Here is a photo of the shadow of the panels, right before they were removed. You can see tha the gap is a little bigger on one side. The panels just could n0t be mounted in the correct position, so it meant that the panel tabs on the support needed to be reworked.
It also turns out that Caltrans is doing major road work on 168. Every time we go up and down, we have to wait about 20min for a "pilot" car to lead us around the crew.
Al is also relocating some of the counterweights to balance out the primary. It tuns out that the CG is only 3inches off, but at 30,000lbs, 3 inches means a lot of torque. Here is a monster tap that Al is using to mount the threaded rod into some 3" thick plate .
The panels have all been sadly removed, and they are all sitting in this box.
On Tuesday, the hard work began of drilling and tapping for the counterweights, and welding the new tabs. I had to get a burn permit from the Bureau of Land Management, and we have to keep this awesome backpack super-soaker around to fight fires. Al and Brian are working both ends of the telescope.
Here are the new tabs that have been fabricated.
Drilling through 3" of steel plate leaves a lot of shavings.
All the drilling and tapping is mostly done now, the tabs are all welded on, and Marius is now painting the saddlebags. The Photogrammetry needs to start next week, so we are scrambling to be ready.
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