Magellan Telescopes Observatory Report

• Accomplishments

• Problems

• Work in Progress

• Network

• f5 mirror coating

Accomplishments

• M2 mirror on Baade was removed, prepared and aluminized. The telescope was collimated.

• Clay control room reorganization. Installation of new remote accessible KVM switches.

• New instrument control computer racks in each equipment room.

• POETS PI instrument run at Clay

Accomplishments (cont.)

• Serial over IP work in progress. A test section has been installed and is in use at the Clay telescope. Hardware has been ordered and it will be installed between the compressors/chillers and the telescopes.

• Updating Rotator drives from Glentek to PWM amplifiers is complete. New wiring was required to solve a noise feedback problem in the encoders.

• Relocation of Magellan hardware to the Bodega. Removal of the east offices and lab in the Auxiliary building is in progress.

•Design and fabrication of protective covers for the observing floor level louvers

Baade M2 Mirror Aluminizing

Removal of north-east side offices

Problems: Telescopes

• Rotator bearing failure in Baade NIR west rotator. Bearing lubricated to reduce friction. New bearing ordered (9 month ETA on site).

• Complete inspection of rotator bearings. Found bearing at NIR east of Baade with corrosion and high friction.

• We will replace the balls in all of the bearings to reduce the preload and friction.

Most Common Problems: Telescopes

Primary mirror support (mirror panics, faulty actuators, hard point actuators)

• Campaign underway to seal air cylinders in actuators; redesign of actuator electronics cards in progress; Significant improvement in air pressure during cold weather as a result of repaired cylinders.

•Version 3 of the actuator cards is complete. 5 cards are in use in the Clay cell.

•Compressor #3 failed. New oil seals were installed. A control valve has also failed.

•A new 48-volt power supply system has been purchased and installed in the Clay cell

Problems: Enclosures

• Wind Screen & Moon Roof drives• New protective screens have been designed

and are being fabricated.• Rotating interface seal• The sixth truck assembly was removed and

the bearings replaced.• Louver seals, we are looking at different

types of seals

Work in Progress

• Telescopes– Actuator leak repair (#1 task)– Hard-point breakaway leak repairs/test stand– New collimation procedures (f5)– New instrument control computers– New telescope operator computers (TCS)– Serial over IP conversion– New power supplies for M1 support system

Work in Progress

• Software– M3 Tip-Tilt automation– Code normalization, ini files, Watcom compiler– New guider software (new IMS modules)– PWM Amps, Rotator guiding, servos– M1 thermo control servo, Site system

temperatures and pressures– Linux system reorganization, Staff training

Work in Progress

NetworkPlan developed for long-term systems and network administration is complete.

• The installation of the new fiber cables is complete. Termination of the new cables is in progress (completion ~Oct.1). The link between the 40-inch and Magellan is complete.

• Installation of the new routers and network hardware is well underway.

• All new computer installations are being done by CTIO

F5 Mirror Coating

• What type of coating should be on the f5 secondary?