1. Chris BoothUniversity of Sheffield 1 Target Status & Progress 1 st February 2006 Disappointingly slow progress over last 2 months. However, progress is being made. Few new results, but design “consolidation” – compatibility with ISIS, basis for future progress.

2. Chris BoothUniversity of Sheffield 2 Positive Developments (1) Regular meetings Sheffield/RAL/Oxford –Convert standalone test setup → working device. –Engineering design for support and withdrawal mechanisms. –Material & techniques compatible with ISIS vacuum. Support frame built up outside ISIS ready for tests. Cables prepared & laid into ISIS vault ready for beam operation.

3. Chris BoothUniversity of Sheffield 3 Positive Developments (2) Vacuum wall now ceramic + stainless steel (no aluminium or plastic!) Ceramic tubes made successfully in industry. New control electronics allows: –Lift to parking position –Triggered single-pulse drive. Optical position readout (see below).

4. Chris BoothUniversity of Sheffield 4 Negative Points Sheffield technician lost end of finger in domestic accident! –1 month off work. New stator bodies from Manchester Engineer –Promised November, >2 month delay … Result: we were not ready for ISIS start-up tests in January. Next chance June.

5. Chris BoothUniversity of Sheffield 5 Mitigation Relationship with Manchester Engineer has been “difficult”! –Agreed we take over all construction for future modules. –“Knowledge transfer” agreed in short term. –We will employ engineer/applied physicist (RA) to take over future design/enhancements. Time has been used to develop optical position readout system –Remote laser, fibres etc – outside radiation area. –150  m precision demonstrated. –Will soon replace Hall switch commutator with “software commutator” – increased versatility. (Avoids putting hybrid system in ISIS.)

6. Chris BoothUniversity of Sheffield 6 Position Readout – Yesterday’s results! Bounce off rubber stop! 2 A drive current

7. Chris BoothUniversity of Sheffield 7 Work in progress New magnet shuttles produced –One with ISIS now for vacuum tests. New coil assemblies due “soon”. 40 A driver circuits close to being ready. New microprocessor control & PC readout systems well underway.  Measure acceleration, reliability at 10 A.  Measure acceleration, reliability at 40 A.  Test cooling at 40 A, maximum operation frequency.  Probably need design iteration for ≥ 1 Hz continuous operation. We must be ready for ISIS test in June!