Progress Report

[Tom Droege <tdroege@veriomail.com>]

For those new to the group, the various Mark IV camera systems being built 
all have the names of their operators.  I distinguish the two by writing 
the camera systems as all capital letters.  GLENN is a Mark IV, Glenn is a 
person.

TOM

TOM is running every clear night looking at 0 Degrees declination.  It is 
now pretty well calibrated.  It should be pointing within 1/4 degree or 
less of the numbers reported in the fits header.  The dry air system is 
still not quite good enough.  I ran when the relative humidity was near 
100% and got ice crystals in the I camera.  I am trying to dry it out 
now.  We shall see with this evening's run.  I guess it is not a good idea 
to run the dry air system when it is raining.

MIKE

MIKE is completely assembled and testing has started.  The only thing 
missing is the lenses.  I won't put lenses on MIKE until everything 
works.  That way they will not get so dirty in the shop.  The only thing 
funny about MIKE is that the RA limit switch positioning holes were drilled 
by hand.

So far I have tested the Stamp board and most of the motors.  The RA drive 
works and is sitting in it's test loop moving the RA back and forth as I 
type.

It looks like MIKE is about a week or two away from going out on the porch 
and looking at stars.

GLENN

GLENN is completely wired.  All the mechanical parts are in place.  Next 
job is to install the water cooling and dry air tubing.

CHRIS

CHRIS is assembled.  All the mechanical parts are in place.  Some wiring is 
in place.  Next job is to complete the wiring.

Parts

Mechanical parts are on order for a total of 12 systems.  This with the 
exception of the side plates which are drilled for the location.  I have 
side plates for TOM2, TOM3, NICK, DOUG, SAREL, and ARNE2.  I also have 
CHRIS side plates but this Mark IV will use the ARNE2 side plates (1/4" 
thick) and go to live at NOFS.   I expect the rest of the mechanical parts 
to get her in the next couple of weeks.

I have ordered a few of the special cables.  At this point I am always 
running out of parts.  I use up a lot of screws.  There are a lot of 
different parts in the system, so there is always something where the parts 
drawer is empty.

Chiller

My super fancy chiller has been completed and works.  Looks like I will 
need a better pump for the final installation.  The flow rate is marginal 
with the pump I am now using when I have a long "extension cord" of water 
tubing attached.  This is convenient working in the shop.  Later when I 
move it into the dome, I will not need so much tubing.  But then I will 
have two cameras, and will want more flow so the downstream cameras do not 
see warmer water.

Plans

Once I get rid of MIKE and GLENN, I plan to start assembly of TOM2 and TOM3 
and get them up in the dome so I can take good data with them this fall.

Tom Droege