The microengineering laboratory is a thermally controlled 100 metre2 clean environment facility. It is the UK’s leading specification laboratory for supply space grade (flight approved) diamond turned optics.
Summary of applications
The facility houses three high performance CNC machines, enabling micro part fabrication. These comprise a 5-axes precision micromilling machine, a microinjection moulding machine and an optical and contacting probe miniature co-ordinate measuring machine.
Kern Evo 5-axes micromilling machine
Evo Type HSPC2825, Machine Number 557. 3/5 axis CNC precision micromilling and drilling machine equipped with tool setting, auto tool change and camera.
Battenfeld 50 micro injection mould machine
Micro injection mould machine for small parts, plastic, metal or powders. Typical applications include production of micro fluidic mould components.
Tesa Viso co-ordinate measuring machine
This compact Tesa Visio 300 co-ordinate measuring machine has a granite structure to ensure the rigidity and stability required for any high precision measuring system.
The system uses both tactile and optical metrology capabilities with a volumetric capacity of 300mm x 200mm x 150mm with specified accuracy of 1.6um+4L/1000. The optical system has a x 6.5 magnification motorised zoom with a CCD colour camera and directional controllable light illuminations for micro components. The Tesa Visio 300 DCC offers to demanding metrologists all the functionalities they need for occasional or part series inspection here at Cranfield University.
Using the facility
The Surface Engineering and Precision Centre is an established supplier of optics and systems, and has produced numerous optics and devices for:
- ESA,
- RAL,
- NASA,
- UK ATC,
- Pilkington,
- AWE,
- Qioptic,
- Thales,
- ESO,
- Zeiss,
- G&H,
- Optic,
- Astrium,
- Boostec,
- SSTL,
- The National Physical Laboratory,
- Industrial programmes.
Delivered products are measured using fully traceable metrology systems.
