franchise-star-trek-tng-technical-manual1

7.6 REPLICATOR SYSTEMScreated by tractor beam usage. Additional structural reinforcementand inertial potential cancellation is provided bytying the tractor emitter into the structural integrity field (SIF)network by means of molybdenum-jacketed waveguides.Effective tractor beam range varies with payload massand desired delta-y (change in relative velocity). Assuming anominal 5 m/sec 2 delta-v, the primary tractor emitters can beused with a payload approaching 7,500,000 metric tonnes atless than 1,000 meters. Conversely, that same delta- \/can beimparted to an object massing about one metric tonne atranges approaching 20,000 kilometers.The original design of the new Enterprise showed only onetractor beam emitter, at the base of the Engineering Section'sfantail. At the time the location made sense, since the mainapplication of tractor beams is to tow other ships. As the showprogressed, however, we had more than one episode in whichthat emitter location was not visible in ship exterior scenescalling for tractor beams to be used. As a result, our visualeffects staff has "added" a number of additional emitters to theship. With hindsight, the new emitters do seem to make sensegiven the fact that the Enterprise sometimes needs to moveobjects that are not directly below and astern. Our televisionstarship, like its imaginary counterpart, continues to evolve.7.6 REPLICATOR SYSTEMSRecent advances in transporter-based molecular synthesishave resulted in a number of significant spinofftechnologies. Chief among these are transporter-basedreplicators. These devices permit replication of virtually anyinanimate object with incredible fidelity and relatively lowenergy cost.There are two main replication systems on board theEnterprise. These are the food synthesizers and the hardwarereplicators. The food replicators are optimized for a finerdegree of resolution because of the necessity of accuratelyreplicating the chemical composition of foodstuffs. Hardwarereplicators, on the other hand, are generally tuned to a lowerresolution for greater energy efficiency and lower memorymatrix requirements. A number of specially modified foodreplication terminals are used in sickbay and in variousscience labs for synthesis of certain Pharmaceuticals andother scientific supplies.These replicator system headends are located on Deck12 in the Saucer Module and on Deck 34 in the EngineeringSection. These systems operate by using a phase-transitioncoil chamber in which a measured quantity of raw material isdematerialized in a manner similar to that of a standardtransporter. Instead of using a molecular imaging scanner todetermine the patterns of the raw stock, however, a quantumUser control padPhase transition chamberService access ports7.6.1 Food replicator terminal (typical)