Deck
The Deck is a ribbed and pocketed structure designed to support the various elements with the least expenditure of mass, maximum stiffness, maximum stability and lowest technological risk. It is machined in four parts from aluminium alloy 6061.
The spectrometer platform is a single part, carrying interfaces for the Spectrometers, the Spectrometer Pre-Optics and the Hexapod. It is bolted to the lower Deck which carries interfaces for the Thermal Strap Assembly, the Imager and the Input Optics and Calibration assembly plus some ancillary items. The spectrometer Platform side extensions are supported by two struts. The deck provides the stiffness between the Hexapod apeces, which, because it is finite, reduces the theoretical first frequency provided by the modelling of the Hexapod.
View of the deck from above (including the black legs of the Hexapod in the background). The silver plates are the mounts for which the components to fix onto the deck.
The entire MIRI SM was vibration tested at AWE. See picture below.
Pictures of the Deck below are of a very high resolution
The deck is designed and produced by the University of Leicester