ALMA WEEKLY PROGRESS REPORT For Week Ending 5th March 2004 Name: Jeff Mangum IPT: AEG ATF: (1) Work on both prototype antennas included: (i) VertexRSI: (a) Radiometry: Regular observations continue. Studying pointing, focus, and beam characteristics. (b) Optical Pointing: General OPT tracking and pointing studies nearing completion. Pat Wallace spent the last week at the ATF helping to put the final touches on absolute and offset pointing measurement analysis. Pat's assistance with these pointing studies has been invaluable. (c) OTF positioning studies using the CANalyzer. Have a complete dataset with which OTF motion spec can be verified. (ii) AEC: (a) Contractor doing punchlist work. (b) Made first optical pointing runs. Contractor continues to check-out default metrology system. (2) More document updates (ATF crib sheets, system descriptions, etc.). (3) Continue to chew-away on holography system description and results document with Jaap Baars and Robert Lucas. Name: John Effland IPT: Front ENd *** Major Issues: Software development effort continues as a major concern. I have received no commitments from Christian Holmstedt to begin visiting the NTC for at least one week a month. As an example of problems, our prototype bias software has a bug and it takes an inordinate amount of time to set preamp bias for the cartridge test system. I am concerned about delivery of the 300K cartridge plates. RAL received our suggested revisions two weeks ago but they haven't yet sent an updated version for final checking. I don't see how RAL can make their ship date for the cartridges. John Payne, now helping to obtain an agreement with JPL for Cryo-3 devices, called Sam Petty last week but never received a return phone call. One polarization in the first cartridge containing the real OMT and production mixer has tested and the results look good. We are now swapping the mixer-preamp and load to the other polarization port and will use the same mixer-preamp to measure this other port. *** Progress: *** Test System for Front End Integration Center Geoff Ediss collected more data this week for the prototype pattern measurement system and is writing up the results along with a comparison to theoretical values. *** SIS Mixers Mixer block 14 assembly was completed using two of the new goal posts, but they are unplated. The M.C. Davis order to get the coils wound will go out Monday, 8 Mar. Goal posts were heat treated and are useable, but should really be gold- plated to prevent their rusting. The plating lab should be ready for gold- plating by Wednesday, 10 Mar. *** Cartridge Construction Mark Harman spoke with Greg Morris and identified the discrepancy in the cartridge drawings that prevented us from proceeding with construction of our prototype split shell. Neil Horner continues learning how to construct the cartridges but spent much of the week preparing for the PDR. *** Mixer-Preamps Make Lambeth completed building two preamps using bodies modified to accept the bias cards. ACC will deliver the last preamp on Tuesday. John Payne placed a call to Sam Petty concerning the Cryo-3 HFET's before leaving for Garmish last week but never heard back from him. *** Cartridge Test System (CTS): The cartridge test system was used most of the week to test the first cartridge with OMT. A design review of Dan Koller's concepts for modifying the system to accept a cartridge and warm cartridge assembly was held and Dan will submit his concepts to the shop on Monday. OmniYIG told Kirk Crady that two simple pot adjustments will correct the offset errors on the YIG filters. We plan to do that in the future. *** Mixer Test System (MTS): Block 13/25/28 was rejected, and well-matched preamps (09/15) from a prototype mixer were cannibalized and placed on block 13. These preamps have imperial mounting holes, but we may have to use them to make schedule. The following lists mixer production status. Each number represents a mixer-preamp assembly: mixer/preamp_left/preamp_right: 13/09/15 - beginning tests (imperial mounting holes) 11/14/18 - tested, missing pole pieces, (imperial mounting holes) 12/21/22 - tested, now in cartridge test system 14/23/24 - assembled and ready for test 15 - no preamps available - used with load on input in cartridge. Alex Grichener has scheduled a design review for the mixer bias supply for 10 Mar. *** Automated LO: The LO group will deliver all components to us by 12 March. *** Software: I am increasingly concerned about software development and documentation. I am completing for John Payne an itemized list of projects requiring software support in both the Test System for the FEIC and the Band 6 Cartridge Group. We need someone to begin transitioning with Alex Grichener, who is scheduled to leave in mid June. The software for the cartridge test system has a timing problem and it takes many minutes of repeated keystrokes to set preamp bias. Alex Grichener hasn't been able to fix this: We really need Christian Holmstedt here to fix it. *** Band 6 PDR: We held a planning meeting on Wednesday and many people already have about 60% of their viewgraphs completed. I am working on the documents specified in the draft statement of work. *** Tasks to be completed last week: 1) Complete measurement of noise and sideband performance of cartridge with OMT and one mixer with other port loaded. Nearly complete. Dan Koller to finish data processing on Monday. 2) Complete a revised software development plan to include earlier releases of working software. Incomplete 3) Develop a schedule for documenting the measurement software. Incomplete 4) Complete designs for frame and loader for Cartridge Test System to accept cartridge with warm electronics. Complete. Parts are being submitted to shop. 5) Complete measurement of mixer-preamp 13/25/28. Complete. 6) Complete measurement of pattern measurement concept and write-up data and analysis. Uncompleted. Data recorded but write-up not complete. *** Tasks to be completed next week: 1) Complete measurement of noise and sideband performance of cartridge with OMT for both ports. 2) Provide John Payne listing of software development requirements 3) Complete measurement of mixer 13/09/15 4) Complete bias supply design review 5) Submit PDR reference to ALMA EDM 6) Complete measurement of pattern measurement concept and write-up data and analysis. ******************************************************************** Report from Kirk Crady 1. Prepared PDR slides for auto LO review. Format set; still need content for one/two slides. 