Day 4 (still at the pneumatic launcher lab)

Today, started out by trekking from the shuttle drop off point to the pneumatic launcher labs. Its accessible using public transport, the bus stop being right next to the labs. BUT, I just love free transport.

And the walk's good, too. Crisp air, and its cool in the morning. Not many people, and there is scenery enough to enjoy the walk.

So when we got there, got down to business, and started setting up targets.

 Had to clean up and prepare targets in advance for next week, as the adhesive had to set and stuff. Its hard to clean up the adhesive, at any rate. The adhesive can't get to any of the holes in the target, as we need them clean if we are to bolt the target into place in the target chamber.

Seems there is drinking on the job round here. Grown men, drunk, operating a massive pneumatic chamber? Not a good sign. Just joking. They weren't drunk, though we were eyeing the alcohol. We are fallible, okay? No judging.

Yeap. Nice big round bottle of temptation. 

Started setting up the pneumatic chamber. There is some laser equipment to detect the speed of the projectile before it hits the target, in the antechamber of the target chamber. X-ray equipment too, as well as a high speed camera, to allow them to analyse the impact, and how the armour plate absorbed the impact etc. 

High speed camera, along with POWERFUL lamps to get clear shots. 

Began preparations. Sucking up air in the chamber, and sealing it airtight. 

Thats me pulling on one of two big sealant valves of the target chamber. 

Fired the shot from the safety of the control room. 

The control room, with the mates clustered around the computers controlling the whole process.

And this is our resident drill sergeant conducting firing. 

Lunch followed soon after, in the same canteen, reached by shuttle bus. The professor in charge sees us there, and greets us. The rapport between teacher and students is admirable, to say the least. Would like to be in such a class in the future. (though I already am, in JC or high school)

After that came the research. Had some specialised equipment to measure some specifics, and analyse the strength, density and other hidden properties of the different targets, as they were not made of metal only, but ceramic and other composites.

The entire machine. 

A close up, with the target below. Betwixt the microscopes, is a diamond mounted into another appendage that hits the target with a predetermined force. 

Drill sergeant operating the machine. In the right foreground, is the impact caused by the diamond. Sarge is measuring the depth and width of the impact etc. 

Then we pulled out the target from the chamber. Or what was left of it. The round punched through, right to the backing. (Backing is a another hunk of metal put before the target)

The hole is bout a finger deep, for perspective. 

So we left after that, as our time there had ended. Was sad to leave, cos I had tons of fun with the guys, and they were close. We'll see what we get to do next week.

Peace out