CONTRACT(Sanitized)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78B04770A002000020027-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 20
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 4, 2002
• Sequence Number: 27
• Publication Date: September 18, 1968
• Content Type: LETTER

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Declass Review by
NIMA/DOD
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Reference
(J. S. Govern me nt
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Contracting (fiver
Enclosed rare the second re3orts (one may each) o- ;roe ress and
ex...senditur'f: s of sub jec:t
any cuestxons r
tact the undersi+-npd.
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PROGRESS REPORT NO. 2
ADVANCED LIGHT TABLE
Report Period: 1 August 1968 to 9 September 1968
9 September 1968
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1. OBJECTIVES
The Advanced Light Table to he designed and developed under
Contract I Iwill meet the following objectives:
Table-top viewer with advanced features for film in widths
from 70mm to 9-1/2 inches
2) Simplified transport system with quick switching from
motor-drive to manual mode
3) Light-weight design for portability
4) Operation in both horizontal and vertical modes of film
5) Low cost due to a minimum number of parts and extensive
use of sheet-metal construction
6) Quiet operation to eliminate operator disturbance
7) Practical human factors design to permit the table to be
used for extended periods by an operator in comfortable viewing positions.
had a sched- STAT
uled plant shutdown from 1.6 August through 3 September 1.968, the report
period was arbitrarily lengthened to he more consistant with normal.
progress. During this period the. mechanical breadboard was completed
Sponsor Project Supervisor.
acility on 9 September 1968 and
reviewed the progress of the project to date. Additionally, a full-size
aluminum sheet-metal box was completed, closely representing the upper
light box portion of the light table. The box was tested for rigidity and a
decision was made to use thicker sheet metal in some areas to provide
additional rigidity and resistance to handling abuse. The project was
estimated to be approximateiyJ5 percent complete at the end of the
report interval.
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3. ACTIVITY DURING REPORT INTERVAL
3.1 Mechanical Breadboard
The mechanical breadboard, as shown in photographs 8319
through 8322, was completed 6 September 1968 just prior to the visit of
Ifacility. The unit was loaded with
a 500-foot spool of 5-mil thick film, and transport tests were conducted.
It functioned quite well and performed to specifications regarding film
transport and switching from manual to power drive.
3.1.1 Rewind. The 500 feet of film was transported in 40 seconds,
which is greatly in excess of the specification requirement of 500 feet
in 2 minutes. The rewind performance approaches that of a high-speed
rewind device and will reduce film rewind and handling time. It was
noted that the spools must be fairly well balanced or excessive vibration
occurs in the machine at this rewind speed. However, vibration should
not be any real problem with the completed machine as the transformers
in the base will act as a ballast.
The running tension adjustment was found to be important
during high--speed rewind to prevent loop throwing when rocking the
control. knob from one direction to another as rapidly as possible. With
moderate tension on 9-inch film, there was no tendency for loops to be
thrown in this extreme type of operation.
3.1.2 Manual Film Drive. The manual film drive worked well with
approximately 1/16 inch of backlash being observed on the circumference
of the 4-inch diameter hand-wheel for a shift from one direction of film
travel to the other. This is well within the stated goal of approximately
1/8 inch of backlash. A small amount of back tension supplied by the
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opposite motor, can be applied to the film during manual rewind to keep
the film from rubbing against the glass while it is being transported.
This tension will be controlled by a manual tension knob and will be
different from the running tension.
3.1.3 Noise Level. The breadboard utilized steel roller chain of
1/4-inch pitch for the film drive. When operated with steel sprockets,
the chain proved to be somewhat noisy. It is believed that changing to
nylon sprockets will reduce the noise to an acceptable level. Nylon
sprockets will b: tried in the, coming period; but if these are not saati.s-
factory, a change will be made to neoprene timing belts.
3.2 Prototype Light Box Structure
As shown in photographs 8323 and 8324, the upper structure of
the light table which holds the film transport mechanism and the lamp
assembly was constructed of sheet aluminum and is very close to the
final design. The gauges of the top and bottom portions were 0.060-
inch and 0.090-inch respectively. Twist tests were made to determine
the stiffness of the box and it was found to be essentially satisfactory.
