I have prominently marked all adjacent parts with red and green paint to simply assembly.
Physical assembly entails unpacking the coffin containing the base and the two towers. Each tower is slid into its pocket in the base and the bolts that had been securing the coffin top to the base are each slid through the holes through each tower to lock the towers in place. These bolts do not need to be fastened in place – friction fit is enough. However, it is advisable to have the bolt heads located on the bridge side of each tower to avoid the other end of the bolt protruding into the space where people are walking, potentially causing injury.
Next the open-close wing is slid on to the top of its tower followed by the wing with the hinge. I constructed the wings so each could be slide off the base however, this is not strictly necessary. I have permanently glued the wing on the open-close side so it cannot be removed. The hinge side is still removable, simply to make the parts less unwieldy and easier to pack.
Once all the parts are in place, each of the six turnbuckles need to be hooked into their respective end hooks.
Next all wiring can be connected.
Finally, the NDM should be “fine tuned” BEFORE attaching it to an adjacent module, in the following order:
- Adjust the up/down height turnbuckles on each side of the towers so the track on each side of the opening is roughly the same height above the floor.
- Adjust the turnbuckles on either side of the towers that move the towers in and out until the bridge closes snugly but is not tight.
- Adjust the turnbuckles underneath each wing until the track is level across the top.
- Fine tune steps 2 and 3 as necessary.
- Fine tune step 1 so the overall height is correct above the floor.
When the NDM is attached to adjacent modules some fine tuning of steps 1 through 3 above may be necessary. When all is done, the most critical test is that the bridge will open and close smoothly, fitting snugly but not tight when closed and that there are no “ski-jumps” anywhere in the track. This needs to be re-checked when adjacent modules are attached as forces can be imparted on the NDM to move the bridge closing out of alignment. The good news is that, once all fine tuning is complete and adjacent modules are attached, I have found that additional adjustments are rarely required, if at all.
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| lining up one of the wings to slot into the centre section |
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| almost assembled |
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| the wing in its assembled position; the turnbuckle underneath is to take the strain off this "overhang" and to make it level |
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| see the brass latches which lock each wing into position; note the Anderson power poles which have not yet been connected |
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| the bridge as it is lowered into position |
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| the bridge fully lowered; note the notch in the bridge so it aligns precisely with its adjacent end; the arrow is there to remind operators which end lifts up |
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| fully assembled and ready to attach to adjacent modules |
To be continued...