revised" upright disperser server wheel.
Concepts/rough models are made of the taper pins mounting scheme, and
work is in progress for on the clamping mechanism.

February will be spent continuing with the designs on the upright
disperser server.  After finishing the clamps, the next items to be
examined are the main bearing, and the cable wrap.

Hare:

1. The shutter is being reassembled and small design changes are being
   implemented to allow for quicker assembly in the
   future. Operational tests and software and electronics integration
   will continue throughout the month.

2. Design of an aperture cover for use with the Center Field guider is
   underway.

3. Revisions to the guide camera solid models continue to be made as
   needed.  Drawing packages for all guide cameras are out for
   red-lined revisions.  Manufacturing ready drawings will be available
   by the end of the month.  Future guide camera work for the month of
   February includes continued manufacturing of the Center Field Guide
   Camera.

4. The solid model of the Field Lens Assembly has been revised as per
   suggestions made at the design review.  It is expected that a
   drawing package for the Field Lens Assembly will begin upon
   completion of the Guide Camera packages.  Design of a lens mounting
   tool continues and should be complete within the week.

5. The preliminary design of a Calibration Unit will begin this month.

Bigelow:

In January:

    1)  Started Long Camera drafting (Cleary)
    2)	Completed Long Camera fab and assembly tooling design 
    3)	Re-started slit-mask cutting development
    4)	Started Short Camera mechanical design with elastomer 
	bond and cell designs

In February:

    1)	Complete long camera drafting (Cleary)
    2)	Send out RFQ for fabrication of the long camera mechanics
    3)	Start optical/mechanical assembly of the collimator
    4)	Complete (preliminary) cell designs for the short camera
    5)	Start the barrel designs for the short camera
    6)	Conduct laser cutting tests on prototype slit masks

6)	Fabrication (Kowal/Storts)

Kowal:

1) Compiled list of titanium needed for grating turret mechanism (GTM)
   and sent out for quotes with four different titanium
   suppliers. Received four quotes back ranging from $5,700 to $17,000

2) Sent for quote on saw cutting excess material from trunion (4 pcs.)
   and flexure (5pcs.)  $325

3) Finished 28 filter frames.

4) Cut 15 filter dummies out of aluminum.

5) Assembled 15 filters w/ dummies for FSS testing.

6) Programmed trunion through 1st operation. 

7) Worked with Tim about how fab GTM. Structure should be manufactured to
   assure squareness, accuracy and good finish.

8) Modified shutter plates. Worked with Joe installing delrin into plates.

9) Translated SAT files for grating tilt mechanism and prepared
   drawings for programming.

10) Layout of structure pieces for multi-part run off of Haas machine
   to conserve titanium plate.  

11) Decided against hiring apprentice machinist in the near future due
   to the complexity of upcoming parts.

7)	Detector Systems (Thompson/Burley)

Thompson:

Magellan Guider Cameras

CCD's: The original order was for 6 chips, the second order for 7. We
have received all of the first and two of the CCD's from the second
order.

Cameras: At the moment we have: 

  - four functioning cameras at LCO
  - one functioning camera in Pasadena
  - one assembled but untested camera in Pasadena
  - two assembled board sets (modified with all revisions)

  We would strongly prefer to keep a functioning camera here in Pasadena.

Spare electronics:

  - 8 DSP boards
  - 5 power boards
  - 5 signal processing boards
  - 2 backplane boards
  - 2 header boards
  - 2 PCI boards (plus 3 for lab use, one for guiders, one for
      science cameras, and one spare)
  
  Some number of these boards need to be revised to the current design.

Hardware:

  We have 22 bodies but no spares of the G-10 CCD housings.

Future work:

Greg will complete two cameras from the two sets of assembled boards
that we have in hand, this work will begin February 5.  We need to
have more of the G-10 housings made up.  This will give us a total of
seven cameras for distribution plus one lab camera.  We need a minimum
of six cameras in Chile to populate two guider assemblies on the Baade
telescope and the B&C Spectrograph.  IMACS has requested three cameras
by June 1st.

We are running short of PCI cards.  The best thing to do is to take
this opportunity to do the required revisions on this card, and to
make up a complete new set.  We would definitely be able to use (or,
we definitely need) some assistance in assembling these cards.  The
boards would be available 3-4 weeks after completing the revised
layout.

8)     Other Business

Next meeting:  10:15, 2/28/2001