STATUS REPORT ON THE (Sanitized)PRODUCTION OF 1540 LIGHT TABLES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78B05171A000400030083-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 11
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 7, 2005
• Sequence Number: 83
• Publication Date: November 20, 1970
• Content Type: MFR

Approved 0 Release 2005/06/23: CIA-RDP78B0O1A000400030083-9
NPIC/TSG/RED/SDB-053-70
20 November 1970
AT
AT
SUBJECT: Status Report on the
Tables
Production of 1540 Light ST
1. At present, this project is in the phase of pre-
acceptance testing of the first article production light
ST
for the purpose of preacceptance testing. The first visit
took place from 28 October to 2 November 1970; the second,
11-13 November 1970.
2. On 5-8 October 1970 0 was visited to review progress ST
of the project. At that time tangible progress was limited
to layouts and drawings, quantities of hardware received from
suppliers, and wiring harness subassemblies. Delivery of the.
tables was scheduled to begin the last week in October, and
= was queried as to when they would be ready for preaccep-
tance testing. 0 was also advised that they should have
completed their own acceptance test procedure (ATP) and be
satisfied with the results before inviting government person-
nel to review and test the first article.
personnel in
October, during which they were asked when the table would be
ready for government ATP and again prompting that
perform their own ATP before a government visit. Finally,
Declass R pew"NS a 2005/06/23: CIA-RDP78B05171A000400030083-9
 Approved0 Release 2005/06/23: CIA-RDP78B 1A000400030083-9
AT
AT
AT
AT
AT
advised that they were ready for a visit on 28 October
and had performed their own ATP. Representatives of IEG, IAS,
DIAAP-9, ESD, and RED travelled to
arrival, the ATP was successively put off a few hours on the
29th, until the next day on the 30th, and finally until the
afternoon of the 31st. The immediate question on arrival that
was, "Is the table ready?" Answer: "Yes."
Question: "Did you perform a complete ATP satisfactorily?"
Answer: "Well--partially." It was subsequently discovered
that 0 had finished assembling the table only an hour before
our arrival, a very minimum of testing had been performed,
and the government was going through the ATP together
admitted they had taken a calculated
risk in inviting our presence--and lost.
ST
ST
4. The ATP performed on 31 October uncovered major
faults in the optics carriage motion and drive, excessive
noise in the elevating and tilt mechanisms, and improper
tracking of 70mm film. Several minor faults were discovered
such as improper and inconvenient operation of cover locks,
inconvenient optics mount lock screws, and glass viewing
surfaces not paralloI. That evening the list of problems was
Approved For Release 2005/06/23 : CIA-RDP78B05171A000400030083-9
 Approved0 Release 2005/06/23: CIA-RDP78BOO 1A000400030083-9
AT
AT
reviewed and discussed. Again,
was advised to complete
the table and perform their own ATP satisfactorily before
inviting the return of government personnel.
5.n the interim between owa;ng visit.;,
C~1Crmine
several contacts were made with to progress
ands readiness for a second visit.
0
contract monitor was to precede any other government person-
nel so as to predetermine readiness for testing. Again,
0
was advised to complete their own ATP.
6. The contract monitor was advised of readiness for a
second visit on 11 November. On that date the table sub-
stantially met the requirements of the ATP, but in certain
major subjective aspects it was marginal or unsatisfactory.
Freedom of movement of the optics carriage in the Y direction
and excessive lost motion and looseness in the motorized
drive for the carriage Y direction were unsatisfactory.
Several of the minor faults discovered during the previous
visit had been uncorrected. The discrepancies were discussed
with 0 personnel, and 0 requested that the PI's be brought
out so that they could discuss some of the more subjective
aspects with them.
7. On 12-13 November the table was subjected to a care-
ful and thorough ATP and operational evaluation. It was con-
firmed that the optics carriage Y-drive and motion was unsatis-
factory. Furthermore, the optics mount tended to drift down-
ward from an original position after a weight had been placed
Approved For Release 2005/06/23 : CIA-RDP78B05171A000400030083-9
ST
ST
ST
 Approved0 Release 2005/06/23: CIA-RDP78B0 1A000400030083-9
AT
on the mount, and the optics mount would not translate low
enough so as to allow focus by the
0
Measuring Macroscope.
