MMT Conversion Gallery

The 6.5 m mirror blank on the hearth in the Mirror Lab several months after the casting. Note that the mold material is still entrained in the blank. (191 kbytes -- Photograph by Howard Lester -- July 10, 1992)

The 6.5 m mirror blank hangs in the mirror handling fixture, secured by 36 pads glued to its front face. All of the mold material has been removed from the blank, which is shown awaiting transport to the polishing lab next door. MMTO Director Fred Chaffee is seen at the bottom of the photo. (156 kbytes -- Photograph by Howard Lester -- July 1993)

A model of the new telescope and MMT building. The building has been modified to accomodate the new telescope. (116 kbytes -- Photograph by Howard Lester)

A model of the modified building. The large doors have been moved up and away from the building by about 6-feet. These modifications are scheduled to take place during May - August, 1995. (100 kbytes -- Photograph by Howard Lester)

A view of the back of the modified building showing the new doors and system of louvers which will be installed to improve air flow through the telescope chamber. (117 kbytes -- Photograph by Howard Lester)

The mirror cell and optics support structure, designed by Simpson, Gumpertz & Heger, Inc., under construction at TIW Fabrication and Machining, Inc. of Albuquerque, NM. (158 kbytes -- Photograph by Shawn Callahan)

The mirror cell moving at 55 MPH along I-40 west of Flagstaff, AZ on October 20, 1994, on its way to Votaw Precision Tool Company, Inc. in East Los Angeles for machining. (215 kbytes -- Photograph by Ed Mannery -- October 20, 1994)

The 6.5 m mirror blank with load spreaders attached, still in the lifting fixture in the Mirror Lab. The actuators that will support the mirror will be attached to the load spreaders. The polishing cell can be seen in the lower right. (54 kbytes -- Photograph by Howard Lester -- November 1994)

The mirror blank with load spreaders in the lifting fixture in the west bay of the Mirror Lab. MMTO Mechanical Engineer Shawn Callahan stands in the foreground. (377 kbytes -- Photograph by Howard Lester -- November 1994)

Two photos of the mirror cell taken at Votaw Precision Tool Company in East Los Angeles where it was being machined. (~80 kbytes apiece -- January 1995)

Two photos of the f/5.27 secondary blank upon delivery to the Mirror Lab. The 1.6 m blank of lightweighted Zerodur was manufactured by Schott Glasswerke. Dan Fabricant and Fred Chaffee provide a reference scale. (~100 kbytes apiece -- Photograph by Howard Lester -- March 1995)

A view of a test fitting of the vacuum head onto the mirror cell at TIW in Albuquerque. Note the man standing at the apex of the vacuum head. (98 kbytes -- Photograph by J.T. Williams -- April 1995)

A view under the mirror cell in its test jig at TIW. The ladder ascends into the "cone" below the Cassegrain hole in the primary. (81 kbytes -- Photograph by J.T. Williams -- April 1995)

The "gazebo" roof is lifted onto the enshrouded MMT in anticipation of the Summer 1995 building modifications. (98 kbytes -- Photograph by S. Parker -- June 6, 1995)

Off with the old -- the top half of one of the chamber doors is removed. It will be extended to accomodate the larger telescope and reinstalled. (125 kbytes -- Photograph by B. Hanson -- July 20, 1995)

An aerial view of the MMT taken during the Summer 1995 building modifications. Note that the structure for the new 'wing walls' is in place on either side of the chamber opening. The chamber doors have been removed and are neatly stacked in the parking lot. Part of the roof has been removed on the left side of the building. Note the circular structure on the roof of the Summit Support Building on the right. This will be the location for storage of the large aluminizing bell jar. (125 kbytes -- Photograph by J.T. Williams -- July 1995)

Touchdown! On September 27, 1995, the new stressed-lap began the rough abrasive grinding of the 6.5 m mirror blank in the Steward Observatory Mirror Lab. (100 kbytes -- Photograph by R. Angel -- September 27, 1995)

The nearly-completed aluminizing head on a trailer at TIW in Albuquerque. (30 kbytes -- Photograph by J.T. Williams -- October 12, 1995)

The OSS and mirror cell. (76 kbytes -- Photograph by J.T. Williams -- October 12, 1995)

The OSS and cell at night. (71 kbytes -- Photograph by Steve Criswell -- October 12, 1995)

The OSS and aluminizing head arrive at Ryan Field. (96 kbytes -- Photograph by Howard Lester -- November 8, 1995)

The aluminizing head gets unloaded at Ryan Field. (105 kbytes -- Photograph by Howard Lester -- November 8, 1995)

The dummy mirror and mirror transport box pass under the Rita Road overpass on I-10, headed for the Base Camp. There are four shots in this series:

1. dummy1.jpg The truck approaches from the East.
2. dummy2.jpg The truck passes under the overpass.
3. dummy3.jpg The truck heads West toward Tucson.
4. dummy4.jpg Another shot to the West

The aluminizing head seen against the foothills of the Santa Ritas. (22 kbytes -- Photograph by Craig Foltz -- July 2, 1996)

J.T. Williams and Matt Johns (Carnegie) inspect actuator attachment points on the dummy mirror. (50 kbytes -- Photograph by Craig Foltz -- July 19, 1996)

Underneath the dummy mirror. (52 kbytes -- Photograph by Craig Foltz -- July 19, 1996)

The mirror transport box atop a wide trailer. (50 kbytes -- Photograph by Craig Foltz -- July 19, 1996)

