1) check that we have all VCR adapters (Chris)
2) free up the surface of a table that we can then use to assembly our system
3) Next week Sereres will look into restarting the orbital welder (will need DI water and argon gas)
4) for point 3, we need to replace the Millipore DI unit cartridges (Chris will get model number)
Al Disk Submitted
I have submitted plans for the new charcoal compression disk to the Hasbrouck machine shop this morning, after talking with Tim last night. The shop will be using a piece of aluminum supplied by us (~2′ x ~4′ x 3/16″), with an estimated work time of about 16 hours. Deadline on their end has not been defined.
Game Plan
As the semester comes to a close, I’d like to asses my progress and propose an itinerary for the new semester.
With regards to the liquefaction system, I am waiting the return of our product from 9Scale Vacuum. This will certainly be back by January 19th when I return and so my first plan of action is to reassemble the system and run a couple of cooling tests.
In the mean time, I need to:
1) Meet with Cameron and test my vacuum gauge in the clean tent with his to make sure it is reading accurately.
2) Work on the purification system piping/item organization
3) Build a temperature controller for the heaters
For the first, I’m just waiting for a convenient time when Cam and I are not terribly busy and can get that done. For the second, I need anyone else to help me as moving the pieces around alone does not seem like a good idea (I’d like to have one person hold the piece while the other secures it to the Unistrut). For the last, I need to find the remaining pieces that will go inside the controller. Once I have these, I can properly mark the chassis we have so Sereres (and maybe I) can properly machine it. After that, assembling the controller shouldn’t take more than an hour or two.
A side project is running a special thermal analysis for Andrea. Currently, I am learning how to use SolidWorks Flow Simulation option to properly describe the convection heat transference that will occur in the actual model. I will update this post with a picture of my simplified assembly when I can. Hopefully I will finish this by the end of the semester.
Thus, by early next semester, I hope to finish the three items mentioned above and run some informative cooling tests. After that, the plan will be to finish the purification system and try to liquefy some xenon.
Update
-Oxkintok is the new computer, it’s unpacked and set up in the control room. Currently I’m waiting for our new Labview license to come in and when it does I’ll install it ASAP. The hardware order from NI also come in last week.
In the meantime I’m thinking of ways to attach the springs as discussed in the deradonator meeting last week.
Update – Mark
There has been some progression regarding the politics of assembling the cryostat. I am in the final stage of choosing a company to build the LN2 flange and add the half nipple. This is complicated due to the numerous quotes and ambiguous information I am receiving. I am currently trying to contact various sales representatives to clarify their quotations to that I can choose a final provider.
The other change involves our Varian Pirani Gauge. It seems to be un-calibrated, so I will have to take it into the clean tent and use Cameron’s turbo pump to try and re-calibrate the gauge.
Also, I am still waiting on the final decision regarding the new external hard drive we will use for Chichen-Itza. After getting this, I will be able to clear up most of the physical memory on Chichen-Itza as well as uninstall the Ubuntu partitions.
progress report October 25
-Computer was FINALLY purchased from Dell on Monday
-As requested, I drew some springs and a mesh disk in Solidworks. (When I have a chance to grab them off the computer I’ll upload them here). I realized I don’t know how many springs we need or how we want them connected to the disk; guidance would be appreciated. (Also should the disk be the same dimensions as the inner diameter of the column?)
progress report – Kelly
-Finally got the computer ordered, it should be here by 11/1.
– Started looking at the set of Labview VIs that I was sent at the beginning of the semester. The newer one (sent from Stanford?) is hard to understand because it uses FGPA and we don’t use that but I think I understand the logic behind the other VIs and they can probably be used as a basis for my Labview coding.
Update – Mark
Today I submitted a quote request for some Swagelok pieces. These include:
1) 50 1/4″ un-plated nickel gaskets (NI-4-VCR-2-GR-VS)
2) 3 pressure gauges that have 1/4″ NPT adapters (PGI-63C-PG2000-LAOX)
3) 3 of the same style pressure gauges that somehow have a custom 1/4″
VCR adapter instead of 1/4″ NPT
4) 3 flexible CT tubes each 5 inches overall length (1 inch live, 4
inches in end connections) There should be a 1/4″ female VCR on one
side and a 1/4″ male VCR on the other. (321-6-X-1FMR)
5) 10 1/2″ VCR gland adapters (SS-8-VCR-3-6TA)
Also, I have been negotiating with Ed King of Sharon Vacuum and David McCrohan of 9scale Vacuum Products, Inc. I have also repeatedly tried to contact MDCVacuum but have not received a quote from any company as of yet.
Plans for the week:
Tuesday:
Re-assemble the cyrostat for another cooling test with the Cu insert (these first requires extensive cleaning, placement of the thermocouples, and low tolerance VCR connections)
Wednesday:
Sereres and I should begin welding/bending/cutting tube for the apparatus. We will probably need a refresher on using the orbital welder as well.
Progress Report – Kelly
Monica gave me a Solidworks tutorial so I have a basic view of how that program works now.
I got in contact with Ingrid Pollard about purchasing the computer – this will be completed tomorrow at the latest (I’ll update this post when it does)
Progress report 10/4
-Gathered quote for a new computer to run Labview on for the deradonator testing. It looks like the UStore is going to be cheapest (was quoted a computer including monitor, etc. at $519.99)
-Called National Instruments technical support to double check that 32 bit Labview with run with no problems on 64 bit Windows 7. (Internet had led me to believe can crash sometimes). They say that they aren’t aware of any compatibility issues which has been confirmed with WIPP.