NOTCam Status Report, May 1998

• In late April CA visited Prototech AS in in Fantoft near Bergen, Norway to finalize the details of the fabrication and testing of the NOTCam mechanics. Specifically this involved final manufacturing details, vacuum testing details and assembly/delivery details. A selection of photographs of the NOTCam mechanical components taken during this visit can be found below.
  • Cold Table Top view
    
  • Cold Table Side view
    
  • Cold Table Underneath view (+LN2 chamber)
    
  • Cold Table Top 2
    
  • Vacuum Vessel (Top+Bottom) view 1
    
  • Vacuum Vessel (Top+Bottom) view 2
    
  • Vacuum Vessel (Top) view inside
    
  • Vacuum Vessel (Bottom) view inside
    
  • Vacuum Vessel (Top) side view
    
  • Radiation shield
    
  • Filter wheel
    
  • Lens wheel
    
  • Aperture Wheel
    
  • Central wheel assembly
    
  • Central wheel assembly 2
    
  • Motor drive shaft assembly
    
  • Lens wheel housing
    
  • Lens wheel housing 2
    
  • Collimator mount
    
  • Close-up of Lens wheel
    
  • Other misc components
    
• CA also visited Graseby Specac in the U.K. to finalize details of the delivery of the optics for NOTCam. All optical components have been made and are in the final stage of assembly and alignment in their respective barrels after spacing re-optimization (using measured optical surface characteristics) has been performed. The completed lens units will be delivered in the next 2 weeks.
• From the 8th to 26th June a team from NOT, La Palma will visit Copenhagen University Observatory to work with the local staff on the integration of the NOTCam components. This will involve integration of the mechanics, electronics, cryogenics and optics and will include the internal wiring of the instrument, mounting and aligning the optics, mounting the array and in situ testing, mounting the PTR cooler system and cryogenics tests and installation of the cold motor and their warm and cold testing. Results of this work will be posted to this page in late June.
• A `Solicitation for Project' message has been submitted to the Nordboard mailing list for projects to be performed with NOTCam during the Sept 98 (2-11th) commissioning time. We anticipate that about 50% of the commissioning time will be used for these projects. Only direct imaging projects are being solicited at present. The solicitation message on how to submit a project for consideration.
• A Rockwell science grade array has been received at NOT. Click HERE to see a quantum efficiency map of the array. The array is of excellent quality with the exception of a small area at the bottom which has dead pixels.