Yesterday, Calum prepped the new FirstContact application process (spray on).  Today, Jeff, he and (a little bit of) I executed the new technique after some vacuuming of the suspension.  This went well with little dripping (our biggest worry) observed.  We then split the chains (lower R0 not from lower M0) and prepped for spraying one more of the 4 exposed optical surfaces in the suspension.  Pictures posting to ResourceSpace soon.

Attached are plots of dust counts > .5 microns. From a plot of H0:PEM-LVEA_DST15_MODE it appears that the dust monitor in the clean room over BSC8 was disconnected for a short period of time.

In response to the shield grounding problem associated with the ring heater in-vacuum cabling, I cut the connection to the in-air D-sub backshell at the end of the cable attaching to the ring heater driver.  This cut effectively creates two portions of the system cable: an in-air shield (grounded at the driver), and an in-vacuum shield (grounded up next to the ring heater itself).  

Using this fix, there is no need to re-engineer the in-vacuum shield termination for the ring heater.

The troubled binary IO code (https://alog.ligo-wa.caltech.edu/aLOG/index.php?callRep=2420) was fixed by JoeB. Here is the not-too-accurate recap of things as I understand.

TMS was working fine in an old binary I/O regime.

Several days ago, there was a change in the binary I/O code. Unfortunately some typos were introduced in the TMS model (different typo from what Jeff wrote in the earlier alog) when it was copied from other model, creating some funny name channels that nobody could have guessed. This caused the first problem (i.e. not being able to turn the coil driver DAC input on), and was fixed by Joe by fixing the typo and then making an MEDM screen to control binary IO.

The same code change had other side effect. The whitening/dewhitening filters were in FM9 and FM10 in the coil output filter module in the old days, but in the new code they are standardized to FM2, FM6 and FM7 (FM9 corresponded to FM6, FM10 to FM7, and we used to turn FM10 on and off instead of turning FM2, that is an inverse filter of FM7, off and on). Because of this we couldn't match analog and digital, therefore we couldn't damp the mass after the coil output was enabled. This was fixed by Joe by running a matlab script to copy standard set of filters (Joe had to fix the script first).

Now that things are working, I asked Dave to make a safe.snap file so the model can automatically burt restore after restarts.

Acoustic door was installed today. Reiboldt-Mallonee will be onsite tomorrow to put backer rod and caulk in.

Electrical work is on hold until we get parts from Gerbig.

Since we have access to the suspensions in WBSC8, interest was expressed in attempting to cure the rubbing that was noticed on FMy.  Before chamber cleanup of the broken fibers began (since they will be removing the flooring to clean, therefore limiting access), I examined the suspension to see if I could identify the source of the rubbing.  It appeared to me that the EQ stops on the top of the top mass (L1) were in fact touching the mass.  Due to constraints from the tablecloth, these EQ stops will not accept a lock nut.  Additionally, the threads for these screws are not very tight and so do not provide any sort of locking of their own.  Therefore, I am not surprised that the rubbing seemed to get worse after the shaking incident as the screw may have rattled down even more.  I backed off both of these screws ~2 turns so as to be sure that they were free and clear.  Upon further inspection of the suspension, I noticed that the lower right (LR) BOSEM flag was rotated ~30 degrees in the BOSEM bore, and may have also been rubbing.  I rotated this back into nominal vertical position.  Jeff Garcia then began a round of TFs to check that the rubbing had been alleviated.

Jim and I installed vented hardware into the holes we tapped for the ACB work.  So no more dropping chips during strong HEPI motion.  We did not bore-scope the holes.

Jim & I checked and screwed in all the cables that hard hardware.  This was mainly to mitigate grounding possibilities.  All SEI cables except the Corner 1 GS-13 cable had hardware and are now secured.  No SUS cables had mounting hardware so pose no risk of this potential grounding short.

