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In October 1993 earth moving machines excavated a platform at the TNG site.
The following Spring work began to build containment walls.
| ![[Excavations]](14.gif) |
![[Walls]](13.gif) |
In June 1994 the 9-m high concrete walls were completed.
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July 1994: casting of the central telescope pillar, 6 m in diameter.
| ![[Pillar]](10.gif) |
![[Top of pillar]](1.gif) |
The 9.6-m high pillar is accessible from within. Before installing the
first pieces of the telescope, precise measurements of the co-ordinates of
its center were performed.
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The annex building and elevator structure were completed by November 1994.
| ![[Annex building]](11.gif) |
![[Rotation cylinder]](12.gif) |
Summer 1995: a lower cylindrical wall, 9-m in diameter, is being built around
the pillar
to sustain the rotating dome. Casting of the last sector of the bridge is
under way.
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October 1995, the first bulkier pieces of the telescope are mounted on the
pillar before dome construction. Here the hydrostatic bearing is being
fixed to the baseplate.
| ![[Hydrostatic bearing]](34.gif) |
![[Azimuth box]](33.gif) |
The azimuth box, the single heaviest piece, is lowered onto its bearing.
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100 carriages are fixed to a circular rail to complete the dome
rotating system built by THK (Japan).
| ![[Rotation device]](16.gif) |
![[Supporting beam]](32.gif) |
On top of the rotating system a strong circular beam is positioned, to
which the metallic dome will be fixed. The azimuth box is well protected to
face the coming winter.
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Detail of the rotating device.
| ![[Detail]](30.gif) |
![[Metallic structure]](15.gif) |
December 1995. Erection of the metallic structure of the building has begun
but the hard winter will put a stop to the works.
|
![[Metallic structure]](8.gif) | | | |
![[Structure completed]](37.gif) |
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Spring 1996. Assembling of the steel structure is completed.
Panelling with aluminium sheets will follow.
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