Assembly and test of the W7-X demo-cryostat

An overview is given on the status of the demo-cryostat project for the WENDELSTEIN 7-X stellarator. Construction and assembly of the prototype are finished, and the test period is near completion. The intention of this project was to get experience with design and construction of W7-X-components, as well as with assembly of this complex system. The goal is now practically achieved, and it could be demonstrated that the W7-X cryostat can be built with reasonable effort. Many of the solutions found can be adopted directly for W7-X, or are starting points for further improvements. A short description is given of the cryostat, its assembly, and of the most important tests which were performed so far.