Challenges and lessons learned The biggest challenge on this project was schedule. The entire package was designed in less than one month while Welch Mechanical Designs (WMD) was working full time on another project. The hardware was machined in approximately one month, and the final product delivered about 2.5 months after we were brought onto the project. This is the first project in which we implemented a new design philosophy. Typically, the instrument users want as many alignment adjustments as possible for each optic. The optical engineer wanted to remove all but the most essential optical adjustments for alignment. Recent improvements in machining technology that allow tighter tolerances in complex parts and our attention to detail on the component drawings helped make implementation of this new philosophy possible. The system has one axis of rotation at each beam splitter and focus adjustment at the photomultiplier tubes. Implementing this new philosophy resulted in a final design that simply bolts together, is easy to align, and remains stable during operation.    Photo of AROTEL Receiver

Photo of Langley receiver module to the left, my receiver design in the middle and the 16" telescope to the right