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DFM Engineering, Inc.
1035 Delaware Ave. Unit D
Longmont, CO 80501
Phone: 303-678-8143
Fax: 303-772-9411
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Professional Credentials & Personal Interests
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Dr. Frank Melsheimer
President / CEO / Chief Engineer
fmelsheimer@dfmengineering.com
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University
of California - Berkeley
Doctor of Engineering
Degree
Mechanical Engineering
Design
minors:
Structural
Engineering
Aeronautical
Engineering
Operations
Management
Master of
Engineering Degree
Bachelor of Engineering Degree
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Dr. Frank Melsheimer
is the President and founder of DFM Engineering, Inc. with over
36 years of photonics experience designing, building, and testing
research grade telescopes, retrofitting and rebuilding older
telescopes and control systems. He works closely with customers
to determine telescope features, building and dome requirements,
mirror handling, and control room size and placement.
Dr. Melsheimer and
his team designed, built and tested over 85 astronomical telescopes,
numerous electro-mechanical optical systems, heliostats, beam
directors, satellite beam directors/trackers, Lidar scanners,
spectrophotometers, electrometers, space flight instruments,
and aircraft performance flight testing instrumentation.
Dr. Melsheimer, with
his team, has retrofitted over 27 older telescopes with major
structural and drive rebuilds incorporating the DFM Telescope
Control System.
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Dr. Frank Melsheimer has written multiple scientific papers
for the astronomical community, many of which are currently
quoted and referenced in today's marketplace and educational
institutions.
For example, Dr. Melsheimer presented an AAS meeting feature
paper titled: "A
Very Wide Field, Very Fast Telescope" as a study
of the U.S. Naval Observatory 1.3M telescope. The design performance,
optical fabrication techniques, and optical test results are
discussed in detail and the paper is referenced frequently.
In an engineering discussion documentation,
The Optimal Telescope, Dr. Melsheimer analyzes telescope
structural components such as: Steel
vs. Aluminum, Geometry,
Deflections,
and Pointing.
These, also, have been referenced regularly.
As a special credit to his integrity and thorough knowledge
of the astronomical community's quality requirements, Dr. Melsheimer
has written a very popular, comprehensive paper entitled: How
to Buy a Telescope for Your Institution. With his many
years of practical experience in the industry, he outlines the
necessary steps involved in purchasing a research-grade telescope
augmenting features such as: What
is a telescope?, Why
buy a telescope for your institution?, Cost
vs. Performance, Purchasing
Considerations, Quality
Assurance, and Service.
It is an excellent guide and safeguard when in the market for
a scientific instrumentation expenditure of such high regard.
Dr. Melsheimer's extensive technical experience is obvious
in his paper entitled: Comparing
Telescope Drive Technologies. He offers a plethora of
performance criteria with comparison charts. In this paper,
he investigates the various drive technologies and discusses
the advantages, disadvantages, and performance of these telescope
drive systems.
Observatory
Design and Construction, by Dr. Melsheimer is an excellent
guide strategically outlining the necessary criteria in planning
and constructing an observatory designed to house a research-grade
telescope. Dr. Melsheimer's extensive experience offers a pristine
perspective with practical applications coupled with modern
technology solutions to current observatory design obstacles.
He provides handicapped accessible features to meet current
standards.
Dr. Melsheimer addresses the necessity of efficiency in an
astronomical telescope by a remote user over the internet in
his paper, Internet
Telescope Performance Requirements. Consistently high
performance from the telescope, instruments, support facilities
and control system is required for successful real time direct
imaging. Dr. Melsheimer thoroughly outlines these determining
performance factors for research study.
Dr. Melsheimer has previously supervised the mechanical engineering
department, optical and mechanical shops at Lick Observatory.
He has been a member of many of the design review teams for
the Keck Telescope and has designed the Transportable Lunar
Ranging Station at the MacDonald Observatory.
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| Interests:
Active racer, instructor and crew chief in two Vintage Auto Race
Clubs, swimming,
travel, reading science fiction, studying
and speaking German, and German White wine connoisseur. Member:
AAS; SPIE; OSA |
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California
State University
Long Beach
Bachelor of
Arts Degree
University
of California
Los Angeles
Certified
Teaching Credential
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Kathryn C. Melsheimer
Secretary / Treasurer / CFO
kmelsheimer@dfmengineering.com
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Mrs. Kathryn Melsheimer
is the General Manager of all business administration at DFM
Engineering, Inc. with over 28 years of photonics experience.
She works closely
with customers to administer job contracts, supervise project
cost budgeting, scheduling, evaluation of shipping requirements,
insurance provisions and invoicing.
Mrs. Melsheimer controls
daily financial business operation matters, manages the DFM
Engineering, Inc. human resources team, and administers advertising
and marketing development procedures.
Mrs. Melsheimer has
supported engineering and aerospace departments with her expertise
in business data base programming, analysis and administration,
along with practical experience as an occupational vocational
instructor.
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Mrs. Melsheimer is
currently pursuing a Masters Degree in Business Administration.
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| Interests:
Active racer,
instructor and crew member in two Vintage Auto Race Clubs,
gardening,
travel, reading mysteries and historical
fiction, languages and church activities, Member: AAS; Colorado
Chapter of Business and Professional Women's Club, Longmont Economic
Council |
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Mark S. Kelley,
P.E.
Vice President of Engineering
mkelley@dfmengineering.com
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University
of Colorado - Boulder
Bachelor of Science
Mechanical Engineering
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Mr. Mark Kelley is
the Vice President of DFM Engineering, Inc. He is a Registered
Professional Engineer with over 25 years of photonics experience.
Mr. Kelley is instrumental
in designing, building, testing, and retrofitting telescopes
at DFM Engineering. Computer Control Systems developed and perfected
by Mr. Kelley are incorporated into many electro-optical mechanical
instruments manufactured and installed by DFM Engineering, Inc.
He specializes in
mechanical and software design and testing, instrument performance
with detailed documentation, electronic fabrication supervision,
and installation administration.
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Mr. Kelley works closely with customers in determining control
room specifications, computer requirements and implementation
and installation of DFM's Telescope Control System.
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| Interests:
Mountaineering, skiing, bicycling, photography,
music, Member: AAS; ASME; American Association for the Advancement
of Science |
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Ian Huss
Production Manager
ihuss@dfmengineering.com
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Boulder
Valley
Vocational Technical School
2000 Hour Certification
Technical and Management courses
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Mr. Ian Huss is the
Production Manager for DFM Engineering, Inc. with over
26 years of experience in the photonics industry.
Mr. Huss supervises all aspects of telescope and instrument
production. His expertise includes coordination of personnel
with project scheduling requirements, inspecting and approving
work from outside vendors, review of engineering drawings, providing
recommendations, performing machinist and instrument builder
craftsmanship as necessary.
Mr. Huss performs national and international installations
of telescopes, control systems, and mechanical hardware. He
provides in-house or on-site trouble shooting expertise for
customers as necessary.
Mr. Huss has received many letters of appreciation for his
installation skills and telescope operations training.
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| Interests:
Private Pilot, FAA rated aircraft repairman, Member:
Master Rated Pilot/Field Examiner-US Hang Gliding Association;
Technical and Flight Advisor-Experimental Aircraft Association
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