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Back in February
1999, the only specification given to me was to build a system to expand or
contract 99 steel rod standoffs +/- 25µm.
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The steel rod
standoffs are called toothpicks.
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After
calculating what kind of force would be needed to attain such a goal, I built
and tested several versions of a single channel prototype to see if the
desired expansion and contraction could be reached. These tests agreed with our calculated predictions of
temperature to length change, along with determining the parts and material
that would accomplish this.
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A single channel
setup was tested on the summit during the day and also at night. Night performance is more
relevant. I conducted other
tests to check the degree of temperature effects in areas around an acted
upon standoff. These effects
were determined tolerable.
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A 3 Channel
Controller/Driver prototype was built and tested on the dish. I demonstrated its capabilities with
dial indicators to Tom Phillips.
In response, he wanted all 99 done ASAP.
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~Melanie Leong~
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