PRE-CONCEPTUAL DESIGN OF AUTOMATED SYSTEMS FOR SRF CAVITY ASSEMBLY AND OPTICAL INSPECTION*

The International Linear Collider (ILC) will require ~20,000 Superconducting Radio-Frequency (SRF) cavities. Improving the yield of high-gradient (>35 MV/m) cavities is currently one of the most critical issues for the ILC. LANL has been tasked to analyze SRF cavity failure and feedback the results to industry and academia. We have started a pre-conceptual design of an automated system for assembling and sealing the flanges on SRF cavities after high-pressure rinsing in a clean room. This should reduce particle contamination due to touch labor. We have also started a pre-conceptual design of an automated system to optically inspect precise locations (determined during testing) on the inner surface of SRF cavities for defects or contamination. This inspection will allow us to understand why a particular SRF cavity is substandard and potentially repair it. Using both automated systems should lead to field emission free cavities and higher yield of high-gradient cavities