Research on precise assembly of large optical components technology
With the rapid development of high-energy solid-state lasers, the demand for efficient and precise assembly of large optical components is growing. Currently the assembly of large optical components is low level of automation and labor-intensive. To achieve high level of automation is a very difficult task. The large optical components are very fragile, heavy and expensive. The high-energy solid-state lasers require the large optical components in high level of cleanness. In this paper, we designed a grasping device and an operating device which are used to complete the precision assembly of large optical components efficiently. The kinematic equations of the operating device are built. Workspace analysis and trajectory planning are completed. Based on the actual assembly process of large optical components, the control system of grasping device and operating device was designed.
Mirror Sub-Assembly End-Effector Design
The Optic Assembly Building (OAB) is a facility where large optical mirror units are assembled and installed into Line Replaceable Units (LRUs) for deployment into the National Ignition Facility (NIF) laser system. The New Optics Insertion Device (NOID) is a powered jib crane specially designed to handle large optical assemblies. The NOID arm has three degrees of freedom. it can rotate about the vertical boom, travel up and down the boom, and extend away from and retract in towards the boom. The NOID is used to assist in the assembly of five types of Laser Mirror (LM) LRUs. These five LMs have been creatively named, LM4, LM5, LM6, LM7, and LM8. The LM4 and LM5 LRUs each contain four Mirror Sub-Assemblies (MSAs). The LM6, LM7, and LM8 LRUs each contain 2 MSAs. The MSAs are assembled apart from the LRU and are then installed in the LRU at the LM4-8 workstations. An MSA NOID End-Effector is required to interface with the MSAs and install them into the LRUs. The End-Effector must attach to the robo-hand on the end of the NOID arm. At the time the MSA NOID End-Effector was being designed the NOID, the LM4-5 workstation, and the LM6-8more » workstation were already installed in the OAB. The LRUs and the MSAs designs were also complete. The MSA NOID End-Effector design had to work with the assembly equipment and LRU designs that were already in place.« less
Radiation exposure reduction by use of Kevlar cassettes in the neonatal nursery.
A study was performed to determine whether the use of Kevlar cassettes in the neonatal intensive care nursery would reduce radiation exposure to patients. The radiation dose to the neonates was measured by using thermoluminescent dosimeters. In addition, the attenuation of the Kevlar cassettes and the sensitivity of the film-screen combination were compared with the previously used system. The greatest radiation reduction using a mobile X-ray unit was 27%; based on sensitivity measurements, the theoretical reduction averaged 38%. The reduction in radiation exposure resulted from reduced attenuation by the Kevlar cassette.