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Before field testing could begin, several finishing steps needed to be completed in the construction of the Solar Fire prototype. These included:
- Building a shutter system on a sliding track to control solar radiation through the cooking hole
- Covering vulnerable surfaces with sheet metal cladding in order to reflect stray radiation and eliminate the danger of overheating and combustion of structural components
- Devising a pulley system to allow adjustment of the reflector array to accommodate varying solar elevations
- Covering the primary and secondary reflectors with mylar to enhance reflectivity
- Adding a reflective back panel in order to protect the cook from any stray radiation coming from the reflectors
- Adding an indicator attachment to the reflector assembly that allows users to determine whether its angle is properly adjusted for solar elevation; this is done by ensuring that the wooden post casts no shadow upon its plywood base
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