[ Fasteners ]
[ Fasteners ]
Quick fastener solution for IRTF
The Dutch organisation TNO developed an adaptive secondary mirror for NASA ’ s Infrared Telescope Facility ( IRTF ) in Hawaii . Following a manufacturing error that was discovered during the integration phase in the Netherlands , TNO required an immediate fastener solution so they could proceed with the integration .
Text by Bumax
TNO turned to specialist fastener manufacturer BUMAX , which delivered critical fasteners to overcome the galling ( wear ) issues discovered in the assembly . Within 24 hours , BUMAX supplied TNO with a special variant of its high-performance DX 129 model , known for its excellent strength , ductility , and corrosion resistance , which solved the problem .
No delays critical “ It was critical that we had no delays ,” said Matias Kidron , Project Manager of
The adapative secondary mirror .
Space Systems Engineering at TNO . “ The next-day delivery of the screws was quite a feat and was greatly appreciated by our entire project team and enabled us to stick to our schedule .” The BUMAX DX 129 EPK fasteners used for this application were a special variant of the standard highperformance DX 129 product grade . DX 129 EPK benefits from even higher surface hardness , making them almost impervious to galling . DX129 EPK also has the advantage of lower surface roughness and a cleaner finish to the fasteners , which eliminates the need for any potential additional lubrication in applications where contamination or outgassing may be of concern .
Secondary mirror for a clearer view The NASA ’ s Infrared Telescope Facility ( IRTF ) is a 3.0-meter infrared telescope located at an altitude of around 4,200 m at the summit of Mauna Kea on the island of Hawaii . It is operated by the University of Hawaii under a cooperative agreement with NASA . Designed for maximum performance in the infrared portion of the spectrum , it takes advantage of the excellent visibility , minimal water vapour and low thermal background that characterise the atmosphere above Mauna Kea . The secondary mirror upgrade project was realised together with the University of Hawaii and the University of California Santa Cruz . The secondary mirror allows the mirror to correct for the distortion of the atmosphere to ensure the IRTF ’ s view of celestial bodies is as sharp and detailed as it can possibly be . BUMAX fasteners have been chosen for many scientific high-profile projects and products , including CERN , ISS , Opus Aerospace and the Einstein Telescope project . They have also been used on the European Southern Observatory Extremely Large Telescope ( ESO ELT ) in Chile , which required a high-strength corrosion-resistant solution .
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