CIAX: Cassegrain instrument auto exchanger for the Subaru telescope

Tomonori Usuda; Koji Omata; Masami Yutani; Yasuo Torii; Yoshitaka Mikami; Tetsuo Nishino; Takeshi Noguchi; Tetsuo Nishimura; Shigeru Sawada

doi:10.1117/12.388384

16 June 2000 CIAX: Cassegrain instrument auto exchanger for the Subaru telescope

Tomonori Usuda, Koji Omata, Masami Yutani, Yasuo Torii, Yoshitaka Mikami, Tetsuo Nishino, Takeshi Noguchi, Tetsuo Nishimura, Shigeru Sawada

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 4009, Advanced Telescope and Instrumentation Control Software; (2000) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.388384
Event: Astronomical Telescopes and Instrumentation, 2000, Munich, Germany

Abstract

The Cassegrain Instrument Automatic eXchanger (CIAX) system for the 8.2 meter Subaru Telescope moves instruments between the Cassegrain mounting flange and stand-by flanges without manual intervention. Observation efficiency improves not only because of quick exchanges, scheduled or emergency, but also because of increased flexibility in selecting an optimum instrument for weather conditions or observation goals. Reliable and safer instrument exchanges are achieved by the precision mechanical positioning system (less than 0.5 mm) and an automatic connector system for electrical cables, optical fibers and fluid lines. Instrument down time due to connector/cable failure by human error is eliminated. Interfaces to the telescope flange are standardized for all five Cassegrain instruments (approximately 2000 kgf each) currently in use or under preparation.

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Tomonori Usuda, Koji Omata, Masami Yutani, Yasuo Torii, Yoshitaka Mikami, Tetsuo Nishino, Takeshi Noguchi, Tetsuo Nishimura, and Shigeru Sawada "CIAX: Cassegrain instrument auto exchanger for the Subaru telescope", Proc. SPIE 4009, Advanced Telescope and Instrumentation Control Software, (16 June 2000); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.388384

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