Mechanical and Electrical Engineering Group

We have long experiences in design of neutron instruments and other science equipments. Together with the scientists we start the project from early beginning up to the first experiments and supported it continuing over the whole life time. Often we also do the technical project management. The design work we do by use of the CAD-system: CATIA V5 with VPM (database-system). 

During the years we collected a huge amount of knowledge in different design topics: Neutrons- and muons-instruments, neutron-optics, focusing mechanism, neutron-shielding, gamma-shielding, magnetically-shielding, detector-shielding, unmagnetisable mechanics, vacuum, cryogenic, glass, silicon, ceramic, plastic and concrete.

Some time ago the mainly calculations and analysis we did refer to strength. But more and more other topics asked to get optimized. First there was the use of high magnetic fields with the question of reaction forces, material saturation, neutron polarisation and guide fields.

Vacuum applications with sheet metal beam windows and other boxes with thin walls got the need to calculate even plastic deformations. By the help of FEM-analysis use with COMSOL Multiphysics®, Ansys 10.0 and CATIA GPS we are able to simulate many of the requested needs. Additional we calculate also different other physical models.

The use of high magnetic fields has a big influence to the equipments we built. Not only the system has to be checked if it works under this condition, there are more even problems of used items which have to be solved. For this purpose we have built the magnetization equipment which allows as studying magnetic influence on items and systems. This device could create a magnetic field of around 0.1Tesla within a test-space of 100cm x 40cm x 30cm.

Many neutron instruments use fast turning choppers or velocity selectors. To check the quality of the bearings or the weigh heavy we have equipments to do vibration analysis.

The calculation of plastic deformations needs the real mechanical parameters of the used piece. By help of a tensile test we are able to study this.

Our small production-workshop is located inside the SINQ-building. Since it is in the same hall as the neutron-instruments it allows us to support running experiments fast and very close with the requested items, sample holders or other needs. 

This workshop is equipped with standard tool-machines like: Milling, turning and drilling. We also do TIG welding there. Our specialized knowledge refers to fine mechanics, thin lead turning-pieces and casting of neutron absorber-pieces. We also have access to a well equipped central workshop at PSI.

We assemble complete neutron instruments and other science equipments starting by pieces or preassembled modules. We have a lot of experiences obtain to positioning systems like: Goniometers, translations, rotation stages, focusing mechanism, wormshaft gears, spindle systems and air cushion systems. Additional our knowledge refers also to: Fine mechanics, vacuum vessels, cryogenic equipments, beam shielding, fitting of neutron absorber materials, neutron guides and neutron optics. 

The assembly shop is furnished with different metrology equipments like: Theodolite, level and workshop measuring instruments. We do alignment of instruments and measurements of pieces and systems. If we need further equipments and knowledge there is a professional metrology group at PSI (Link zu GFA-metrology, http://atk.web.psi.ch/8842/index.html). We also have a magnetising equipments device we use for polarizer systems. In the neutron guide lab we assemble and repair guides and optics. Three of our mechanists have the permission of crane operation and use the two SINQ-cranes 60t and 10t frequently.

We maintain complete instruments and equipments as: Positioning systems, focusing mechanism, vacuum systems and fine mechanics.

On some of our disk choppers we change ourselves the bearings and heave them. The fastest we maintain revs up to 15‘000 rpm. A developed He3-cleaning device allows us to keep the purity of such detectors.

It is very important to keep experiments running. Many of the instruments and equipments have a very special design and spare parts are not possible to buy very soon. So we try to have the important pieces in stock to make sure a fault would stop the experiment only for a short period. If this is not the cause of course we try to do our best! 

We are specialized to repair our granite air cushion floors ourselves. If we have a surface problem we have several experience of lapping them and if the plates need stabilizing we fix them by use of injections.