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Further reading □ Overview □ 1 Logging System □ 2 Console Teletype □ 3 June-July 1975 □ 4 Settings □ 5 Maintenance □ 6 Errors □ 7 Simulator □ 8 Copy Tape □ 9 Defaults □ 10 Dumping □ 11 Logging □ 12 Aug-Oct 1975 □ 13 360 Graphics □ 14 Print, Oxford □ 15 Print, RL □ 16 Minutes Nov 1976
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⟶ ACL ⟶ Literature ⟶ Progress Reports ⟶ FR80 Operations :: FR80 Operations
⟶ ACL ⟶ Literature ⟶ Progress Reports ⟶ FR80 Operations :: FR80 Operations
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Further reading ⇓

□ Overview
□ 1 Logging System
□ 2 Console Teletype
□ 3 June-July 1975
□ 4 Settings
□ 5 Maintenance
□ 6 Errors
□ 7 Simulator
□ 8 Copy Tape
□ 9 Defaults
□ 10 Dumping
□ 11 Logging
□ 12 Aug-Oct 1975
□ 13 360 Graphics
□ 14 Print, Oxford
□ 15 Print, RL
□ 16 Minutes Nov 1976

Summary of Operations: Period 1 August - 31 October 1975

R Brandwood

9 December 1975

The period has shown an increase in activity, mostly in the use of hardcopy and microfiche. The 1906A spool is being well used. The 360/195 spool is now working and there are signs that work is building up. The number of users who have made use of the facilities is over 130.

1. SOFTWARE

III released Version 3 at the beginning of August. The initial copy was sent on a 9-track 800 bpi tape, which cannot be read, Some of the features included in the new version are:

  1. Changes to the Disc System Software - DEBU, TAPE DUMP RELOADER, DISK DUMPER and TAPE COPY programs have been enhanced.
  2. The FR80 displayer programs include monitor commands to provide a cutmark or image-postioning mark, and mirroring of image.
  3. The fiche print programs have the ability to extract titles from the data - up to 6 fields can be extracted.

Atlas modification have been quite extensive, The ones that affect operations are:

  1. Magtape errors print out tape order and tape status.
  2. Data errors print out failing word, record, and position of word in record.
  3. Monitor commands obeyed by Loadgo and printed on the teletype.
  4. Changes to allow 7 or 9-track data tapes to be read by the same program - this has reduced. the number of displayer programs for 16 to 8 and has eased operation considerably.
  5. The introduction of a SPEED of VECTOR monitor command, this will reduce the number of displayers by 2 and mean all displayers can now reside in the MON directory.

Logging System

Automatic logging program has been developed. All DISPLAYER jobs write accounting details to a disc file, this file is dumped to tape and processed on the 1906A. Print programs and simulator jobs have to be manually entered. At present the system is run in parallel with the manual logging, it is hoped to change completely in the New Year. One consequence of the logging system is a 10 second overhead for each job, and also a more accurate time of jobs - seconds rather than minutes.

2. HARDWARE

There have been no major faults during the quarter, although time has been lost due to minor faults.

2.1 Image Stability

During the August shutdown a modification was made to improve image stability. This has proved to be successful. Image sizes had to be re-established.

2.2 Hardcopy

Some trouble was experienced with intermittent frame advancing and in some incidents frame rewinding. A noisy component was changed, but design of the hardware means a rewind is possible if certain conditions prevail.

Drive belts have broken on a.= number of occasions. Rumour has it that OEM (manufacturers of hardcopy camera) have now modified new hardcopy units to have a double sprocked drive-belt modification to our camera are being investigated.

2.3 Microfiche

A number of occasions have occurred whereby the film does not feed into the supply cassette correctly, although it has proved impossible to recreate on demand.

2.4 16mm Precision Camera

Only one incident of note involved this camera, the cause is not known Film from the camera was continually out of focus. To rectify the situation the lens had to be repositioned manually.

2.5 Tape Drives

Faults still occur although the number has gone down, this is mainly due to 360 jobs now using 9-track, Other faults include a dry joint on 9-track, servo fault on 7-track and EOT lamps blowing on both 7 and 9-track together.

2.6 Monitor

There have been no faults with the monitor during the quarter. The request for a replacement monitor has still not been met.

2.7 Vacuum System

The solid state relay, which controls the selection of lines for microfiche or hardcopy and switches on the vacuum system, went unserviceable. No replacement was held on site. A small modification allowed the two functions to be switched separately, although the switches were located in different places. The replacement unit arrived after a month.

