SOAR 4.2 Meter Telescope: evolution of drive and pointing performance from early predictions to final testing

Details SOAR 4.2 Meter Telescope: evolution of drive and pointing performance from early predictions to final testing SOAR 4.2 Meter Telescope: evolution of drive and pointing performance from early predictions to final testing

Feb 2003

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2003spie.4837..308c&link_type=abstract

Large Ground-based Telescopes. Edited by Oschmann, Jacobus M.; Stepp, Larry M. Proceedings of the SPIE, Volume 4837, pp. 308

Physics

Optics

Scientific paper

Based on its certification testing, the 4.2 Meter SOAR Telescope can be described as one of the most precise pointing instruments in the world, however, this was achieved a little differently than other telescopes. This instrument utilizes gear drives in azimuth, direct drives in altitude, and rolling element bearings on both axes instead of hydrostatic bearings. This combination of features provides a lower initial cost, significantly lower operating costs, simple maintenance, less potential for contaminating both the environment and the optics, less thermal effects and a greater degree of safety. This is achieved by relying on a sophisticated servo control system adapted from much larger radio astronomy instruments and rolling element bearing designs with exceptionally low friction torque. The design approach was not "stumbled upon" but rather performance was predicted from the initial studies, through the proposal, the early design stages, up through the final "as built" configuration. This paper traces the development of the performance estimates through that period.

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