Precision Development Facility
Overview
Precision Development Facility
The Precision Development Facility (PDF) was set up within the Millimetre Wave Technology (MMT) Group to provide the very high accuracy machining required in the development of sub-millimetre wavelength receiver technology.
As well as providing close project support at RAL, the facility undertakes development work for industry and a variety of government institutions.
Recent investment in some of the very latest CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machine tools has allowed us to enhance our capabilities, maintaining our position as experts in all aspects of precision machining and novel component prototyping. The Millimetre Wave Technology PDF is made up of three sections:
Areas of Expertise
- Solving complex engineering problems
- Machining to accuracies better than five microns
- Developing and manufacturing complex novel geometries
The Precision Development Facility
- Precision turning, milling on customised lathes, micro milling machine and mini jig borers
- Precision micro drilling
- CNC Wire EDM
- Optical inspection and Non-contact measuring
- Design and manufacture of novel jigs and fixtures
- Electroplating and electroforming
- Diamond flat lapping and polishing
- Manufacturing microwave calibration loads and interferometer grids
CNC Nano-Machining
- Small batch production of high accuracy detectors
- Cutters as small as 0.1mm
- Spindle speeds as high as 50k
RAL Space Project Support
- Manufacture, development, modification and rectification of flight and non-flight components
- Rapid prototyping
- Inspection and metrology
- Assembly, testing and installation
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