Micro-Actuators and Implementation

Miniaturization of devices inculcates the need for small-sized actuators. Actuators in the size of a few centimeters are not uncommon but miniature devices need ones that are less than a few centimeters in dimension. Market for such actuators is rather small and information pertaining to their implementation is limited. This paper talks about various actuators and their actuation mechanism for the design of small-scale electronic devices. Not only are the small-sized actuators used for designing miniature devices, but also used for precise movements in the range of a few millimeters. We have included a procedure-wise description on how to implement these actuators. An in-depth analysis of their mechanical, electrical and chemical characteristics is elaborated in this paper

Computer Controlled System for the Magnetron Sputtering Deposition of the Metallic Multilayers

Deposition of the metallic multilayers is a partof the scientific program on the chemical reaction leading tointermetallic compound formation. This reaction is known as selfpropagation high temperature synthesis (SHS). The key problemin this investigation is to produce the metallic multilayer systemwith good repeatability of thin films thicknesses. Thin shouldbe thin, parallel and with low volume of intermixing regionbetween components. Computer control system for the pulsed(mid frequency MF) magnetron sputtering equipment dedicatedfor metallic multilayers deposition is presented in this paper. Therotation velocity of the sample holder and the gas inlet throughmembrane valves are the main parameters controlled by thesystem. Parameters of the magnetron gun power supply, sampletemperature and technological gas pressure are registered. Theprocess cards which define all process parameters are collectedfor each dedicated process type. All cards are collected in aprocess cards library which permits for full automatization ofall operations. Software was written in a graphical LabVIEWenvironment

Design of a Multidirectional Wear Testing Device for Simulating Wear of Biocompatible Materials Used in Joint Implants

In the present work, a novel multidirectional pin-on-disc wear testing device designated CNC-POD (computer-numerical-control pin-on-disc) capable of replicating the cross-shear motions experienced by a prosthesis in vivo was designed and developed in the UTRGV in order to evaluate the wear resistance of new biomaterials. The CNC-POD consists of six temperature-controlled pin-on-disc stations mounted on a two-axis CNC table (X-Y). Each pin-on-disc station is load-programmable up to 510 Newtons (115 pounds). The CNC table allows the machine to reproduce a wide range of 2D patterns in millimeter scale on the six stations under a specific load. Friction force is measured during testing using force sensors and coefficient of friction can be calculated. Motions and loads are fully programmable through LabVIEW

An Attempt to Design Low Cost Effective Infusion Devicefor Delivering of Drugs Depending on the Heart Rate

Drug administration and accurate fluid infusion is important for optimum management of critically ill neonate. For thus we need continuous and controlled administration of drugs. This method is preferred mode of therapy for acute care. These drugs are continuously sent to the human body intravenously. The various medications used are inotropic agents, vasodilators, aminophylline, insulin, heparin. In this thesis we are basically controlling the flow rate of drug by measuring the heart rate. To detect heart rate we use plethysmography. In this we are actually detecting the pressure wave that is generated when the heart starts pumping. For this we use reflective type photoplethysmograph. For detecting the pulse waveform we can use our finger, the ear lobe, and the foot. In our thesis we have designed the sensor circuit which has a light source for illuminating the target object and a detector for receiving that light from that object. The signal thus obtained is conditioned by using low pass filters and microcontrollers are used for measurement of pulse rate. Then the stepper motor is integrated with the micro controller with the help of motor driver. The micro controller is programmed in such a way that for a particular value of heart beat, there will be preset value of the speed of motor. Once that range of heart value is obtained, depending on the speed of motor, a mechanical set up is prepared which will allow the flow of fluid from the IV bottle. In this way we are actually preventing overinfusion of drug into the human body. This is specially done for those drugs with short half lives, so as to maintain adequate amount of serum concentration

Modeling And Simulation Of The Switched Reluctance Motor

This Paper summarizes the study conducted on the techniques used and implemented to minimize the torque ripple of the Switched reluctance Motors. These motors although offering the advantages of higher speeds, reliability and phase independence, have the limitations of the torque ripple and non-linearity in the magnetic characteristics. Thus in order to have the good understanding of the Motor, it is simulated in the MATLAB/SIMULINK environment. This paper describes details on modeling of two different configurations of Switched Reluctance Motor concentrating only on the linear model by obeying all of its characteristics. The two configurations of motors are applied with two different control techniques and the results are calculated and tabulated. Load and No load analysis are also performed to understand the behavior of motor with load. Through out the analysis, various values of turn-on and turn-off angles are selected and finally the optimum values are calculated based on the performance parameters of Average torque, speed and torque ripple. All simulations are documented through this paper including its block models and initializations performed. Finally a control technique is recommended which produces the best results with smallest torque ripple

