Mechanical features of the OzPoz fiber positioner for the VLT

Peter R. Gillingham; Stan Miziarski; Urs Klauser

doi:10.1117/12.395411

16 August 2000 Mechanical features of the OzPoz fiber positioner for the VLT

Peter R. Gillingham, Stan Miziarski, Urs Klauser

Proceedings Volume 4008, Optical and IR Telescope Instrumentation and Detectors; (2000) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.395411
Event: Astronomical Telescopes and Instrumentation, 2000, Munich, Germany

Abstract

OzPoz is a multi-fiber positioner which will feed Nasmyth spectrographs on one of ESOs VLT unit telescopes. Its concept follows that of the positioner for the two degree field facility on the Anglo-Australian Telescope. Thus its fibers will be fed from prims housed in buttons which attach magnetically to steel focal plates; a robotic system will position the buttons; and the plates will be interchanged so one can be re-configured while the other is gathering starlight. However, OzPoz has a number of novel features, most notably the use of a pneumatically operated gripper which relies for its accuracy and friction free rotation on air bearings. The robot motions also employ air bearings, with vacuum preloading. The mechanism which exchanges focal plates has been carefully designed to ensure it will survive the maximum likely earthquake on Paranal without significant damage.

Citation Download Citation

Peter R. Gillingham, Stan Miziarski, and Urs Klauser "Mechanical features of the OzPoz fiber positioner for the VLT", Proc. SPIE 4008, Optical and IR Telescope Instrumentation and Detectors, (16 August 2000); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.395411

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