Monthly Report

Project: WTTM

Account: N-NX539-202

Month Of: 1/99

Accomplishments:

1. A date for the design review was established, 3/19-20/99. A list of invitees was formalized and availability confirmed.

2. Met to establish a system for keeping the project capital outlays straight. R. Green imposed that no significant funds be expended until after the design review. There are some exceptions.

3. Started a system drawing tree.

4. Developed an alignment and system testing concept utilizing a dummy TT mirror. Folded this into the overall system geometry. Analyzed possible flexure and vibration problems. The concept was deemed sound.

5. Development (design and flexural analyses) of the new optical housing and bracket concept is 35% complete.

6. Further evaluation of flexure measurements of the mount between the visible imager (Filter ASSY) and bracket is ambiguous. While the six additional bolts improve the rigidity of the imager, the center of rotation appears to shift further away from the CCD surface.

7. An arrangement with OFC Diamond Turning Division (Keen, NH) was initiated. This is to provide external technical expertise so as to determine the best way to implement optical fabrication (diamond turning), testing, and mounting.

8. Efforts started on determining required modifications to existing IAS FSA and CIA functions. Task is 35% complete.

9. A brainstorming session was held to develop a concept for the beamsplitter component. Progress continued and the task is 10% complete.

10. Work on making an overall electronic control system block diagram continued. Task is 75% complete.

11. Continued with development of the control system hardware and software.

12. Rendered a decision regarding the visible imager workstation (navajo) and how it will be integrated into the WIYN systems. The project will purchase a replacement workstation for C. Claver and then utilize his SunOS compliant SPARC 20.

Plans:

1. Continue with progress toward the PDR. Establish an agenda and assign people to each task. Make a plan for creating a document which can be sent to the reviewers one week prior to the review data.

2. Continue with optical design of error sensor. Delineate design goals, specifications, and parameters. Continue to model system performance and fold results into design.

3. Continue with opto-mechanical design efforts (manufacturing and tolerancing)

4. Continue to develop the control system architecture and define servo parameter requirements.

5. Continue with analysis of system spectral efficiency.

6. Continue with flexure analysis and fold into development of opto-mechanical design.

7. Finish evaluation of the initial scattered light analysis.

8. Finish and execute arrangement with OFC to provide technical assistance for developing the process of fabricating, testing, and implementing diamond turned optics. Complete optical fabrication drawings for three elements. Get cost and delivery quotes for these.

9. Continue with progress determining required modifications to FSA and CIA systems.

10. Initiate procurement of APDs and associated electronics.

Problems:

1. Currently, there is a filter wheel in the CIA (Dryden). It is not used. Maintaining its function is not trivial.

2. Scattered light data previously taken at WIYN was found to be erroneous and unusable.

Solutions:

1. A memo will be addressed to the relevant scientific staff within the consortium to approve discontinuing the function of the filter wheel.

2. Possibly re-take data.

Critical Path: