In this talk I’ll outline the process of getting a new experimental setup for nuclear physics off of the drawing board and onto the lab floor by discussing the installation of the Super Enge Split-Pole Spectrograph (SE-SPS) at Florida State University and the conception, installation and commissioning of the Silicon Array for Branching Ratio Experiments (SABRE), a next-generation silicon detector array for use with the SE-SPS. I’ll discuss all the steps involved, such as procuring funding, designing and ordering materials, hiring contractors for installation, creating a data acquisition system, and finally, successfully commissioning the system. The conception and vetting of a new system takes years and requires both careful planning and adaptability from everyone involved.
