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The trigger system

Posted by Rezwan on Oct 14, 2009 at 06:09 PM
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The LPP team has been working to resolve an issue with the trigger system this week. The team assembled the machine last week, but did not have their first shot as they were unable to get the trigger system, which triggers the 12 switches on the capacitors, to function as expected.

The troubleshooting seems to be going well. I’m giving the crew their space to work. Not to be superstitious, but I don’t want to be like this guy.

Partially assembled

For your information, here is a picture of the trigger generator in an earlier stage of the assembly.

In the image below, you can see the trigger generator to the right.

Fully assembled

Here’s a view of the top of the machine, covered up with weights. You can just see the trigger generator behind the stack of boratron and bricks.

Note the orange wire running across the bricks, leading to the trigger generator. This is a fiber optic cable that connects the control unit to the trigger generator. When they yell “fire, “ they press a red button on the control unit, which sends an infrared signal through this orange wire to kick everything off.

Test shots attempted yesterday…

LPP’s Newly Assembled DPF Achieves First Shots and Pinch

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Comments

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There are (11) comments.

Did they try pointing at the trigger and yelling, “Let there be (IR) light!” ?

Posted by Brian H on 10/14 at 09:57 PM

Maybe a silly question and well past design stage but why so many switches? Wouldn’t one be more reliable?

Posted by willit on 10/15 at 01:45 AM

willit, AFAIK those are super-fast diamond switches able to handle the massive flows to and from the capacitors. It ain’t a matter of just turning something “on” and “off”.

Posted by Brian H on 10/15 at 03:03 AM

but they do. if 12 switches handle the current then they could be centrally locatedto be rather than to act as one switch with one operator instead of relying on a distributed system with lots of controls. my whole point was less is more sometimes. if the control if fundimentally necessary then by all means do it. simplicity usually works longer than convoluted systems. if it aint there it won’t break.

Posted by willit on 10/15 at 03:24 AM

Sounds confused, willit.

Rezwan,PLEASE keep us up to date. This feeding info through a tiny straw is egregiously frustrating.

Posted by Brian H on 10/15 at 01:56 PM

Actually, it’s not the diamond switch here. Apparently, they’re going with a different switch system. Once the guys have some time to sit and explain things to me, I’ll update the site on this. I’d rather let them get lost in their work, though, than pester them for details.

In the meantime, Brian, relax. What’s up with the demands for minute-by-minute updates? On this side, I hear that I’m putting too much info out there. “Do you need to describe every bolt we’re using?”

It’s like that movie “Annie Hall”, where the therapist is talking to both Woody and Diane in split screen. Therapist: “How often do you have sex?”
D: “Constantly! 2x a week!”
W: “Never! 2x a week.”

Some things need to cook before serving.

Posted by Rezwan on 10/15 at 02:16 PM

I’m happy for evey bolt that turns up here.

Posted by Henning on 10/15 at 05:49 PM

Heh. Not every bolt, but every event, anyway! Some clue about the nature of the trigger problem, and what ideas about fixing it, would be very interesting. Best guesses about how long.

Being so close in, you clearly can’t imagine what being on the other side of the continent is like!

Posted by Brian H on 10/15 at 05:55 PM