The laser was forklifted up from ground level into the laser lab today! Thanks to Yeti for driving the forklift and to Jon Ray for arranging everything.
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- Rented forklift and volunteer driver Yeti enter the Colab facility.
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- Yeti pilots the forklift. (photo by Meg)
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- Squeezing in past the Youtopia trailer.
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- Gauging the length and positioning of the forks.
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- First attempt to pick up the laser. It wasn’t quite right.
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- Finding a better configuration of the forks to pick up the laser.
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- Second and final lifting of the laser!
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- View of the lift from in the laser lab.
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- Backing out onto the driveway to get a better angle on the target. (photo by Meg)
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- Backing back into the building after turning around. (photo by Meg)
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- The crate protecting the laser was only vaguely tacked together after initial inspection. The sides are still attached, but just barely.
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- The laser rises!
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- Meg taking a picture of Paul taking a picture of Meg …
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- Paul is up in the laser lab acting as spotter (and photographer). (photo by Meg)
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- Eyeballing the angle, getting ready to lift. (photo by Meg)
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- Getting close to the right approach. (photo by Meg)
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- Here it comes!
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- Squeezing into the room.
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- Easing the laser into place! (photo by Meg)
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- Retrieving the fork extender that didn’t come out with the lift.
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- There it is!
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- Sides and top removed from the crate. This is the back of the machine. You can see the big exhaust fan port in the center. The tiny gold ports with yellow labels are cooling water in and out, and compressed air in. To the right of that is a connector for monitoring the status of the water chiller.
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- LNT: debris from crate demolition.
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- The laser in (more or less) its final position in the laser lab!
I’ll add some of Meg’s photos (taken from downstairs during the lift) when I get them.
A few of Meg’s photos added here to fill in the gaps. You can see Meg’s full set on the Colab page on Facebook.