Procedure to Plug a
Plate
Prepared by Norman Blythe
Reviewed by Mark Klaene and Jon Brinkmann
Maintained by Gretchen Van Doren
Last modified on
The proper method to plug a plate. Plates are stored in numerical
sequence in the large storage rack along the south wall inside the
SDSS Support Building.
Cautionary Notes
Equipment Involved in
this Procedure
Procedure
CAUTIONARY
NOTES:
You must be properly trained to
accomplishing this procedure; see training
list.
TRIPPING HAZARDS are present. Clear the
general work area.
CRUSH HAZARDS are present. Be sure to allow
for enough room to accomplish the task.
FALL HAZARDS are present. There is a large
trench (5' wide X 6' deep X 15' long) in the cartridge elevator bay -
use caution when elevator doors are open.
ERGONOMIC HAZARDS are present, caused by
constant repetition involved in plugging. Take a break every 15
minutes, a minimum of 5 minutes, as well as exercises, and relax a
few minutes before resuming.
THIS OPERATION CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED BY ONE
PERSON; TWO PERSONS ARE REQUIRED IF THERE IS A HEAVY WORKLOAD. NOTE:
this procedure requires a lot of repetitive motion and so 2 persons
are desired.
SAFETY WEAR: (recommended)
rubber-soled shoes
EQUIPMENT
INVOLVED IN THIS PROCEDURE
Data cartridge; Location:
stored on racks inside elevator bay, plugging station, or mapping
station; Appearance: approx 4.5' dia X 3' thick., fiber optic
wire interior, plate top, protected sides, top, and bottom; nine
total; 400 lbs. each.
Manipulator arm; Location:
mounted on a rail both inside and outside, adjacent to the elevator
bay; Appearance: grey main body and double-pivot, articulated
fork (arm) with two tines; weight supported
Mapping station; Location:
mounted on the west wall; Appearance: metal table mounted on swing
arms below the window.; two laser heads attaached by expandable
cords; laser camera and mirror mounted in ceiling directly above
table.
Plug plate; Location: stored
in racks under work table on south wall ,or recently received freight
shipment; Appearance: flat aluminum, approx 4.5' dia. X 1/8"
thick, guide holes around outer surface, small guide tab on outer
edge, mounting hole in center.
Plugging station; Location:
free-standing; Appearance: large, grey, 2-standard mechanism,
with turn wheel to raise and lower cartridge clamps.
PROCEDURE: accomplish in
numerical order
- Raise the cartridge on the plugging station until it is about
half way to the top.
- Depress the brake (the handle sticking vertically upwards from
the crank), then turning the crank in any direction to flip the
cartridge over.
- Each plate is marked in groups of twenty holes; the fiber
optic wires are in bundles of twenty wires. Fibers should fit to a
corresponding group on the plate. Be sure no fibers are stretched
outside the corresponding marked area.
- Grasp the metal ferrules on the end of the fiber optic wire.
Do not grasp tightly the red optic wire.
This activiity should be demonstrated to the
technician at least once prior to execution.
- An additional eleven guide fiber optic wires (marked with
black tape around wire) must be plugged. Guide fibers have special
ends on them and will not fit into normal science holes. The guide
fibers and guide holes are numbered 1 to 11. Guide fibers must be
in specific holes, i.e., fiber #1 must be plugged in guide hole
#1, #2 in #2, etc.
- All 640 fiber optic wires must be plugged.
- Flip the cartridge to its right side up position.
- Lower the cartridge on the lift and visually check the topside
of the plate for missing and partially plugged (dropped) fibers.
- Replace only the rear cover on the cartridge (this is the one
that fits under the latch).
- Using the manipulator arm, pick the cartridge off the plugging
station and place it on the mapping station.
- Return the manipulator arm to its stowed position.
END OF PROCEDURE