Modular switched reluctance machines to be used in automotive applications

In the last decades industry, including also that of electrical machines and drives, was pushed near to its limits by the high market demands and fierce competition. As a response to the demanding challenges, improvements were made both in the design and manufacturing of electrical machines and drives. One of the introduced advanced technological solutions was the modular construction. This approach enables on a hand easier and higher productivity manufacturing, and on the other hand fast repairing in exploitation. Switched reluctance machines (SRMs) are very well fitted for modular construction, since the magnetic insulation of the phases is a basic design requirement. The paper is a survey of the main achievements in the field of modular electrical machines, (especially SRMs), setting the focus on the machines designed to be used in automotive applications

Design and Implementation of Rotational Print Heads to Control Fiber Orientation in Material Extrusion Additive Manufacturing

Short fibers are being incorporated into 3D printable polymers to modify the properties of the printed composite. These fibers are, however, highly aligned in the print direction limiting the range of programmable site-specific characteristics. Recent work has demonstrated a novel approach of adding an additional shear field, through rotation, during the direct ink writing process, enabling control over the fiber orientation. This work endeavors to reproduce those results and demonstrate the same novel concept in fused filament fabrication, and outlines the challenges using these two systems

Design techniques to enhance low-power wireless communication soc with reconfigurability and wake up radio

Nowadays, Internet of things applications are increasing, and each end-node has more demanding requirements such as energy efficiency and speed. The thesis proposes a heterogeneous elaboration unit for smart power applications, that consists of an ultra-low-power microcontroller coupled with a small (around 1k equivalent gates) soft-core of embedded FPGA. This digital system is implemented in 90-nm BCD technology of STMicroelectronics, and through the analysis presented in this thesis proves to have good performance in terms of power consumption and latency. The idea is to increase the system performance exploiting the embedded FPGA to managing smart power tasks. For the intended applications, a remarkable computational load is not required, it is just required the implementation of simple finite state machines, since they are event-driven applications. In this way, while the microcontroller deals with other system computations such as high-level communications, the eFPGA can efficiently manage smart power applications. An added value of the proposed elaboration unit is that a soft-core approach is applied to the whole digital system including the eFPGA, and hence, it is portable to different technologies. On the other hand, the configurability improvement has a straightforward drawback of about a 20–27% area overhead. The eFPGA usage to manage smart power applications, allows the system to reduce the required energy per task from about 400 to around 800 times compared to a processor implementation. The eFPGA utilization improves also the latency performance of the system reaching from 8 to 145 times less latency in terms of clock cycles. The thesis also introduces the architecture of a nano-watt wake-up radio integrated circuit implemented in 90-nm BCD technology of STMicroelectronics. The wake-up radio is an auxiliary always-on radio for medium-range applications that allows the IoT end-nodes to drastically reduce the power consumption during the node idle-listening communication phase

Feasibility study of common electronic equipment for shuttle sortie experiment payloads

A study was conducted to determine the feasibility of using standardized electronic equipment on the space shuttle vehicle in an effort to reduce the cost estimates. The standards for Nuclear Instrument Modules (NIM) and CAMAC electronic equipment are presented and described. It was determined that the CAMAC electronic equipment was more suitable for use with the space shuttle systems. Specific applications of the CAMAC equipment are analyzed. Illustrations of the equipment and circuit diagrams of the subsystems are provided

Development of a novel electrophotographic additive layer manufacturing machine

PhD ThesisThe aim of this research was to develop a low-cost, desktop Additive Layer Manufacturing (ALM) system. A review of commercial ALM systems, a number of which are also called 3D printers, has been undertaken with the intention of identifying a suitable technology to embody within a system demonstrating low-cost and desktop characteristics. The review resulted in a commercially unexploited powder deposition technology, electrophotography, being identified. The significant barriers to implementation of this technology were the limitation of build height in the Z-axis due to electric field depletion and the formation of part material fringing due to the non-uniform electric field present at the boundaries of printed artefacts. Initial trials were undertaken using a laser printing system to determine the printing characteristics of low-cost sacrificial and recyclable materials such as Mica, flour and sugar as well as an engineering polymer, Nylon 12. Mixed results were seen due to the large distribution of particle sizes and their tribocharging characteristics. The identified limiting phenomena were recreated and analysed in order to develop possible solutions, and further testing on the electrostatic behaviour and print acceptance of substrate transfer materials was undertaken with standard styrene co- polymer based toner. Consolidation techniques were investigated and powder layer transfer mechanisms were trialled, culminating in the development of the novel thermal transfer system, eliminating both the build height phenomena and artefact fringing issues. Development of a complete prototype system was undertaken, producing a compact desktop system with novel process architecture. The system functioned through the electrostatic deposition of a polymeric thermoplastic material onto the surface of a registered PTFE transfer substrate. The powder image present on the transfer substrate, was brought into close proximity to a build platform, where the powder layer was heated, consolidated and mechanically transferred using a single moving mechanism. Later concepts describe the novel continuous printing process, exhibiting high productivity while maintaining accuracy and resolution. This work demonstrates a significant step forwards in the apparatus for use in an electrophotographic ALM system. In doing so, solutions to fundamental electrostatic transfer problems, and a clear route for the further development of a commercial electrophotography ALM process have been demonstrated. The system conceptualised, designed and produced within this research holds much novel value and provides a basis and direction for further development