Centre for Sensors, Instruments and Systems Development

Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya

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Projects
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FAGOR Automation
Applied optics complutense group - Universidad Complutense de Madrid
CEIT
SnellOptics
CD6 - Center for Sensors, Instruments and Systems Development (UPC)
Economy and Competitiveness Ministry
ERDF

Project

Development of an industrial system for recording diffraction-polarization gratings to be used in encoders using a fetosecond laser

Principal investigator

Jaume Pujol Ramo [+info]

Summary

The project "Development of an industrial system for the recording of diffraction/polarization gratings for use in encoders by femtosecond laser (ECOGRAB)" aims to replace a manufacturing system that makes intensive use of chemical products by a cleaner and more efficient manufacturing system.

Automatic position coding systems (encoders) are critical optoelectronic devices in automated systems that require micrometric control over position in distances of the order of meters / centimeters, such as machine tools, robotic arms or high-performance scientific-technical instrumentation metrology. An encoder is basically a linear or angular displacement sensor whose output consists of one or more electrical signals. All modern equipment or systems requiring precise motion control require the use of encoders, one for each degree of freedom, which inform numerical control and regulators of the position, speed and acceleration of moving parts. Examples are innumerable: machine tool, robotics, automated industrial production processes, industrial metrology, micro-manufacturing techniques, etc.

These encoders work with two diffraction gratings: one fixed and the other moving, which form a Moiré pattern when illuminated with collimated monochromatic light. When one of the diffraction gratings travels with respect to the other, the optical intensity through the system varies periodically and this periodicity can be used to determine the relative displacement of one grating relative to the other.

Currently the manufacturing process of these networks is based on a lithographic process in large areas. The use of chemical elements in this process is very high, some of them potentially very polluting. The ECOGRAB project proposes to replace the photolithographic process with a process based on femtosecond laser free of chemical components and therefore more environmentally friendly. For this, a complete recording system focused on this application will be designed. This system will consist of the femtosecond laser, an optical system that ensures the dynamic control of the polarization of the beam and the correct distribution of energy on the surface to be recorded and finally, the control software. Also, the diffraction gratings will be designed and characterized and the corresponding optical encoder will be designed.

Partners

ASOCIACIÓN CENTRO TECNOLÓGICO CEIT-IK4 (CEIT)

FAGOR AUTOMATION, S. COOP. LTDA (FAGOR) [+info]

MINISTERIO DE ECONOMÍA Y COMPETITIVIDAD (MINECO) [+info]

SIMULACIONS ÒPTIQUES, S.L. (SNELLOPTICS) [+info]

UNIVERSIDAD COMPLUTENSE DE MADRID

External links

Applied Optics Complutense Group

CD6 - Center for Sensors, Instruments and Systems Development (UPC)

CEIT

Economy and Competitiveness Ministry

FAGOR Automation

SnellOptics

Extranet
CD6 Centre for Sensors, Instruments and Systems Development
Rambla de Sant Nebridi, 10  ·  08222  ·  Terrassa (Barcelona)