A careful lift

If you look closely at the above image, you should be able to see the guide ropes used to steady the centre section as it is lifted.

In the picture to the right, the centre section is lifted high using the crane while the engineers keep it horizontal with guide ropes.

The crane in the factory is capable of lifting up to ten tonnes loads and is easily capable of lifting the centre section which only weighs approximatley one and a half tonnes.

Here the engineers start to lower the centre section on to the yokes, being careful to ensure that it stays level.

Lowering the centre section on to the yokes is a very careful job and the crane can be operated so that it lowers the centre section in very small steps.

Trunnions protrude from the side of the centre section to form the altitude bearing surfaces that allow the telescope to move in a vertical (altitude) direction.

These bearings are also hydrostatic (same as the azimuth bearings) and therefore allow very smooth movement.

In this image the centre section is being guided on to the bearing surfaces located at the top of the yokes.

In this final image if you look closely you should be able to see the guide ropes that will stop the centre section from tilting while further work is carried out on the telescope.