Changes

I started working mainly on production this month. This involved learning the procedures for measuring, straightening, fusing, and painting the fiber bundles. Below are things I've learned are important to look for during production:

I started working mainly on production this month. This involved learning the procedures for measuring, straightening, fusing, and painting the fiber bundles. Below are things I've learned are important to look for during production:

'''Measuring:" The lab completed all rough-cut measuring of all the bundles this month! Kenny is the fastest at measuring. We found that one of the micrometers sticks at a point and is no longer in use.  

'''Measuring:'" The lab completed all rough-cut measuring of all the bundles this month! Kenny is the fastest at measuring. We found that one of the micrometers sticks at a point and is no longer in use.  

'''Straightening:''' Make sure the anchor screws for each collar are evenly tightened and tight enough to not become angled due to the tension. Also double check the 5x6 matrix before inserting the fibers into the PVC.  

'''Straightening:''' Make sure the anchor screws for each collar are evenly tightened and tight enough to not become angled due to the tension. Also double check the 5x6 matrix before inserting the fibers into the PVC.  

This month was spent almost exclusively on bundle production.  

This month was spent almost exclusively on bundle production.  

Fusing:  I have been fusing a lot with Keegan or Jon. Usually one of us is actually operating the fusing machine, and the other is measuring light guides, sanding the lips of the fuses, and measuring the final fuse joint. This is more efficient than just one person fusing. Just myself fusing it would take about 4 hours but with two people, it can take anywhere between 2.5-3 hours.  

'''Fusing:''' I have been fusing a lot with Keegan or Jon. Usually one of us is actually operating the fusing machine, and the other is measuring light guides, sanding the lips of the fuses, and measuring the final fuse joint. This is more efficient than just one person fusing. Just myself fusing it would take about 4 hours but with two people, it can take anywhere between 2.5-3 hours.  

I updated Jim's fusing procedure from a few years ago and put it on the wiki. I believe Keegan added photos to the procedure and updated formatting.  There were a few things that had to be specified from Jim's procedure. I mentioned the need to observe the pressures after starting the fusing unit.  

I updated Jim's fusing procedure from a few years ago and put it on the wiki. I believe Keegan added photos to the procedure and updated formatting.  There were a few things that had to be specified from Jim's procedure. I mentioned the need to observe the pressures after starting the fusing unit.  

Straightening: I've been straightening a bundle about once a day/every other day. It's been going well. I've helped Ann Marie plot the temperature data for the a few bundles to put into her Google Doc.

'''Straightening:''' I've been straightening a bundle about once a day/every other day. It's been going well. I've helped Ann Marie plot the temperature data for the a few bundles to put into her Google Doc.

Polishing: This month I learned how to polish. I've found that making small circles is the quickest way to polish a bundle. We have noticed that sometimes grit from the paper is getting underneath the cladding so we have been careful to reduce the occurrence.  

'''Polishing: '''This month I learned how to polish. I've found that making small circles is the quickest way to polish a bundle. We have noticed that sometimes grit from the paper is getting underneath the cladding so we have been careful to reduce the occurrence.  

There hasn't been any painting to do since the bending process has been stopped.

There hasn't been any painting to do since the bending process has been stopped.