Optic instrumentation
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Nanometric positioning with piezo actuator and high stability strain gauges
19 June 2023
Many applications require long-term position stability, which relates to the notion of absolute precision over time. Until now, the long-term stability of strain gages (SG) for position measurement was questionable. Using its extensive know-how of strain gages integration and new instrumentation equipment, Cedrat Technologies has managed to demonstrate nanometric position stability of a closed-loop piezo-mechanism with integrated strain gages sensors. This technology opens a wide range of new possibilities for industrial, aeronautical, and space applications.
OPTITEC is a shining light of French photonics
19 June 2023
The south of France is home to a thriving optics and photonocs community. Belle Dumé talks to key players to find out the benefits of living and working in the land of light.
Picard Sodism pointing mechanism based on PPA40M-NM-SV
19 June 2023
PICARD is a French space scientific mission. Its objectives are the study of the origin of the solar variability and the study of the relations between the Sun and the Earth’s climate. The Satellite wassuccessfully launched, on June 15, 2010 on a DNEPR
launcher from Dombarovskiy Cosmodrome, nearYasny (Russia). The payload consists in two absoluteradiometers measuring the total solar irradiance and animaging telescope to determine the solar diameter andasphericity.
Point Ahead Mechanism for Deep Space Optical Communication Development of a New Piezo-Based Fine Steering Mirror
19 June 2023
The purpose of this paper is to present the development of a novel tip-tilt mechanism, with integrated optics, designed for the JPL Deep Space Optical Communication (DSOC) module of the upcoming Psyche mission (2022 launch). This paper presents the design, assembly and tests of the produced models. Regarding the design phase, an emphasis was put on the mirror calculations to ensure that the required flatness would be maintained after integration, and that the part would withstand the thermal/mechanical environment. The actual optical measurements performed after assembly are also presented. The qualification results for a new alpha-case removal process for titanium parts are presented. Tests results are especially interesting
regarding the temperature behavior of the mechanism, impact on the stroke, and strain gage sensor feedback.
Voice coil actuators for two MTG instruments
19 June 2023
While Cedrat Technologies has been active in space for more than 20 years with piezoelectric mechanisms, we have also been increasingly involved over the last few years in the development of magnetic actuators for space projects. In this paper, a focus is made on the case of magnetic actuators that are developed in the frame of the Meteosat Third Generation (MTG) project. The first one is the Scan Assembly (SCA) actuated by Rotating Voice Coil Motors (RVCM) for the East/West (E/W) axes and the North/South (N/S) axes developed in collaboration with Sener and the second one is the Voice Coil Motor (VCM) developed in collaboration with CSEM for the Corner Cube Mechanism (CCM)
