The optical bench is being made on the MAHO numerically controlled tooling center in the NOAO machine shop. Phoenix, a high-resolution infrared spectrograph, continues to progress rapidly toward first light next winter. John Stein, senior instrument maker, is shown just after turning the support ring for the foreoptics plate. The large hole to toward John is the detector access hole. The small hole at the bottom is one of the cooler access holes.
Users can request a specific blocking filter.
Ordering a new filter takes several months. Changing filters requires notice of at minimum several months. The Lyot wheel contains stops appropriate for the 2.1 and 4 meter telescopes.