However, further evaluation indicated that stiffer construction should
be used to provide a better mounting area for the plate glass top which
would prevent undue strain on the glass whenever the operator leaned
on the assembly. Consequently, a decision was made to increase the
material thickness of the top section of the structure to 0.090--inch
and the bottom section to 0. 10-inch. The additional thickness should
provide a greater safety factor for the case.
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The thick pads welded to the ends of the box provide maching
surfaces so that the sheet metal structure can be trued and the mounting
planes of the spindle brackets made parallel to each other within a few
thousandths of an inch. This concept provides the accuracy of a casting
with the lightness of a sheet metal structure and will make precision
alignment of the spindles fairly easy.
3.3 Tilt Mechanism
A preliminary design has been completed on the tilt mechanism
and final layouts are in progress. Ten seconds has been chosen as a
reasonable operating time to completely elevate the table from a hori-
zontal position to a 70-degree tilt angle. An appropriate motor size
has been calculated to accomplish this elevation time. There has been
some difficulty, however, in obtaining a motor and attached gear re-
ducer that will accomplish this operation in the required time; mosie
available motors are higher than the base structure of the light table.
Spring counterbalancing to reduce the motor torque requirement is being
considered.
A cold cathode light source has been delivered with attached
metal backing plate and proper transformers to operate the grid. The
goal of 2500 foot-lamberts is being specified for the grid. An electronic
dimmer will be constructed to check the dimming ratio.
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4. PROGRAM FOR NEXT INTERVAL
The following activity is scheduled for the next interval:
1) A revised layout will be made of the top portion of the lamp
box relocating the shade.
2) A new mechanism layout will be made to study the increase
space requirement of timing belts replacing roller chain.
3) A layout will be completed of the base including the belt
mechanism and location of electronic components.
4) A layout drawing showing the proposed location of controls
will be submitted to the sponsor for review and evaluation.
5. UNRESOLVED PROBLEM AREAS
5.1 Elevation Device Motor
In the elevation device, the problem is to obtain a motor with
suitable gear reducer that will provide an elevation time of 10 seconds
and Is physically small enough to fit inside the light table base structure.
5.2 Light Grid Dimming
The problem in this area is to determine the exact level to which
the grid can be reliably dimmed, considering all the variables that might
be obtained in the components.
ORAL AGREEMENTS ON TECHNICAL MATTERS
In the conference between Messrs.
I
regarding some minor technical points .
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on 9 September 1968, the following agreements were made
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6.1 Shade Location
It was agreed that the shade should be located between the
suggested that their usual practice of locating the shade below the
diffuser would be satisfactory as this location makes for a simpler
design; but after discussion, it was agreed that the specified location
would be retained.
diffuser and the glass as per the specification.
6.2. Lock On Movable Spindle
The method of film loading was outlined using one fixed and
one movable spindle head. This design is similar to that of the large
Eastman Kodak film handling tables. The movable head is spring--loaded
toward the fixed head thus providing all the adjustment for spools of
various sizes as well as for long-edge films. It was agreed to add
some type of a lock that will prevent the spool from accidentally slip-
ping off the movable head if it were jarred. This location would still
allow both spindles, at each end of the table, to be laterally shifted
plus or minus 1/8-inch to accommodate long-edge film. It was addi-
tionally agreed to look for some type of indicator that could be added
to the adjustment mechanism so that the mid-.position might be indicated.
6.3 Hand Wheel
It was agreed that the design of the hand-wheel knob should
be provided by the sponsor's human factors consultants and that
II
would provide whatever type of handle they specify, unless
there is some valid objection to the design in terms of cost or complexity.
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Photograph 831.9, Mechanical Breadboard Model of Advanced Light Table,
Manual Drive Mode
Photograph 8320, Mechanical Breadboard Model of Advanced Light Table,
Power Drive Mode
Photograph 8321., Mechanical Breadboard Model of Advanced Light Table,
Film Transport Mechanism
Photograph 8322, Mechanical Breadboard Model of Advanced Light Table,
Control Box (Includes all Functional. Controls)
Photograph 8323, Prototype Light Box Structure for Advanced Light Table,
Lid Closed
Photograph 8324, Prototype Light Box Structure for Advanced Light Table,
Lid Open
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