In order to receive a typo fix on all TOP driver BIO MEDM screens, I've svn up'ed the LHO userapps repo at the 
${userapps}/release/sus/common/medm/
level, and received changes to 

SUS_CUST_HXTS_BIO.mdl (For HAM triples)
        _BSFM_BIO.mdl (For e.g. FMY)
        _TMTS_BIO.mdl (For e.g. TMSY)
        _QUAD_BIO.mdl (For e.g. ITMY)

screens. 

The functionality / channels do not change with this update, only the legend indicating how each state sets the analog and digital filters.

An automated email alert was added to HAM-ISI testing tools. This alert is is triggered when long measurements start, and finish, on a given Unit.

Please email me if you want to be added to this list.

We removed the EQ stop structure and set the Genie under the TMS, so the weight of the thing is the same as in-vac again, and it's suspended.

We noticed that the we cannot damp, excite, nor move TMS.

Further inspection showed that the DAC and AI were working (10 volts when we gave huge offsets), but all channels were zero volt in the cable connecting the driver and the satelite box. When we connected the AI output cable to the test input of the driver instead of the coil input, we were able to move TMS.

It appears that the problem is somewhere in binary I/O.

It used to work. We've been damping TMS for months, but haven't done any actuation for the past two weeks or so as far as I remember. Something happened between now and late February. When it worked, I didn't have to do anything for the binary I/O to enable the coil driver after restarting model. It just worked (TM).

Performed a visual and electrical analysis of a failed cable used in the Transmon ISC cabling.

Cable serial number S1104079
Part number D1000223-v1, 216 inches

The cable exhibited multiple short circuits between individual conductors and between conductors and the cable shield.  Took the cable apart and found that some of the conductors had abrasion damage that resulted in failure of the dielectric.  Other conductors showed pressure induced cold flow of the Teflon dielectric.  Also, along with substantiating evidence of this damage, it is clear that each pin is not well sized and poorly constrained within the PEEK support of the connector body.  See the pictures for a better understanding.

File 380 shows abrasion damage
File 383 shows pressure induced cold flow of Teflon
File 386 gives perspective as to where the damage physically occurred
File 385 shows how the pin diameter compares to the hole diameter (aids in understanding mating problems)

Attached are plots of dust counts > .5 microns.

Dan, Vincent, and I measured the particulars of the SUS, SEI, and ISI cable shields feeding into BSC8.  In summary, there are two geophone cables that are showing anomalous grounds on the shields, but all other cables are fine.  The geophone cables are likely the same issue we saw in the end station, so Vincent and Jim are going to tighten the strain relief screws on the d-subs that serve the geophones, but this can't be done until tomorrow.  If this doesn't fix the problem, there will be some head scratching.

Measurements on the H2 SUS FMY in BSC8 were begun today at around 16:50 PST (23:50 UTC).

We made a checklist for serious clean-up and staged for an entry to BSC8. The repair arm, elevator and 5-axis table were covered with C-3 and swung out of the way (inside the cleanroom)so that we could get into the chamber. Travis removed the Quad lower sleeve and a pan of tools. Travis and I covered the remaining SUS structures and then documented the condition of the chamber, gate valve #3, ACB, Y-Beam manifold and various nozzles. Inspection showed debris (glass, metal, fabric fibers, human hair, ?Teflon, ?Viton, glove material) in the lower viewport nozzles and in all the beam tube bellows convolutions. (This is somewhat discouraging since these areas looked as bad as they did prior to in-chamber cleaning. Maybe we need to inspect and then vacuum our way out of the chamber starting at the furthest point where we find debris.A few pix attached.) In addition, we carefully inspected all uncovered flat surfaces including nozzle bottoms and ACB for left over tools, hardware, etc. On the upper shelf of the ACB, we found one free-range silver plated nut and one free-range stainless washer (By free-range, I mean unattached to any other hardware such as a bolt or screw. Pix attached). No hardware appeared to be missing from the ACB.

Mark L. and Chris will go in tomorrow morning and get the vacuuming and wipe down completed.