Production Line

[Tom Droege <droege@wwa.com>]

Two more cameras have come off the end of the production line.  I now have
a total of eight 2k x 2k cameras completed and tested.  I have 7 more CCDs
and cameras to use them are coming allong.  There seems to be an endless
process to get a camera done.  It has electrical and mechanical parts to
assemble, and gluing and stringing of the shutter parts.  I spent all
afternoon just assembling the shutters and gluing assorted stuff in place.
Praise the Lord for 5 minute epoxy. 

I sent in an order today for 10 more CCD442As.  I don't know if I will get
them.  They have promised me one.  It seems that they have the usual
problem when you grade semiconductor parts.  After a while only good parts
come off the line.  Eventually one has to sell good parts at the low grade
price.  We are really getting close to $15,000.00 parts for $1,700.00.  

The engineering parts they send for nothing also work pretty good.  They
are clearly more noisy at room temperature.  But with our sky brightness,
we may be able to use them also.

Tom Droege