ADVANCED 940 LIGHT TABLE, PROPOSED IN-HOUSE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78B04770A001200060003-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 27, 2006
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: September 25, 1967
• Content Type: MFR

Approved For Release
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1PIC/T1)8/ -1039-67
25 Beptelber 1967
SUBJECT: Advanced 940 Light Table, Proposed in-house Development Project
1. BACKGROUBD
Practically all photo interpretation aperations at WIC rewire light
tables. As a consequence, light tables are among the most used pieces of
equipment in the Center, Although light tables have received considerable
developmental effort, both here and within DOD, there currently is not a
light table on the market truly acceptable to NM, The crux of the matter
is that, although a light table in outward appearance is quite simple,
internally it can be an extremely complex device with sophisticated variable
speed automatic film drives and electronically controlled, variable intensity
cold ligit sources. The 'bast" pramma7.04Ally available tables are currently
25X
built by1
iblovever, those are not very accept,.
able standards is not a simple mutter since is generally quite
able in their present configuration. MOdif these units to accept-
25X1
apathetic to external suggestions-to the extent that they will only accept
Fixed PA= contracts where they completely control the direction of the
product. There are many logical reasons for this attitude from the coppany'a
standpoint. What this essentially means to us is that they will accept those
modifications which nme in line with their company policy and reject those
that are not. As a result, our relationships with this company have been
less than satisfactory. Our attempts to find competitors who are both tech-
nically knowledgeable and that produce reasonably priced equipment have not
been successfUl to date. Toward this end, the Development Staff has recently
completed a development program to produce an Advanced 940 light table. The
Development program was not completely successful but it did result in the
realization that only a slight deviation from the familiar, rather simple
editing light table concept will be tolerated by the interpreters and that
certain items incorporated in the advanced liaht tables built under our pro-
vastly superior to the existingl25X1
'light table components. 25X1
is not amenable to incorporating these superior design features
new light tables. Therefore, an alternate approach must be found.
2. The following problem have been encountered in previous efforts
to develop the subject light table on an external contract.
a. equipment in not satisfactory, but it is the best
available at the price.
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Approved For Release2006/Orbill 370 1200060003-1
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SUBJECT: Advanced 940 Light Table, Proposed in-house Develoment Project
b.
to direction.
is very bard to work with and not responsive
c. The only control we have over
contract or not deal with them.
is to cancel
d. They have a monopolistic position...our attempts to find
(or even create) competition have not been successful.
a. This problem is intensified by the fact that even thoagh
their equipment is less than satisfactory they can be sold to DOD
and even to our own (MPTC) operational components--over our Objectionz.
This greatly undercuts our bargaining power.
f. to interpreters are essentially conservative and like
equipment they are used to. Any change from the familiar
concept will meet with considerable resistance at the opel;;;;;;;:i
level.
g. Competitive tables, though often better in many aspects'
have been too complex, too massive, too expensive, and, above all,
different.
3. 'Seeping these factors in mind, together with repeated suggestions
from the operational components that pressure be brought to bear onl 125X1
to greatly improve their product, it is recommended that an alterna
approach be taken and tha bi-kelopment Staff initiate an in-house project
25X1
to fabricate an improved (or equivalent) light table. An in-house
development is recommended since he vast improvement in light table's per-
formance could be demonetrated through relatively minor design modifications,
thereby simplifying our task of convincing the operational components and
the remainder f intelligence community to join together with us in puttinikx,
improve their designs. Describing the deficiencies
25X1
had little effect in the pest and will continue to
effect until it is vividly demonstrated in hardware how simple
and vast this improvement can actually be.
4. Analysis of this problem has resulted in our making the following
recommendations:
25X1
25X1
25X1
a. That we conduct the project in-house using a teen of avail.
able personnel from Operations Staff, Equipment Performance Staff, and
Exploratory Development L.lboratory.
b. That we procure the best existing 910 Light rble
or equivalent) and use this as a base from which to work.
.2 .
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25X1
Approved For Release
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SUBJECT: Advanced 940 Light T.,ble, Proposed in-house Development Project
e. That we nodify the microscope transport, maintaining the
current basic simple concepts but incorporating superior bearing
*We= such as the linear ear al 1 25X1
or the Dovetail Anti-Friction Bearing rroml
1 25X1
That we Change the nylon segmented file rollers to chrome
plated or stainless steel rollers.
0. That we replace the existing luni 25X1ngtion source
with &vastly superior source deyeloped under our Advanced 25X1
Light Table contract,
f. at we procure the nevi Aotorized reel brackets
under an exacting performance specification including specificationa
covering film speed reqpirements, maxi= noise levels, etc.
g. That we modify the electrical controls to simplify the operat-
ing procedures und place them in positions which are more consistent
with good !Inman Engineering.
h. That we ramie the exisling external gisking shades and
the internal shades developed aaa
I? their advanced
Ligw- table development.
1. That we add a staple, medhanically staple reel bracket adjust-
ing mechanisms to expedite reel bracket location when accommodating
various film this feature would be similar to
that incorporated bII In our advanced light table development.25X1
jo That we incorporate the vastly superior
film handling mechamisms developed for us.
25X1
25X1
ka That we retrofit these items in-house using variems
personnel currently available within the Technical Development Staff.
1. That we then test them operationally and Obtain acceptance
from in-house operational personnel for each improvement as we proceed
seggentialli.
25X1
5. When we have ascertained that we now have a superior table designl
engineering drawings and specifications will be produced Lw-hnume 1 dis-
tributed to indaatry for coppetitive bids, thus solving thel problem-25x1
Even ilia It lair bidder and is awarded the contract for production 25X1
units t viii have to build our table to *or speaipipAiooe.
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Approved For Release200649 fe770A001200060003-1
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SUBJECT: Ailvanded 940 Light Tale, Proposed in.
6. It appears that this project could be substituted for our current
17.68 project for an Avanced 94? Light T his, Project 02278, with a cop-
eiderable overall swings in cost resulting from carrying out the project
Enphonse4 In addition, some components may be salvaged from our previous
developments resulting in further cost savings." In order to proceed with
the implementation of this approath we would require approval to re-distribute
the fUnds, currently assigeed &Against #00278 in the 68 budget, into supply
end miscellaneous service contracts. We feel strongly that this Approach
is in the but interest of l7C; it will be cheaper and should result in a
better product with greater acceptance fron the operational components.
25X1
Chief, Exploitation Sys
Br
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