REPORT OF TRIP TO (Sanitized) D.C.. 7 SEPTEMBER 1967

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78B04770A001100020004-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 9, 2004
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: September 15, 1967
• Content Type: REPORT

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SUBJECT:
REFERENCE:
PURPOSE:
Report of Trip to
7 September 1967
AL-47-700428- 7 /
Copy U ;' of 18 copies
15 September 1967
Washington, D.C.,
Report of Telephone Conversation,
15 August 1967
Observation and Discussion of Problems Concern the Prototype
Briefing Print Enlarger (PAR 243A, Contract
DISCUSSION
1. In the morning a conference was held in which the items in the
reference telephone conversation were discussed in detail. The afternoon
was spent investigating problems on the Prototype Briefing Print Enlarger,
and a second conference was held to discuss what action, if any, might be
desirable or necessary in connection with each of the problem items below.
2. The following is a resume of the discussion and conclusions with
respect to each item.
a. Item 1 - Refractive Index Immersion Fluid
(1) The customer expressed strong preference for an immersion
fluid of his own formulation rather than the tetrachloroethylene supplied
with the machine. Customer experience indicates that their formula exhibits
less tendency toward air bubble formation in the gate. There was some un-
certainty with respect to the details of their mixture, but the concensus
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was that it was a half-and-half mixture of tetrachloroethylene and
trichloroethane. This mixture is similar but not identical to that
which the contractor has been recommending for 10, 20, and 40X Enlarger
use. The tetrachloroethylene which the contractor has been using and
supplying is stabilized with ethanol. That which the customer is using
is ethanol free to the best of their knowledge. customer
development engineer, believed that the air bubbles were "absorbed by
the fluid" better with their mixture. It may be that the mixture has
better emulsion wetting properties than the tetrachloroethylene.
(2) The customer was encouraged to use his own mixture as
long as he was satisfied that no emulsion deterioration was resulting.
The contractor stated that customer observations were of considerable
interest and that attempts would be made to learn more about the problem.
b. Item 2 - Fluid Injection into Gate
(1) In order for the fluid gate to operate properly, a,
sufficient quantity of refractive index immersion fluid must be injected
on each side of the film in the partially closed gate. The gate and its
associated hardware was designed to maintain an open pocket between
either glass and the film to facilitate this injection process. The
customer encountered a situation with curled film and with the top edge
of the film below the top of the gate. Because the curled top edge of
the film contacted the stationary gate glass, the customer was unable to
achieve proper fluid gate operation without manually restraining the top
edge of the film during fluid injection. This he was willing to do;
however, the slot width in the vapor shield reportedly placed a limitation
upon finger access and film motion. This led to the request in the refer-
ence telephone conversation for "redesign of the two metal plates on the
vapor shield, etc."
(2) An investigation of the above complaint was made. The
contractor's representative operated the machine under a variety of film
positions in the gate. Difficulty was encountered when the curled top
edge was positioned below the top of the gate. However, it was found to
be a relatively easy matter to circumvent the difficulty by restraining
the top edge of the film with the tip of the index finger. The vapor
shield slot was found to be wide enough to permit this.
(3) Further discussion showed that proper operation of the
fluid gate, including the elimination of bubbles, was considered of
utmost importance to the customer. Although it was agreed that the
customer can now operate the prototype as it stands, the contractor was
strongly encouraged to find a mechanical means of holding curled film for
proper fluid injection.
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(4) Although the contractor agreed that this was desirable,
it was pointed out to the customer that any redesign at this time might
affect delivery of the units in process. It was finally agreed that the
contractor would try to design a fix and have sample hardware ready for
try-out during in-house testing of the first production unit. A reason-
able delay in delivery of the first unit is to be expected and will be
acceptable. When it becomes feasible to do so, the contractor will inform
the customer of any cost and delivery changes made necessary by this
redesign. Assuming that the redesign will be successful, this effort
will include a retrofit of the prototype, serial number 001.
c. Item 3 - Larger Crank (Knob) on the Lamphouse
(1) I I suggested increasing the working radius of
the crank which operates the lamphouse-gate closing mechanism. The
contractor's representative explained and demonstrated that the crank handle
on the knob was designed to facilitate rapid motion of the gate during non-
critical portions of the closing and opening operation and that it was
intended that the knob be used as a hand knob during that portion of the
closing excursion which required greater control.
