Today we worked on getting the telescope and mirror cell at Site #2 ready for installation of the mirrors. We also got the focus system powered up and working with the TCS. We got the trusses, focus ring, and mirror doors installed, and we also got the spreader bar and spacers ready for the primary mirror cell.
Tomorrow we plan to test the mirror doors and adjust the limit switches, and to get the focus housing cables installed on the tube assembly (currently the cables are connected directly to the focus housing on the stand on the observing floor). We also need to drill out the holes on the primary mirror cell spreader bar a little bigger since we cannot get it bolted directly onto the mirror cell at the moment. When these tasks are finished, we will be ready to install the mirrors on this telescope.
Here are some photos of our progress today.
Getting the focus housing wired up.
Trusses and focus ring installed.
Installation of mirror doors.
One of the mirror doors in the open position...
...and in the closed position. Drive motor is at the top of the photo.
All four mirror doors installed and closed.
Primary mirror cell with spreader bar and spacers. This setup is to allow us to work on the mirror installation after mirror is in the cell, while having the cover on the spreader bar to protect the mirror from falling debris from the hatch above.
Rigging on the spreader bar.
The following photos and videos are to document the mount powered up and under operation for our next acceptance milestone. (This will help me to write the report later after the other telescopes are ready, as well as show the telescope moving around for anyone that is interested.) Once the mirror doors are operational, this will be the first of our telescopes to meet the milestone requirements.
Dec position encoder connected.
Dec drive motor and motor encoder connected.
RA drive motor and motor encoder connected.
RA position encoder connected.
Control electronics in the rack.
All the cables plugged into the control electronics.
RA and Dec drives in operation.
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Focus motor in operation.
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Four focus housing motors (for collimation) in operation.
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