STATUS OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE KLOE DRIFT CHAMBER

A status report on the construction of the drift chamber for the KLOE experiment at the LNF DA Phi NE Phi-factory is given. Physics requirem ents, detector design performance and its key mechanical features and components are briefly reviewed. The program currently consists of (i) the preparation of final detector components, complemented by (ii) ex tensive tests of prototypes of critical mechanical parts (like the end plates) and the ''test construction'' of a 1:1 chamber prototype. The se two sub-programs are pursued in parallel. Single-component prototyp e checks include surveys of their shape and size, of accuracy of wire- hole drilling, measurements of their displacement or buckling under no minal load. The ''test construction'' is the debugging of mechanical a ssembly, survey and alignment of mechanics and of wire-stringing robot ics, the actual stringing of a sample 2000 holes drilled on the protot ype end plates, the measurement of electrical properties of strung wir es, as well as of their mechanical tension. These extensive tests have been successfully completed; they represent an effective hands-on tra ining of the construction group, and will allow a prompt and steady st art of the drift chamber wire stringing as all necessary components be came available at LNF.