4.4 The Polar Axle

The polar axis is made of three different pieces, a polar disk, conical casting, and a cast end plug and axle. The disk is a 26" diameter 1.250" thick mounting flange that was part of the LOX loading system from a Titan Missile base near Chico. A cone shaped casting found in a scrap yard near Orland, and a casting for the south polar bearing axle cast at the CSU, Chico foundry. The three pieces were bolted together to form a conical shaped polar axis, Figure 4.4.1a. The south bearing shaft was initially machined to mate with the light post stand. The south polar bearing shaft was left over size, figure 4.4.1a, so the final size could be machined concentric with the disk. The inner 16" of the disk was cut out and used for a torque tube mount. A lip was machined in the 26" disk to accept the polar axis cone's mating surface.

a  b

Figure 4.4.1 The polar axis assembly is shown bolted together prior to final machining 4.4.1a. 4.4.1b shows the polar axle mounted in the lathe for machining.