Keywords
Citation
Rigelsford, J. (2002), "Internet page", Assembly Automation, Vol. 22 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/aa.2002.03322aag.001
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2002, MCB UP Limited
Internet page
Keywords: Internet, Actuators, Microtechnology
3T was founded in 1988 and develops customer-specific industrial products and systems for measurement, control and data registration. They are specialists in complex applications which require micro-electronics, embedded software, PC software, sensors and microsystem technology. Their customers are mainly Dutch, German and Belgian industrial companies to whom they offer product development, microsystem technology based development, and the development of dedicated systems for production and R&D.
NMRC was established in 1981 and is currently Europe's only advanced information and communication technologies (ICT) research centre. Research interests include opto-electronics, nano-technology, microelectronics, ICT and life sciences.
This is a huge and informative site and is well worth visiting even though some links to sections about nano-technology are still under development.
http://www.starsys.com/Starsys
Starsys was founded in 1986 and is a design, engineering, and manufacturing company which provides the aerospace industry with mechanical systems and components solutions. They have a broad technology base which includes electromagnetic motors and actuators (stepper, brushless DC, and brush), and high output paraffin, shape-memory and low-temperature melting alloys. Starsys specializes in the design, development, and manufacturing of: solar array drives, antenna pointing systems, motor control electronics, deployable structures and cover systems, satellite separation systems, "smart" passive thermal control systems, battery bypass switches, and a wide variety of actuators, hinges, latches, and pin pullers.
This is a very good site which contains a lot of service and product information. It contains downloads which are available in PDF format and numerous links.
www.aerotechinc.com/Aerotech
Aerotech is a world leader in the engineering and manufacture of precision positioning and motion control components and systems. Their broad product range is divided into two sections, motion control and positioning systems. The motion control catalogue features U-channel and flat linear motors, brushless rotary servomotors, PWM drives, linear drives, indexers, DC servomotors and drives, and single- and multi-axis PCI- and ISA-bus-based motion controllers. The positioning systems catalogue features air bearing stages, linear motor stages, linear motor gantry systems, and linear and rotary stages, interferometers. Order information, specifications and CADs are also available.
This is a very good site which contains lots of illustrated product information and PDF downloads.
HSI is a leader in motor miniaturisation and has been building electric motors and switches for almost half a century. They design and manufacture motors for use in medical equipment, instrumentation, machinery automation, printing and HVAC equipment. Other types of HSI motors include rotary steppers, synchronous gear motors, pancake and oscillating motors and linear/rotary dual motion actuators.
This is another very good website. If you are unable to find enough information on their web pages then download their comprehensive catalogue.
www.litton-ps.com/Poly-Scientific
Poly-Scientific provides innovative solutions for motion technology and optic solutions. This is a run of the mill website which has problems with links to their datasheets.
http://bsac.eecs.berkeley.edu/Berkeley Sensor & Actuator Center (BSAC)
BSAC was founded in 1986 and is a National Science Foundation Industry/University cooperative research center funded by the NSF and a consortium of corporations and government agencies. BSAC has been devoted to research on sensors and miniature moving mechanical elements and MEMS that take advantage of the progress made in integrated-circuit technology. The BSAC Virtual Center is an extension of this site that allows members of the BSAC community to exchange proprietary information.
Overall this is a well organised university site dedicated to MEMS technology.
www.zyvex.comZyvex Corporation
Zyvex Corporation was formed in 1997 and is the first molecular nano-technology company. Zyvex aims to design, test, and characterize micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) and nano-electro-mechanical systems (NEMS), create assembled micro- and nano- systems, and develop software for MEMS design, verification, visualization, and simulation.
This is a simple site which contains lots of informative video clips in MPG format.
www.stdmems.com/Standard MEMS, Inc.
Standard MEMS, Inc. is the largest independent high-volume manufacturer of Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) for high technology markets. Their products include fibre optic strain and temperature sensors, instrumentation integration and control systems, and silicon on sapphire (SOS) pressure sensors. The tutorial section provides a gateway to MEMS instructional materials, libraries, online tools, and Web resources.
This is a well presented and professional looking site.
HOT SITES
mems.sandia.gov/scripts/index.aspSandia National Laboratories
This is a superb site which presents MEMS in clear and inspiring manner.
The image and movie galleries of this website illustrates how small new micro devices really are. It is well worth visiting, along with http://www.sandia.gov/isrc/precmicroassy.html.
IMM is a non-profit research and development institute, located in Mainz and founded and owned by the state of Rhineland-Palatinate, a federal state of Germany. IMM employs 230 engineers, chemists, physicists, technicians, and administrative personnel. The main objectives of IMM are to: develop and optimise micro- technological processes, develop process equipment and micro-assembly peripherals, develop or adapt materials for use in micro- technology, consult partners who want to make use of micro-technology, and provide access to its facilities and the technological potential.
The range of micro-products developed by IMM include: pumps the size of a fingernail, mixers the size of a coin, micro-reactors for chemical processes, a variety of micro- sensors, micro-actuators and components for optical data communication and the world's smallest helicopter which is only 24mm long.
Jon Rigelsford