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New aerogel tiles for the detector

Another batch of JFCC aerogel tiles of index 1.015 has arrived! With this batch we also received a sample of 20 tiles of index 1.011. See the data sheet from the manufacturer for tile properties.

Tiles of aerogel 1.010 for the Kaon Aerogel Detector.

The 1.010 tiles are extremely fragile.

Handling the 1.010 tiles.

New aerogel tiles arrived at CUA for testing of its characteristics. They have refractive index of 1.015 and are extremely fragile! The tray with this refractive index will be a challenge to construct!

New tiles of aerogel 1.015 for the Kaon Aerogel Detector.

The 1.015 tiles are extremely fragile.

Box with some of the tiles that will be used for the 1.015 tray. There will be three trays in the detector, with different refractive indexes of aerogel.

Final machining and pre-assembly

The Kaon Aerogel detector machining is almost completed! Just a few parts are being machined, but the entire detector was already pre-assembled to check if all the parts fit together.

Some pictures of the pre-assembly of the detector are shown:

Kaon Aerogel Detector, diffusion box for holding the PMTs for light collection.

Kaon Aerogel Detector, two aerogel trays (in a total of three) for holding the different aerogel tiles.

Kaon Aerogel Detector, small parts (for holding PMT) being tested for the assembly of the detector.

Some additional pictures taken by Arthur during his visit in August

Kaon Aerogel Detector, diffusion box and two aerogel trays.

Kaon Aerogel Detector, top view of the detector, 7 PMT slots on vertical, 6 on top.

Kaon Aerogel Detector, Enhanced Specular Reflector material.

Kaon Aerogel Detector, the PMT shield, the mu metal, the 5" XP4500B PMT, and Silicone Loctite sealant.

Kaon Aerogel Detector, the PMT shield and mu metal assembly.

Kaon Aerogel Detector, all parts of the PMT assembly fit together!.

Checklist of the progress on the machining

The following checklists are an overview of the main parts of the detector and the progress on its construction. As it is going to be constructed one diffusion box and three aerogel trays, these list provide the status on the progress for each piece of all of the items.

Last update: July 22, 2012

Diffusion box

Qty.	Status	Part	Drawing
1		Cover plate	67165-00012 sh. 1
1		Attachment plate	67165-00016 sh. 1
1		Interface plate	67165-00018 sh. 1
6		Tube port cover	67165-00019 sh. 4
22		PMT outer shield	67165-00019 sh. 4
22		PMT outer shield end plate	67165-00019 sh. 4
22		PMT inner shield	67165-00019 sh. 5
2		Diffusion box vertical	67165-00019 sh. 5
1		Diffusion box top	67165-00019 sh. 6
1		Diffusion box lower	67165-00019 sh. 7
2		Diffusion box vertical bar	67165-00019 sh. 8
2		Diffusion box horizontal bar	67165-00019 sh. 8
22		PMT spacer	67165-00019 sh. 8
1		Diffusion box upper plate	67165-00019 sh. 8

(Legend: is ready and is being milled at the moment)

It is going to be constructed three trays (aerogel boxes). The following list includes the milling parts required for all of these trays.

Aerogel trays

Qty.	Status	Part	Drawing
3x2		Aerogel box vertical	67165-00020 sh. 3
3x2		Aerogel box horizontal	67165-00020 sh. 4
3x2		Aerogel box vertical angle	67165-00020 sh. 5
3x2		Aerogel box horizontal angle	67165-00020 sh. 5
3x1		Aerogel box bottom plate	67165-00020 sh. 5

(Legend: is ready, is being milled at the moment and is not milled)

Materials and pieces machining

The materials had been ordered by Dr. Marek. Almost all the structural pieces (aluminum pieces) was delivered on October 10th, at CUA. Paul and Michael started milling the first piece of our new detector on October 13!

The materials for the construction of the detector.

This construction is being conducting under a collaboration between the Nuclear Physics Group and the Vitreous State Laboratory group (VSL).

Ready pieces

As the machining process is going on, the first pieces of the Kaon Aerogel Detector are being ready! Paul and Michel are working at the CUA Machine Shop and the progress of the construction can be verified in the following pictures.

Pieces of the detector that are ready.

6x Tube Port Cover, to close the top ports when the optional PMTs are not being using.

2x Diffusion Box Vertical Bar, that will allow to hold the aerogel trays with the diffusion box

Interface plate and Attachment plate on the milling cutter. They are going to hold all the detector on a trail at the SHMS.

Some of the materials require the cut of large pieces, for instance, the side plates of the diffusion box and also the PMT's end plates. These cuttings are related to the pieces that will hold the PMTs in the detector. As the PMTs have an overall diameter of 5", holes with this dimensions were required in that material.

As a first step on the machining of these pieces, they were send to a company for a water cutting.

Material cutted by the water cutting, before precise machining.

All the material cutted by the water cutting machine. There are 2 side plates and one top plate of the diffusion box and also 22 PMT outer shield end plates.

One of the diffusion box vertical plate, cutted to the insertion of PMTs holding structure.

One of the PMT outer shield end plates, to hold the structure of the PMT shielding in the aerogel detector.

The following pictures show the staff working at the Machine Shop for the Kaon Aerogel Cerenkov Detector.

Staff from the Machine Shop at CUA, working on the construction of the detector.

Paul working at the Machine Shop, for the construction of the detector.

Michael milling pieces for the detector.