East Dome Committee


Closed Task List
Updated March 8, 2007



1. 8/31/2004 Q4 status:
Joe Dellinger sent back to AIM Controls 3/21/2005, monitored repair, and got it returned on 4/5/2005. Installed and working on 5/23/2005. NOT. Hand paddle, guiding, drive rate, motor current problems. Joe contacting AIM for suggestions.
12/14/05 Still working with AIM Controls.
01/24/06 no progress.
02/15/06 Joe finally received the unit back from AIM Controls after Don Jarvis called them again. AIM specifically noted that each of the notes we made about problems had been addressed and were fixed. The unit has not been tested yet as of this date.
03/14/06 Not tested as of this date.
08/08/06 Not tested as of this date.
02/05/07 Has been installed and is operational.
2. 8/31/2004 How to close dome slit during power failure:
UPS donated by Joe Dellinger! Complete except we need to post instructions on what to do if the circuit breaker in the slit UPS trips, as it occasionally does.
3. 8/31/2004 STV - Q1 cable shorts/fragile:
Solved! Joe Dellinger and Paul Garossino made new cables that should be more robust. Still open 6/28/2005. Continuing saga.
12/14/05 Improved.
01/24/06 Don Jarvis built some new cables that seem to be working OK.
02/15/06 We'll call this complete.
4. 8/31/2004 Dome azimuth rollers need replacing:
Solved! Bill, Dennis, and company replaced them 9/18/2004. Dennis worked on the motor mount. At least for now, the dome does not get stuck.
5. 8/31/2004 New skirt pads for dome:
Joe ordered new foam material. Dennis and Joe completed installation 11/20/2005.
6. 8/31/2004 Imaging Computer clock glitch issues:
Relegated to "we can live with it" status for now. For the most part, if you don't try to SET the clock using Windows, then it will stay at a constant offset.
8. 8/31/2004 First-aid kit with benadryl for wasp stings:
Don Jarvis will look into getting one of these and placing it somewhere handy. Tracy will deliver and put in East Dome on 5/28/2005.
5/23/2005 completed.
10. Institute monthly E-dome cleanup:
From 8/31/2004 EDC meeting: Joe said he would start trying to schedule volunteers to do this.
From 3/3/2005 EDC meeting: Oops... didn't happen, although he did occasionally clean the place himself. It needs it again. Joe will try to do that on Saturday.
From 5/24/2005 EDC meeting: After working in the dome to install the Q4 on 5/23, Dennis brought this up again. The dome is very filthy and needs to be cleaned thouroughly. It was suggested that all removable items be taken out of the dome so all areas could be properly cleaned. It was also suggested that this could be an FBAC Work Day effort if scheduled promptly.
5/27 & 5/28/2005 Tracy did some much needed cleaning of work surfaces. She is still working to clean dirty hardwood edging on cabinets.
12/14/05 Cleaned after Rita, Joe Dellinger bought vacuum.
01/24/06 no progress.
02/15/06 A concerted effort will be made to get volunteers to help on a clean-up day March 12, 2006.
03/14/06 A dome cleanup was help Sunday, March 12, 2006. The committee agreed that a monthly organized cleanup is impractical. This will be scheduled quarterly.
11. Clean Maksutov guide scope:
From 3/3/2005 EDC meeting: Defer on this one until later. Not a pressing issue.
Does anyone want to volunteer to figure out how to get a finder scope for the guide scope, to help us find guide stars?
From 5/24/2005 EDC meeting: Bill Dillon has volunteered to locate a finder and do cleaning.
12/14/05 no progress.
01/24/06 no progress.
02/15/06 no progress.
03/14/06 Bill Dillon ordered a Rigel Quickfinder to be used on the guide scope. No progress on cleaning.
08/08/06 No further progress.
02/05/07 Asteroid team will clean as needed.
13. STV camera cable can pop out too easily, possibly damaging STV:
From 8/31/2004 EDC meeting: Dennis will see if there is any way to replace the screws on the STV with inserts that will give us something to thumb-screw the camera cable into. As the STV is getting more use, the fear is that someone will accidentally unplug the STV camera while it is powered and in use (possbibly damaging the STV). We need to figure out how to keep that from happening easily.
From 3/3/2005 EDC meeting: Still open on Dennis' list.
From 5/24/2005 EDC meeting: Still open on Dennis' list.
5/27/2005 completed.
14. How can non-Zilkha people do guiding?
From 8/31/2004 EDC meeting: After some discussion, it seems to boil down to two possibilities:
A) Figure out how to guide using the club ST-7 and the West-side computer. The club ST-7 would then become the default method of guiding in the E-dome, and the STV would only be used in the research dome.
This is probably something for Don Jarvis and Terry to look into. Since this will involve losing the focus on the guide scope, which is a MAJOR PAIN to re-acquire, we will need to coordinate any experiment with the research team folks so they don't unexpectedly have to spend a clear night struggling to get the STV setup workable again afterwards.
Probably something to do during an announced and scheduled bright-moon work day.
B) Buy a non-Zilkha club STV. This has the advantage that we already know it works and have an experience base on how to do it. We would solve the problem of only having one STV and two domes. The kicker is the cost! A used STV similar to what we've got would cost about $1800. I'd be willing to put up part of this; maybe if we launched a fundraising campaign raising that much money isn't out of the question. Joe will start asking around about this to see whether the goal of raising $1800 is realistic.
