Status report of TESPE

A small superconducting torus (TESPE) with six equal D-shaped NbTi coils is under construction. This magnet system is designed as a flexible experiment to study the system behaviour under different load conditions, to develop components, and to check computer codes used for finite element calculations. All double-pancakes are wound and four or them are equipped with strain gages. The first set of parts of the stainless steel coil casing has been manufactured successfully fulfilling severe requirements with respect to precision of geometry. These requirements arose from the necessity of applying electron beam welding technique which guaranteed minimum deformation of the casing. Difficulties with electron beam welding of the selected nitrogen streng0thened chromium nickel steel 1.4429 (equivalent to AISI 316 LN) have been overcome. Completion of the first coil is scheduled for early spring 1981. The vacuum vessel for the torus, cryogenic supply, power supply and safety circuit are installed and tested. The full torus is expected to get into operation late 1981.