Inside the mirror transport box. (51 kbytes -- Photograph by Craig Foltz -- July 19, 1996)

On August 16 through 18, 1996, the Dummy Mirror was transported from the FLWO Basecamp to the Steward Observatory Mirror Lab and installed in the mirror cell. The following images document some parts of this process:

1. The dummy mirror leaves the FLWO basecamp on the large lowboy trailer. (61 kbytes -- Photograph by J.T. Williams -- August 16, 1996)
2. The dummy mirror is transfered to the air cart in the SOML polishing lab. The mirror cell is seen in the upper left. (78 kbytes -- Photograph by Craig Foltz -- August 17, 1996)
3. The dummy mirror in front of the mirror cell. (65 kbytes -- Photograph by Craig Foltz -- August 17, 1996)
4. The dummy is lifted from the cart in the SOML casting lab, in preparation for flipping (102 kbytes -- Photograph by Craig Foltz -- August 17, 1996)
5. On the way to vertical. (70 kbytes -- Photograph by Craig Foltz -- August 17, 1996)
6. The crew pauses for a Kodak moment. (80 kbytes -- Photograph by Craig Foltz -- August 17, 1996)
7. An unskilled laborer attaches a lifting lug. (63 kbytes -- Photograph by J.T. Williams -- August 17, 1996)
8. The inverted dummy is lifted by the rigging designed for lifting the primary mirror. (89 kbytes -- Photograph by Craig Foltz -- August 17, 1996)
9. Cleaning the dummy mirror after installation in the cell. (58 kbytes -- Photograph by Craig Foltz -- August 18, 1996)

A view of part of the underside of the cell with the support actuators in place. (91 kbytes -- Photograph by Craig Foltz -- August 18, 1996)

A view between the cell and the dummy mirror showing the attachments. (36 kbytes -- Photograph by Craig Foltz -- August 18, 1996)

A hard point installed in the mirror cell. (60 kbytes -- Photograph by Craig Foltz -- October 31, 1996)

The f/9 secondary on the polishing machine. The swing-arm profilometer is visible on the right (68 kbytes -- Photograph by Craig Foltz -- October 31, 1996)

The polished primary mirror, still in the polishing cell, under the test tower. (36 kbytes -- Photograph by Craig Foltz -- January 3, 1997)

The f/5 secondary on the polishing machine, awaiting aspherization. The 30 cm stressed lap is partially visible above and to the left of the blank. (53 kbytes -- Photograph by Craig Foltz -- January 3, 1997)

The opticians ready the tool for grinding the f/5 secondary blank. (38 kbytes -- Photograph by Craig Foltz -- January 3, 1997)

A 121 kbyte rendering of the complete OSS by George Morgan (SGH). Click here for a 249 kbyte gif of the same image. (February 10, 1997)

A 113 kbyte rendering of the complete OSS by Bill Kindred. The quality is somewhat superior to the renderings above.

Three pictures of the new Storage Shelter at the Basecamp. Each is about 30 kbytes. (About 40 kbytes apiece -- Steve Criswell -- August 6, 1997).

1. View from the outside.
2. View from the inside, looking east.
3. View from the inside, looking west.

Two pictures of the primary thermal control system blower. (about 40 kbytes apiece -- Craig Foltz -- August 13, 1997).

1. JT Williams provides scale in this view of the blower along with the filter system and heat exchanger that will be used in the Mirror Lab for primary mirror cell tests.
2. JT adjusts the throttle valve.

The final polishing run of the f/9 secondary test plate. After this run, the polishing of the test plate was complete. (55 kbytes -- Craig Foltz -- August 13, 1997)

The f/9 secondary and its polishing cell undergo final adjustments prior to polishing. (26 kbytes -- Craig Foltz -- September 18, 1997)

The 30 cm stressed lap to be used for secondary polishing sits above its calibration stand. (38 kbytes -- Craig Foltz -- September 18, 1997)

The mirror cell, tilted 33 degrees from zenith during dummy mirror testing. (50 kbytes -- Craig Foltz -- September 18, 1997)

Steve West inspects the chrome-plated f/9 test plate before the hologram is written on it. (38 kbytes -- Craig Foltz -- October 21, 1997)

Bryan Smith, secondary polishing whiz, and Tony Poyner, reflected in the f/9 test plate. (42 kbytes -- Craig Foltz -- October 21, 1997)

The mirror cell, with dummy mirror removed, awaits final installation of the remaining jet ejectors before installation of the primary mirror. (59 kbytes -- Craig Foltz -- October 21, 1997)

The mirror cell, dummy mirror and opticoated primary mirror, all in a line a few days before installation of the primary. (55 kbytes -- Craig Foltz -- October 21, 1997)

The lifting fixture atop the mirror atop the polishing cell's base. (68 kbytes -- Craig Foltz -- October 21, 1997)

Another view of the stack. (78 kbytes -- Craig Foltz -- October 21, 1997)

The lifting harness. (46 kbytes -- Craig Foltz -- October 21, 1997)

The vacuum pads before suction is applied. (69 kbytes -- Craig Foltz -- October 21, 1997)

The vacuum pumps have been turned on and the pads pulled down onto the mirror surface by the suction. (62 kbytes -- Craig Foltz -- October 21, 1997)

Writing the computer generated hologram on the f/9 secondary's test plate. (Lee Dettmann -- November, 1997).