Ingersoll Machine Tools, in collaboration with the Giant Magellan Telescope organization, has officially begun the manufacturing and assembly of the largest telescope mount ever constructed in the United States. This 39-meter-tall precision moving structure, designed in partnership with OHB Digital Connect, will be a crucial component of the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT), one of the world's most powerful ground-based telescopes.

Ingersoll Machine Tools, known for its expertise in building large, complex, and highly accurate machine tools, has expanded its manufacturing facility by 40,000 square feet to accommodate this ambitious project. The newly equipped facility now houses the largest gantry mill in the nation, specifically designed to construct the GMT mount.

The 2,100-metric-ton mount will support seven of the world's largest mirrors, adaptive optics, and scientific instruments. Despite its size, the mount is engineered to glide frictionlessly on a film of oil just 50 microns thick, ensuring stability and precision as it tracks celestial objects billions of light years away.

The fabrication of this mount marks a significant milestone in the construction of the Giant Magellan Telescope, which is set to be operational in Chile by the early 2030s. The project not only highlights Ingersoll's role as a leader in precision manufacturing but also underscores Illinois' prominence in advancing scientific research.

The Giant Magellan Telescope, with its innovative design and powerful capabilities, is expected to be 200 times more powerful than today’s best telescopes, opening new frontiers in astronomical research.