RESEARCH SUPPORT
ELECTRONICS GROUP
Demand for Electronics support remained strong
during the year, despite the unexpectedly low requirement for SHRIMP
MultiCollector development. Maintenance activities accounted for
22.3% of human resources, administration and group support 14.5%, ASI
support 0.96%, with the remaining 62.2% devoted to development
activity.
Notable developments undertaken
included:
- Design of a precision, evacuated "Input
Node Switch Box" to facilitate evaluation and development of low
level Electrometers for the NG61 instrument and the
Finnigan company. (D. Corrigan).
- Four user configurable Data Acquisition
interface systems for geophysical Fluid Dynamics (A. Welsh and
others).
- Three integrated high performance Ion Pulse
Counting System (IPCS) for use on SHRIMP instruments and the NG61
mass spectrometer (A. Latimore, J. Lanc and N.
Schram).
- Ongoing refinement, safety interlocking and
Data Acquisition development for various high pressure apparati
within the Petrophysics group. (A. Forster and J.
Lanc).
- Fabrication, testing and calibration of
four tesla tamer © magnetic field probes for sale
to ASI, and progress towards completion of a further 4 probes. (J.
Arnold).
- Development and manufacture of a 4 channel
Salimeter for GFD. (J. Arnold).
- Considerable progress towards completion of
three FC3 Field Controller Units, for application to
SHRIMP II, SHRIMP RG, and the NG61 Mass Spectrometer. (J. Lanc
).
- Design, manufacture and testing of five
Sublimator Pump Controllers for the NG61 instrument (N.
Schram).
- Design, manufacture and testing of two
Filament Supplies for the EG&G Filament Degasser project. (N.
Schram).
- The completion of a range of smaller
development projects, including evaluation of Keithley 6430
electrometers (N. Schram), modifications and upgrading of AntPAC
hardware (A. Welsh), Noble gas extraction line automation (N.
Schram), and the fabrication of two Getter Pump supplies for GIG
(J. Arnold) .
Staffing
The group comprises 7 permanent Technical
Officers, including D. Corrigan who remained seconded to the group
for the year, whilst engaged in electro-mechanical design for the
NG61 Mass Spectrometer project. The group anticipates appointment of
two Trainee Technical Officers during 2002, as part of the
schools succession planning strategy.
Outlook
2002 promises to be an interesting year, as we
return our attention to the SHRIMP MultiCollector, and further
development for the NG61 Mass Spectrometer project. The profound
changes to costing and accounting envisaged from 2002 will present a
challenge to the group. We anticipate an initial period of
adjustment, followed by a long term, unpredictable effect on the
scope and nature of operations.
RSES
ENGINEERING WORKSHOP
We have had no large exciting projects this
year but have never the less been very busy. The year started with a
complete rebuild of Shrimp 1s source chamber due to a massive
oil dump in the works. Valther Baek-Hansen assisted John Foster in
this rebuild resulting in a much-improved machine.
We have lost Chris Morgan to Geophysical Fluid
Dynamics and he will not be replaced as we were one staff member over
strength due to the appointment of Andrew Wilson when he completed
his fitting and machining apprenticeship. We hope to appoint another
apprentice when circumstances permit.
The requests for workshop time from campus
users is still being met although with the joint RSES, RSPhysS&E
computer controlled Electrical Discharge Machine situated in RSPhysSE
workshop the work is being shared and because of the expertise
developed, drawing complex work from interstate.
We have had some success quoting for external
work and fitting it in with our school commitments and priorities.
This work is generally of an unusual or demanding nature. This is in
line with the schools new approach to funding.
Geoff Woodward built Jim Dunlaps new
helium line with Xiadong Zhang supervising and assembling. Geoff also
built the solar cell supports for Paul Tregonings Antarctic
project.
David Thompson built a new chiller for Malcolm
McCulloch with Les Kinsley designing and testing.
Andrew Wilson is building an
optically-stimulated luminescence lens and camera system for Nigel
Spooner and is working with Iain McCulloch on this
project.
Roger Willison built the supplementary coring
equipment for the trip to Indonesia sampling corals. This was for
Nerilie Abram and Mike Gagan. The trip went well with few
problems.
Chris Morgan completed the heat exchanger parts
for Geophysical Fluid Dynamics before moving onto his new position in
the GFD laboratory.
We are building a new larger and improved
filament degasser for Environmental Geochemistry and Geochronology to
a concept by Malcolm McCulloch designed by the workshop.
All of this is happening around the usual
emergencies, consumables, minor jobs and Shrimp multiple collector
development.