5  Telescope Control System

5.1) Introduction.
5.2) New TCS.
5.3) Starting the New TCS system.
        5.3.1) New TCS Commands.
        5.3.2) Taking Dome Flats
        5.3.3) Opening the dome and dark hatch and Mirror covers. 
5.4) Estop 
5.5) Guiding.
5.6) Hand paddle GUI and telescope hardware hand paddled.
5.7) When things do not work properly.
5.8) Closing.

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5.1 Introduction.

In the fall of 2008  a new Telescope  control system by Ricard Treffers was implemented.
The GUI is by Richard Pogge.
This chapter describes how to operate the new telescope control system;
The telescope can only be moved via the MDM 1.3m control panel.
At some point in the future the telescope should be a robotic telescope.
The observer will spend most of the time in the observing room where the MDM 1.3m control panel
GUI,  MIS and data acquisition windows are located on mcgraw. 
With exceptions  to open and close the dome and the dark hatch (dark slide on 4Kinstrument).

5.2  New TCS.

The new TCS is a PMAC driven system and should never be turned off.
If it does get turned off the telescope RA, DEC, focus and dome will have to be homed.

5.3 Starting the New TCS system.
     

Before the Telescope GUI is brought up an xterm window needs to be started.

Once the xterm is brought up then the telescope server needs to be started. Type "telescope help". This will
give information about the telescope. To start the telescope type "telescope start".
This will start the telescope server and then the telescope control GUI can be started on McGraw.

The Telescope control panel is started on McGraw via the menu (press left mouse button in the gray background)
and click on the Telescope control icon. 
When the icon opens click on MDM 1.3m TCS. This will start the Telescope control panel GUI.  
Once telescope server and GUI are up an Initialize must be done so that the server 
and GUI can talk to each other. Once the Initialize is done in panel GUI  then the telescope can be issued commands. 
A Refresh maybe done at any time when the Telescope server is running.

Once the GUI is brought up the Estop maybe disabled.

The Server, Floor, Tilt, Pier, Estop and Limits in the GUI should all be Green .

5.3.1  New TCS Commands.

           All of the commands can be typed in the Command: window of the GUI if need be.

New 1.3 Meter Telescope Commands

New 1.3 Meter Telescope Opening, Closing and homing commands

Home  the RA,  DEC,  dome and focus if needed through the home button in the GUI.

5.3.2   Taking dome Flats.

           Dome flats

5.3.3   Opening the dome and dark hatch and Mirror covers.          
     
           Make sure the dome is at the home position (contact boxes lined up) and open the dome
           first from control panel in the dome. After the dome, open the dark hatch on the MIS. 
           If using the OSU filter wheel make sure the dark slide is pulled out.
           Once the dome and dark hatch are opened. On 'McGraw' click on the Mirror button on the TCS GUI.  
           This will open the motorized mirror covers in about 40 seconds.
5.4     Estop.

        Estop

        New Esop located on the new dome shutter control box in the dome next to the double doors. 

        For the time being leave the AUTO/MANUAL switch in the MANUAL position

         MAKE SURE THIS IS PRESSED AT THE END OF THE NIGHT !!!! WHEN PRESSED

        THERE WILL BE A RED LIGHT INDICATING THE Estop IS ENGAGED.

5.5 Guiding. 
The responsivity of the hand paddle must be changed before using the guider. 
I have found (Richard Treffers) that the following works:

tx paddle gain=.02 
When done using the guiding reset the paddle to a higher value. 
tx paddle gain=.1

5.6 Hand paddle GUI and telescope hardware hand paddle.

In the main GUI there is a panel button called paddle. This is the handpaddle GUI. The direction button is a press and release as this just does an offset. If the button in the sub GUI is held down it will give an error box.

Hand Paddle GUI

Hardware hand paddle. Continueous holding of any direction button will move the telescope in that direction.

hand paddle


5.7 When things do not work properly:

     5.7.1   First try all the steps in the chapter just to make sure that everthing was done correctly.

     5.7.2  If everything looks as though it was done correctly Please Call Bob,      
               phone number on the is on the cork board in the control room.

5.8  Closing up: Follow Appendix B in 1.3m manual.

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Updated: 2009 August 18 (Barr/mdm)