051

Bruce Grim, Andy Bogdan and Boyd McNeil socialize around the "Big Scope" mount. 11 FEB 2002  Ron Ford image

052

Andy Bogdan, Ron Ford and Bruce Grim mount the bracket that will temporarily hold the 200 mm Brandt refractor on the "Big Scope" mount.  The refractor will be used to align the mount before the "Big Scope" OTA is installed. 14 FEB 2002

053

Bruce Grim makes sure the refractor mounting bracket in securely in place. 14 FEB 2002

054

The tube for the Brandt 200 mm refractor arrives. 17 FEB 2002

055

The tube for the Brandt 200 mm refractor disappears into the "Big Scope" Room where it will be used to polar align the "Big Scope" mount. 17 FEB 2002

056

With the Brandt refractor attached to the "Big Scope" mount Bruce Grim and Roger Butz work to balance the load. 17 FEB 2002

057             058            059
******
22:14:45 (Universal Time) Patrick Wiggins, Roger Butz and Bruce Grim enjoy first light at SPOC 2 (a hazy view of the Sun). All agreed that the mount exhibited buttery smooth motion in both RA and Dec (way to go mount designer and builder Bruce Grim!).  17 FEB 2002

060

Roger Butz gets another look at the Sun.  The refractor tube is about the same length as the "Big Scope" tube (but just a fraction of the width). 17 FEB 2002

061

Roger Butz, Bruce Grim and Ron Ford examine the newly arrived drive motors and electronics that will be installed on the "Big Scope".  01 MAR 2002

062

Newly installed RA drive assembly. 20 MAR 2002

063

Newly installed Dec drive assembly. 20 MAR 2002

064

Andy Bogdan and Roger Butz hold the Big Scope's end caps.  21 MAR 2002

065

Chuck Hards shows the placement of the aft caps cooling fans.  21 MAR 2002

066

Chuck Hards shows how the off axis cover will be installed as Roger Butz looks on.  21 MAR 2002 Ron Ford image

067

Bruce Grim, Chuck Hards and Roger Butz inspect the newly finished tube.  21 MAR 2002 Ron Ford image

068

Roger Butz and Patrick Wiggins inspect the tube's various ports.  21 MAR 2002 Ron Ford image

069

Companion System's Al Tiley, John Hansen and Chuck Hards with the tube.  21 MAR 2002 Ron Ford image

070

Roger Butz looks on as Patrick Wiggins and Chuck Hards check the fit of one of the access port covers.  21 MAR 2002 Ron Ford image

071

Andy Bogdan, Roger Butz and Bruce Grim begin wrapping the tube.  21 MAR 2002

072

Andy Bogdan and Roger Butz finish wrapping the tube.  21 MAR 2002 Ron Ford image

073

Patrick Wiggins and Roger Butz move the tube towards the door. 21 MAR 2002 Ron Ford image

074

The tube being strapped to the trailer.  21 MAR 2002 Ron Ford image

075

On I-215 and headed for SPOC.  21 MAR 2002 Ron Ford image

076

Roger Butz guides the trailer and tube toward the Big Scope Room's double doors. 21 MAR 2002

077

Bruce Grim, Roger Butz, Ron Ford and Andy Bogdan guide the tube into the Big Scope Room.  21 MAR 2002

078

The tube stowed and awaiting installation on the mount.  21 MAR 2002

079

Patrick Wiggins checking the alignment of the Big Scope mount.  02 APR 2002

080

Bruce Grim tweaks the azimuth adjustment of the Big Scope mount.  02 APR 2002

081                 082
***
Roger Butz, Bruce Grim & Patrick Wiggins (not shown) install the 40 cm (16") optics from the original SPOC telescope on the Big Scope mount. The scope will be used with CCD and video imagers (no eyepieces) once the observatory reopens in the spring.  The Big Scope itself will replace this temporary set up once its optics are received.  15 JAN 2003

083

81 cm (32") mirror blank for the Big Scope.  DEC 2003

084 to 090
Steve Dodds' work on the Big Scope's secondary mirror.  Steve Dodd's images.  April 2004
084

Curving.

085

Rough grinding.

086

Secondary mirror & test plate ready for polishing.

087

Polishing.

088

Ronchi images of the spherical test plate.

089

Testing the secondary with the test plate.

090

Finished secondary mirror with the test plate.

By mid 2004 it started to become obvious that the Big Scope, using the huge (and heavy) fiberglassed sonotube was too massive to use.  So SPOC superintendent Bruce Grim decided, with the backing of Chuck Hards, to switch to a truss tube.

091

The middle section of the Big Scope's truss tube.  29 AUG 2004

092

Bruce Grim drills frame support holes in the center section of the truss tube. 02 SEP 2004

093

Bruce Grim cuts out part of the mirror support. 02 SEP 2004

094

Bruce Grim checks the mirror support.  02 SEP 2004

095

The 18 point mirror support.  03 DEC 2004

096

Bruce Grim installs the dummy secondary.  03 DEC 2004

097

Bruce Grim "adjusts" the mirror support.  03 DEC 2004

098

Boyd McNeil lifts the truss tube into position.  03 DEC 2004

099

Patrick Wiggins bolts the truss tube to the mount.  03 DEC 2004

100

Boyd McNeil holds the mounting bolts in place as Bruce Grim installs counterweights.  03 DEC 2004