From 3/3/2005 EDC meeting: This is solved as the ST7 is a self guiding camera.
From 6/28/2005 EDC meeting: Need to test to be sure this is a viable solution.
12/14/05 There has been no interest shown by other club members at this time.
01/24/06 no progress.
02/15/06 no progress.
03/14/06 Member Paul Makinen has requested traing on the ST7. Waiting for him to request date.
08/08/06 Paul and Dennis Borgman messed with ST7 in June and discovered that descicant needed baking. No further training or testing has been accomplished.
02/05/07 Descicant baking complete. Paul Makinen will be trained when he has time. Guiding will be accomplished with the ST7 self guide capability.
15. Replace scope tracking bearings:
From 8/31/2004 EDC meeting: Dennis said he would research the possibility of using a different kind of bearings when we do the replacement --- he thinks bronze-bushing-bearings will last longer than the needle bearings we are currently using.
From 3/3/2005 EDC meeting: Joe has offered to buy the bearings but hasn't done it yet.
Here's the info on what we are currently using:
>Cam OD = 2.5"
>Outer race diameter = 1.42"
>Inner race diameter = 1.188"
>Needle bearing diameter = .116"
>Ratio 16" disc to cam bearing = 6.4:1
>
>That said, the cam rollers are CAMROL # CF-2.5, 2.5" OD, 1.5" wide, 1" x 2.25" stud shaft, 1x14 TPI. They can be purchased at someplace like T.L.Walker Bearing supply. If I remember, they were about $30 each 6 or 7 years ago. Probably double that now. Certainly not a big expense if you want to replace them. The replacing will be a major project with safety concerns if it isn't well planned. Same for the 2" pillow block bearing. Scope must be disassembled from the forks and a suitable lifting device used from the dome roof. The fork and shaft assembly weighs over 400 pounds.
From 5/24/2005 EDC meeting: This is still on Joe's to-do list.
12/14/05 Still open.
01/24/06 no progress.
02/15/06 Joe has bought the Camrol bearings. Installation is tentively planned for early April.
03/14/06 Scheduled for work day on April 9, 2006.
08/08/06 Bearings were replaced on April 9, 2006. Bearing alingment needs to be refined to complete task.
18. Monitor or W computer dead:
From 5/24/2005 EDC meeting: Cynthia Gustava has offered to donate her old 17" monitor. The EDC has agreed to accept this generous offer. Dennis determined the problem was the monitor and the 17" donated by Cynthia Gustava was installed 5/28/2005.
22. Provide contact list for ED:
From 5/24/2005 EDC meeting: This was suggested as there has been no resource for help if a newer club member needs assistance. Dennis volunteered to make a contact list and post it prominently in the East Dome. Bill, Joe, Don, and Dennis have accepted duty as ED emergency/help contacts. Dennis created document and posted in dome 5/27/2005.
24. Provide, post, and maintain an official list of approved ED telescope operators and assistants:
From 5/24/2005 EDC meeting: This was suggested as there has been nothing done since Terry Hiserodt built the last list. It is in bad need of updating and needs to be maintained on a regular basis.
5/27/2005 completed, Dennis updated and posted.
25. Develop ED training team with guidelines for testing as main telescope operator:
From 5/24/2005 EDC meeting: This was agreed by all to be a high priority for future training.
12/14/05 No progress on guidlines.
01/24/06 no progress.
02/15/06 Bill will layout a basic test that we can then review at our next meeting.
03/14/06 Bill will continue to work this.
08/08/06 EDC decided to for-go testing at this time. No problems have been experienced from new trainees.
26. Plug wasp entry points in dome outer wall:
New 6/28/2005.
12/14/05 Still needs to be trimmed and cleaned up.
01/24/06 no progress.
02/15/06 Will be done on clean-up day March 12, 2006.
03/14/06 COMPLETED 3/12/06.
28. Provide certificates for trainees at FBAC meetings:
New 6/28/2005. Dennis volunteered to develop.
12/14/05 COMPLETE.
29. Provide lexan holder in dome for FBAC flyers:
New 6/28/2005. Dennis volunteered to purchase and mount in dome.
12/14/05 COMPLETE.
32. RoboFocus power cable replacement:
New 12/14/2005. Don volunteered to make new cable.
01/24/06 no progress.
02/15/06 COMPLETE. Don's new power cable was installed 1/28/06.
33. Clean telescope mirror:
New 12/14/2005.
01/24/06 no progress.
02/15/06 This will be done on clean-up day March 12, 2006.
03/14/06 Ran out of time and energy March 12. Will do as part of the April 9 work day.
08/08/06 Completed April 9, 2006.
36. Shutter rollers recently replaced making lots of noise:
New 12/14/2005.
01/24/06 no progress.
02/15/06 This will be looked into on clean-up day March 12, 2006.
03/14/06 Bill Dillon ordered and installed better quality test rollers. More rollers will be ordered.
08/08/06 Rollers were replaced on April 9, 2006. There is an occasional interference that must be investigated.
38. Repair old drive corrector hand paddle:
New 1/24/2006. Joe volunteered to purchase parts.
02/15/06 Joe passed the parts he has purchased on to Dennis for construction. The old hand paddle has been temorarily superglued back into operation. An STV guiding port will be part of the new hand paddle.
03/14/06 COMPLETE 2/27/06. Dennis built a new hand paddle with the Dellinger parts. The new paddle includes a relay isolated SBIG compatible guiding interface.