The Y direction carriage motion had too much backlash or
lost motion when locked up and supposedly immobilized; the
backlash tended to increase with use. Also, it was deter-
mined that the translation speed# of the optics mount was
different in the X and Y directions. All faults discovered,
both major and minor, were discussed with
Ta'
0
8. Problems with parts and component suppliers were
surfaced that indicated a real problem with the delivery
schedule. These problems seemed to indicate a slippage in
delivery even though
0
was still saying they would be on
schedule or very close to it. As of 13 November, only seven
tables were in varying stages of assembly and waiting for the
delivery of necessary parts. However, many stands were assem-
bled and many subassemblies ready.
Specifically, a supplier of film drive castings and
idler bracket die castings in Eugene, Oregon is not producing
according to expectations or promises. Forty of the film
drive castings are expected to be completed by 16 November
with shipment on 25 November. This is sufficient for ten
"'Pee led
tables only, and it is Pxp eet& to be a critical item. De-
Approved For Release 2005/06/23 : CIA-RDP78B05171A000400030083-9
 Approved0 Release 2005/06/23: CIA-RDP78B0 1A000400030083-9
AT
AT
fault here will force " to resort to sand castings, which
can be produced rather quickly, but at extra cost.
As another example, the supplier of the optics ring
mount, a machined part, produced some 450 of these items.
Of these, about 37 were acceptable and 413 unacceptable. The
supplier cancelled out because he was losing too much money.
0
must now resort to their second source of supply. Pro-
duction rate of these parts could be something like 150 per
week beginning in two or three weeks. Thirty-seven of these
parts supply a like number of tables. If these parts are not
supplied in quantity by 1 December, a very serious problem
results and the schedule of 145 tables by early January 1971
cannot be met.
In addition to these two citations, there were at least
four other supplier problems of similar or less seriousness.
9. With respect to the contractual requirement of 145
tables by early January, the following conjectural delivery
schedules should be considered:
Week Beginning 22 29 6 13 20 27
Tables Delivered 5 21 29 30 30 30
5 20 33 43 43
Approved For Release 2005/06/23 : CIA-RDP78B05171A000400030083-9
 Approved0 Release 2005/06/23: CIA-RDP78B0O1A000400030083-9
AT
AT
on
SUBJEC 4 Sta us r epor
T 1
It is apparent that unless sufficient quantities of all parts
are delivered before the week beginning 29 November, delivery
of the required number of tables becomes very questionable.
Indeed, producing 43 or 44 tables per week is very question-
able. However, when suppliers start producing as promised,
assembly and production of the tables will probably proceed
at a surprising rate.
10. On 17 November a telephone conversation with
indicated that several of the minor faults had been corrected
with most other corrections to be completed by 21 November.
Three major problems exist: (a) the downward drift of the
focus mechanism, (b) the difference between the optics car-
riage X and Y motion speeds, and (c) the backlash or lost
motion in the optics carriage Y drive. With respect to (a),
-]is looking at the A g clutch that is supposed to lock
the focus mount in position. Replacing
this clutch may cause
a supply problem. The second problem, (b) above, is consider-
ed to be a change-in-scope. feels that the present motions
are in spec. To make X and Y speeds equal will require re-
design so as to provide separate feedback systems for both
X and Y. Design cost for this modification is estimated to
Cost to include the modification in the tables is
ST
ST
ST
Approved For Release 2005/06/23 : CIA-RDP78B05171A000400030083-9
 Approved0 Release 2005/06/23: CIA-RDP78BS'1A000400030083-9
AT
estimated to be $100 per table. With respect to (c) above,
0
feels that this is a clutch problem in that the clutch
was initially out of backlash tolerance and loosens up with
use. The manufacturer of the clutches has been contacted
and believes they have a fix. However, delivery and in-
stallation of a new clutch is expected to take at least a
week and probably more. This also will probably affect the
delivery schedule.
Project Monitor
Distribution:
Original - Route & File
1 - Contract File
1 - SDB/RED/TSG/NPIC
Approved For Release 2005/06/23 : CIA-RDP78B05171A000400030083-9
ST
 Approved Release 2005/06/23: CIA-RDP78BV 1A000400030083-9
64, 7.o%vl tlzl- 03W I*,- A/
,v1e1-e-&.er4te,.--44 -~~ -Cee- -
d~z~' r r