UKRI-1417 Mirror Mount Motorized Actuators And Controller(s)

Tender description

UKRI-STFC require a motion control system for a new laser facility. The motion control system needs to include motorised actuators which can be controlled so that multiple actuators can be moved at the same time. It is expected that approximately 150 - 200 actuators will be needed in the system, although the full complement will not need to be moved at the same time. This system will evolve over time and so will need to be modular in nature and capable of expansion at a later date. The motion system provided must include a means by which control can be achieved using external software. Lot 1: The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC, part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)) has a requirement for the supply of motorised actuators and accompanying controller(s), to be incorporated as part of the Extreme Photonics Applications Centre (EPAC) Project. The motorised actuators and controller(s) will form part of a Beam Steering System for a large laser facility. In the facility, multiple laser beams propagate hundreds of metres; the position of the beams can fluctuate owing to vibration or temperature variation if not controlled. Due to the long path lengths, small misalignments of a few millimetres can result in significant movements (centimetres or metres) at the output. Control of the laser beam alignment is therefore a crucial requirement to the success of the facility. This is achieved through automatic beam steering; a closed loop mechanism to compensate for these displacements in near real-time. The motorised actuators will be added to mirror mounts that will be placed at multiple locations along the beam path. Typically each mirror mount will have two actuators.