2. Gathered quotes and specs for Keithley and Kepco bipolar current sources. Pricing falls around $2600-$3000 per unit. 3. Microtech 4-pin connector compatibility w/modulator verified. We have sufficient qty. in stock for sources planned. Cable still needs to be ordered, but Microtech has $300 minimum. MS-4-30 is $1.85/foot. We really only need about thirty feet. May want to look for other sources of 4-cond. shielded cable small enough for Microtech connectors. 4. Sent silkscreen for auto LO front panels to WWW Electronics for approval. Jeff has not responded. Will call next week, and set up meeting with Alex as well. 5. YIG filter offset memo to ALMA EDM. 6. Corresponded, received suggestions from Omni-YIG concerning filter offset. See task list for Added note with email response. The technique sounds simple, involves access to two pots, when there is time. 7. Reassembled old Agilent pads, checked, collected data. 8. Continued to work on mechanical layouts. 9. Began assembly of auto LO supply chassis. ------------- Next Week: 1. Finalize PDR information for auto LO presentation. 2. Work on completing auto LO technical report. 3. Determine supplier for modulator bias current. Kepco is slightly cheaper, but Keithley sounds as if it might be more useful toward extended functions envisioned by Kerr. 4. Finish mechanical layout for auto LO/sideband source plates. This should not take long to complete. 5. Available for cartridge testing from 2004-03-11 through 2004-03-19 ******************************************************************** Report from Gene Lauria IF Amps: Mike Lambeth has finished the assembly of two more amplifiers. He tested them for gain/phase match at room temperature, and they look much better than the previous batch. This confirms the importance of obtaining HFET devices from the same wafer with similar characteristics. We will cryogenically test them on Friday. The third prototype amplifier from ACC has not been delivered yet. John Payne called Sam Petty at JPL who is the lab director which possesses the coveted Cryo-3 devices last Friday. Sam never returned John's call. John was in Germany this past week for an ALMA meeting, and will try to reach Sam again when he returns to Charlottesville. Mixer testing: We have tested and reduced the data for mixer block #13. This mixer did not test as well as mixer block #12, and didn't quite pass spec. The noise temperatures are fine, but the isolation is questionable at some frequencies for the lower sideband. We flipped the amplifiers on the mixer block and found that the poor isolation flipped to the upper sideband. Today (Friday) we are going to test mixer block #13 with a pair of amplifiers which we have found to have the best match. This will determine whether the poor isolation is related to the matching of the amplifiers or may be internal to the mixer block. Also, I have been working on my presentations for the band 6 PDR coming up in April. What work will be going on this up and coming week: 1.) More mixer testing (mixer block #14 will probably be ready for testing). 2.) Band 6 PDR talks preparation. ******************************************************************** Report from Geoff Ediss Spent most of the week at meetings for, preparing presentations for or giving initial presentations in preparation for the band 6 PDR. Also reading the material for the band 9 PDR in two weeks. Helped Neil Horner dismantle the cartridge, move the mixer around on the OMT and rebuild the cartridge so that further testing of the OMT can take place. Continued to work on FEIC design questions, especially about the sensitivity of the far field range. ******************************************************************** Report from Alex Grichener A. PDR 1. Worked on the Power Point presentation for the software component of the PDR. B. SOFTWARE 1. Finished programming a routine that automatically closes the valve and shuts off the vacuum pump once the temperature of the mixer-preamp gets below a certain threshold. The routine just needs to be tested. 2. Further tested the new measurement sequence with the mixer-preamp test system. 3. Began investigating version control with WinCVS 4. Installed LabVIEW 7.0 Professional Edition on three computers (remains to be installed on the cartridge test computer) 5. Worked on documenting the LabVIEW software C. NEW MIXER BIAS SUPPLY 1. Integrated reed relays, Basic Stamp, and push buttons into the already bread boarded circuit of the mixer bias supply, and further validated the new design (and also tested for harmful transients resulting from toggling the reed relays). 2. Started to revise the documentation according to Tony Kerr's and Pan's comments. 3. Prepared for the design review. ********************************************************* TASKS FOR NEXT WEEK: PDR: - Finish the Power Point presentation for the PDR Software: - Keep improving the new measurement sequence by giving it more functionality and correcting software bugs - Further revise the Excel spreadsheet template (used by the measurement sequence on the mixer test system and the cartridge test system) according Dan Koller's and Gene Lauria's comments. - Work on documentation. - Begin coding error handling routines for the existing LabVIEW code. - Keep investigating version control and proper means of documenting LabVIEW software. New Mixer Bias Supply: - Program routines for interfacing the PC with the Basic Stamp (via serial port) - Finish remaining modifications to mechanical drawings and circuit schematics - Set up a meeting with WWW to layout a PC board ******************************************************************** Report from Dan Koller 1. Measured cartridge "Prototype 4" Polarization A on Monday. Processed data by Tuesday. 2. Designed a new "slide plate" for an improved cartridge loader. Held a design review. Discussed some with Paul Welle of the HAO group about their efforts in building a slide. 3. Loaded cartridge "Prototype 4" with same mixers now mounted on Polarization B and cooled down. Preparing for tests. ******************************************************************** Report from Neil Horner The magnet circuit components are back from Owego. Mixer block 14 assembly was completed using two of the new unplated goal post. I have spent considerable time on the PDR preparations. The M.C. Davis order to have the coils wound will go out Monday. The integration center is almost empty. I'm working with Gene Runion to get the upstairs conference room ready. Name: Skip Thacker IPT: RE LO Brief Summary of Work this past week: (Discuss progress, problems, issues encountered): We finished and shipped to Tucson the first of two band 6 LO assemblies for the System integration test. This system will be used for both the SI tests later this year and for Wes to test the LO Monitor and Control box and software. The second SI assembly will be delayed due to a DOA YIG.