(2) I lagreed with that a larger knob 25X1
would be preferable. It was agreed that the contractor would look into
the matter, and if a direct substitution of purchased knobs could be made
without delaying delivery, this would be done.
d. Item 4 - Redesign of the Permanently Mounted Gate Glass in
the Lamphouse for Easy Removal to Clean or Replace
(1) This problem was discussed at considerable length. The
contractor's representative then demonstrated how this glass can be cleaned
in position. It then appeared that the customer's primary problem was
replacement, which apparently had caused scratches and pits in the glass.
A careful examination of the gate glass on the prototype lamphouse revealed
several vertical scratches about 1/16-inch long neatly arranged in a hori-
zontal row about 1/2-inch from the bottom edge of the glass. There did not
appear to be any mating scratches on any of the lens gate glasses. The
origin of these scratches is unknown. The immersion fluid nearly causes
them to disappear, and they are outside the usable field of the three higher
magnification lenses. In the final discussion, it was pointed out by the
contractor that redesign of the magnitude necessary to make this glass
easily removable would be costly in both time and money. Delivery of
follow-on units would almost certainly be delayed several months.
(2) It was further pointed out that there is no good bzi,sis
upon which to predict the life expectancy of these glasses. Intuitively,
one would expect several months or years of operation, barring accident,
without changing gates. It was agreed that a redesign of this item is not
warranted at this time.
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e. Item 5 - Redesign of the Condenser Lens Mounts to
Allow Easy Removal for Cleaning
(1) Considerable discussion and an examination of the Prototype
Briefing Print Enlarger condensers revealed that a reasonable amount of dirt
on the condenser elements will probably not constitute a bad situation. In
the case of the longer-focal-length projection lenses, it is possible that
large dirt particles on the condenser system surface nearest the gate might
be discernible on the easel. These surfaces are readily accessible for
cleaning.
(2) After considering the cost and delivery delay involved, the
risk of reversing some elements, the possibility of degrading condenser system
performance by going away from permanent precision mounts, and the possible
consequences of altering heat transfer characteristics of the existing, succes-
ful system, it was agreed that redesign did not appear desirable.
f. Item 6 - Redesign of the Two Metal Plates on the
Vapor Shield
(1) The customer suggested widening the slot through which the
film passes when being lowered into the gate to the printing position. The
purpose of this was to permit fingertip manipulation of the film upper edge
to facilitate the fluid injection process.
(2) It was pointed out to the customer that it is not desirable
to alter the slot width because of the possibility of adversely affecting air
flow over the film during the fluid drying cycle. Further, the real problem
is not the slot width, but rather to get the fluid into the gate and to get
the bubbles out under all circumstances. When this is accomplished, the very
occasional need to touch the film should not require a wider slot.
g. Item 7 - Flyaway Spare Parts Kit
I asked for the status of the kit for the Prototype
Briefing Print Enlarger. It is complete and will be shipped by 15 September
except for those parts which are due from Macbeth for the Photometer.
h. Item 8 - Parts for the RT-l2
also requested information on parts for the RT-12.
ACTION ITEMS
3. Contractor effort shall consist of the following:
a. Study design change to overcome the problem of curled upper
edge of film in the gate.
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If redesign appears feasible, the customer will be informed of any cost
and delivery changes effected by this redesign. Included will be a
retrofit of the prototype, serial number 001.
b. Investigate the availability of a directly interchangeable
knob (Item 3 above). If feasible, supply larger knobs on all undelivered
units, and supply the customer with a larger knob which he has agreed to
retrofit to the prototype, serial number 001.
concerning the RT-12 parts.
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4. The contractor shall deliver the Flyaway Spares for the prototype
Briefing Print Enlarger t
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