2.8 Processors

(a) 5010
A number of faults occurred during the period. A split rubber on the squeezee assembly left drying marks on the film, the whole assembly had to be replaced. The bleach pump had to be replaced. A series of ripped 105mm film was traced to a faulty lower roller assembly.
(b) Hardcopy processor
This processor is now 7 years old, and is no longer being manufactured. A similar processor is made by another company, this was viewed as a possible replacement but tests on the unit showed unacceptable flaws. Bell & Howell were contacted with a view to refurbishing the existing processor. They were willing if they could purchase the required spares. They found the spares could be purchased from the USA and delivery was 5 months. Standby arrangements have been made with Culham if required.
(c) Colour processor
Colour processing is still being done at the Photographic Section. The tape recorder used as a timing and instruction device has required attention on two occasions. The drying unit has also required attention. The chemicals used deteriorated during the hot weather in August causing the loss of two one-hour runs and 2 processes.

3. TABLES

The tables show the following:

  1. 1906A spool usage
  2. 1906A spool usage by 3-hourly periods
  3. Number of users
  4. Frame and time usage by camera per month
  5. Fiche usage - print programs 
TABLE 1         
1906A SPOOL USAGE         
                      AUGUST SEPTEMBER OCTOBER
WORKING DAYS             16     22       23
TOTAL NUMBER OF JOBS    404    498      680
NUMBER PLOTTED          383    477      657
NUMBER ERASED            21     21       23

JOBS BY CAMERA         

HARDCOPY                248    299      418
COLOUR 35mm              34     30       10
B&W 35mm                 41     56      118
COLOUR 16mm              15     16        7
B&W 16mm                 11      7        8
PRECISION 16mm           29     67       42
MICROFICHE                5      2       46
      
DESPOOLING     
    
NUMBER OF TIMES         134    180      181
MAXIMUM NUMBER PER TAPE  13     14       15
AVERAGE PER TAPE        3.0    2.7      3.7

TABLE 2  
     
1906A SPOOL USAGE BY 3-HOURLY PERIOD     
  
TIME                 AUGUST  SEPTEMBER  OCTOBER  
    
0000-0300               11     19         40
0300-0600               11      9         29
0600-0900               23     37         60
0900-1200               86     80        128
1200-1500               92    113        101
150O- 1800             108    124        135
1800-2100               56     80        112
2100-2400               17     46         75

TABLE 3       
NUMBER OF USERS       
1906A       
Total number of users   103   
Number using  HARDCOPY   70   
              CL16       11   
              BW16       13   
              CL35       14   
              BW35       23   
              PR16       28   
              MFCH       50   
360/195       
Total number of users    31   
Number using  HARDCOPY   26   
              CL16        0   
              BW16        3   
              CL35        1
              BW35        5   
              PR16        2      
              MFCH        7   

TABLE 4   FRAME AND TIME USAGE BY CAMERA         
August                   
                  No of Jobs     Time    Subframes  Frames   
                             Hrs Min Sec   
HARDCOPY.   Single    151       3.09                  1786   
            Many-up   158       3.28        2966       952   
35mm     Monochrome    43       0.45                   484   
             Colour    42       4.10                  1152   
16mm     Monochrome    29       0.50                  9573   
             Colour    18       6.09                 13903   
          Precision    23       3.53                 11053   
Microfiche            133       1.09                    66   


September                   
                  No of Jobs     Time    Subframes  Frames   
                             Hrs Min Sec   
HARDCOPY.   Single    255    6.28.49                  3108   
            Many-up   164    3.13. 5        4833      1430   
35mm     Monochrome    67    1. 7.42                   937   
             Colour    42    1.10.54                   512   
16mm     Monochrome    11    0.39.56                  5693   
             Colour    20   11.51.15                 19028   
          Precision    82    7.08.53                 44657   
Microfiche            133    9.40.32                   517  


October                   
                  No of Jobs     Time    Subframes  Frames   
                             Hrs Min Sec   
HARDCOPY.   Single    423    9.26.46                  4794   
            Many-up   132    1.42.46        2573       769   
35mm     Monochrome   158    2.20.55                  1846   
             Colour    29    4.29.40                  1052   
16mm     Monochrome    17    1.02.52                  7840   
             Colour     8    5.23.41                  9447   
          Precision   118   14.32.35                 97062   
Microfiche            319   13.56.46                   517  


TABLE 5
1906A Fiche

MONTH                 AUGUST   SEPTEMBER   OCTOBER
No of files             58         92        167
Total no of lines   219500     469000     750000
Average per file      3730       5000       4490

OTHER
No of fiche            60         200         50
lines              500000     2000000     440000
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