IMACS progress report no. 32

B. Bigelow						30 November 2000

1)	Project Status

Currently scheduled tasks:				Status:

a)	Disperser server (DSS) design (Bond)		95% complete
b)	DSS drafting (Meyers)				in progress
c)	DSS fabrication					in progress
d)	Field lens mechanics (Hare)			50% complete, due 12/21
e)	Mask server integration (Asa)			delayed, awaiting parts
f)	Coll. fabrication (Danco)			late 	
g)	Long camera mech. design (Bigelow)		complete
h)	Dewar fab. (Luppino)				finished, due 11/10
i)	Center field guider mechanics fab (Storts)	on sched.
j)	Science Array controller fab (Burley)		90% complete
k)	Short Camera mech. design (Bigelow)		late start
j)	Motion control (MC) electr. design (Carr)	rescheduled
k)	MC fab. (Asa)	    				started
l)	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

The IMACS dewar, flexure control, and array focus systems were
delivered by GL Scientific at the end of November.  The dewar now
awaits the profiling and mounting of the CCDs, as well as completion
of the science array controller electronics.

The last of the long camera CaF2 elements was completed at TORC in
November.  L05 will be shipped to Spectrum Thin Films Lab for AR
coating.  As soon as the long camera fabrication update is completed
by Epps, the pick-up surface in the long camera will be polished.
This will be the completion of the long camera optical fabrication.

The first mechanical parts of the collimator were delivered by Danco
in November.  The remainder of the parts are late and now due by the
end of December. 

2)	Optics (Sutin) 

 1) Raytheon gave a firm quote for making aspherics.  The number is
    Real Big.

 2) REOSC gave us a quote for making aspherics, the number is also
    Real Big, but smaller than Raytheon's.  The catch is that they
    will not tell us how they intend to measure the surfaces.

 3) Brashears (Contraves) doesn't think they can make aspherics
    any more cheaply than anyone else.  Tinsley won't return phone
    calls, which is no surprise.  No reply from Kodak either.

 4) We have asked Lick Observatory to quote on producing the aspheres.
    No word back yet.

 5) We have asked Jim Burge to act as a consultant for the measurement
    of our aspheres.  If the aspheres are made by a manufacturer which
    does not have adequate testing, then UofA might make the optical
    test.

 6) We have one reply from filter manufacturers back, from Barr.  Omega
    and Custom Sci are still out.  Prices are in line with the budget.

 7) The large piece of CaF2 for mechanical testing arrived from Almaz.
 
 8) Schott says that they will get back to us in a few days about their
    CaF2 for S02.

 9) No word from Corning/Optovac on their S02 boule.

10) L03 is finished and at OCIW.  L05 is done, and being shipped to
    Spectrum Thin Films.  As soon as we get final measurements, H. Epps
    can do the final design update.

11) Newport TFL has a workable design for our AR coatings.  It is a bit
    bumpy, and we are checking if we can smooth it out by having two
    overlapping coatings designs, with alternating bumps and dips.

Optics TODO List:

1) Baffle analysis, baffle materials

3)	Electronics (Carr)

	1.  Completed Shack-Hartmann guide camera drawings.
	2.  Started work on Center Field and Principal guide cameras,
	    continues in December

4)	Software (Birk/Clardy)

Birk:

During November I worked mostly on the DSP/shutter interface and
Linux-computer/DSP communications.  For December I plan to write the
the micro-controller program that enables the DSP to command the
shutter via a single digital I/O line.

Clardy:

Guide Camera and Camera position control software:

For November I added several features to the astronomer interface,
allowing an observed displacement of a star image in the guider camera
view to direct a change of position for the telescope.  The sky window
was enlarged, as was the control window, and placed in different
positions on the screen.  Display of the guider positions in the
control window were added.  Features to turn guider positions on and
off in the sky view were added.

An error analysis indicated that while computation of the star
positions in the sky window could continue to be approximate for the
purpose of showing the sky map, the computation of positions for the
guider windows needs to be done to full accuracy.  A set of utility
programs to allow vector and matrix operations to be easily described
was created.  These will be used to replace the current code.  By
saving rotations as matrix values instead of specifying them as
angles, repeated calls to trig functions are avoided, allowing
accurate transformations to be done quickly.

5)	Mechanics (Bond/Hare/Bigelow/Luppino)

Bond:

Disperser Server:

November was spent working on the solid models for the disperser
server.  I have been implementing all of the changes suggested in the
"mini review" that we held at the start of the month.

Once these changes are finished, I will give the package to Julie for
drafting, and then will be able to finish the red lining of disperser
tilt mechanism drawings. I anticipate that this will all be completed
shortly, and I will be moving on to the overall structure during the
next month.

Hare:

Shutters:

1. The shutter will be sent out for anodizing this month as a method
for mounting to the long camera barrel has been finalized.

2. Future work planned for the shutter includes re-assembly, further
operational tests, and continued software and electronics integration.

IMACS Guide Cameras:

3. Revisions to the solid models continue to be made as needed.

4. The drawing package for the Center Field Guide camera is now
complete.  Part drawings for the motion stage have been issued for
manufacturing.  CNC programming has begun for these parts.

5. The part drawings for the Shack-Hartmann and Principal Guide Camera
are complete and are being reviewed and red-lined as necessary.
Manufacturing ready assembly drawings will begin upon completion of
the review.

6. Most purchased parts for all guide cameras have been ordered, with
the exception of some parts to hold optical elements.  Alternative
linear rails for the radial motion of the Shack-Hartmann Guide Camera
are being investigated as the rails currently selected have a
lead-time of 5 months.
 
7. Future guide camera work for the month of December includes
completion of purchased parts ordering and commencement of
manufacturing of the Center Field Guide Camera.

IMACS Field Lens

8. Field Lens FEA models were completed for review.  Two methods of
mounting the field lens were investigated.

9. It is expected that solid models for the lens mount will be
completed and ready for drafting by Christmas break.

Bigelow:

For November:

    1)	Continued to monitor collimator fabrication contract at Danco
    2)	Continued search and interviews for drafting position
    3)	Completed mechanical design and FEA for long camera cells and barrels
    4)	Assisted in coating cell designs for collimator optics for
	Newport Thin Films Lab

For December:

    1)	Attending Magellan dedication in Chile 12/5 to 12/12
    2)	Start design of long camera assembly tooling
    3)	Start drafting of long camera (internal or external drafter)
    4)	Finalize drafter selection
    5)	Design cell for thermal testing of L05 CaF2 elastomeric mount  

6)	Fabrication (Kowal/Storts)

Kowal:

    1)	finished fabrication of titanium parts for grating tilt mechanisms
    2)	reprogrammed filter frames for production run
    3)	completed pick-off mirror mask for guide cameras
    4)	finished counter-bores on shutter face plate
    5)	organized and carried out the material room renovation
   
Storts:

    1)	started fabrication of center field guide camera mechanics
    2)	completed fabrication of brackets for collimator assy. tooling

7)	Detector Systems (Thompson/Burley)

No written report this month.
              
8)     Other Business

Next meeting:  10:15, 1/4/2001