Achievable alignment accuracy and surface hardness of a large welded azimuth track

David R. Smith

doi:10.1117/12.669805

6 July 2006 Achievable alignment accuracy and surface hardness of a large welded azimuth track

David R. Smith

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 6273, Optomechanical Technologies for Astronomy; 627314 (2006) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.669805
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2006, Orlando, Florida , United States

Abstract

In the design of high precision wheel-on-track systems for large telescopes, the azimuth track presents a significant challenge. Generally, the track must be aligned very accurately to provide good pointing performance and must have high hardness to withstand the contact stresses. It is also advantageous, in terms of both performance and stress, to have a continuous rolling surface with no gaps. Such a surface can be achieved by using a welded track, but it is challenging to maintain alignment and surface hardness during the welding process. For future designs, it is useful to understand what practical limits have been reached during previous installations. The azimuth track for the Large Millimeter-wave Telescope (LMT/GTM) serves as an excellent example of this type of system. It is 39.6m diameter and has been installed, aligned, and welded on site. As of early 2005, it has been supporting the weight of the alidade, and some initial rotations of the structure have taken place. The achieved alignment accuracy and hardness performance are presented, together with lessons learned during the installation, welding, and initial use of the track.

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David R. Smith "Achievable alignment accuracy and surface hardness of a large welded azimuth track", Proc. SPIE 6273, Optomechanical Technologies for Astronomy, 627314 (6 July 2006); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.669805

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KEYWORDS

Telescopes

Metals

Large telescopes

Optical instrument design

Error analysis

Inspection

Tolerancing

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