- Email: [email protected]
Tube furnaces
pg50-64.qxd
20/01/2003
11:56
Page 60
TOOLS & TECHNIQUES UPDATE
Cryogen-free cooling Janis Research Company, Inc. has launched a cryogen-free He-3 system for cooling samples in a vacuum. The HE-3-CCR-SSV cryostat uses a two-stage mechanical cooler to give a minimum temperature of 300 mK. The system includes a complete set of thermometers and heaters to monitor and control the temperature of the various stages of the cryostat. All the valves and pressure gauges required for safe and reliable system operation are included.
Position with precision Newport has redesigned its LP series of optical lens positioners, improving a number of features. Two-axis XY models have orthogonal transverse adjustments. Three-axis XYZ models add translation along the Z-axis controlled by a knurled ring with 80 threads per inch (TPI). Five-axis XYZθXθY models have true gimbaling about two orthogonal, coplanar axes, allowing an optic to be positioned in any plane along any axis. 6.35, 12.7, or 19.1 mm diameter optics can be mounted. 100 TPI adjustment screws allow smooth adjustment with increased sensitivity. A zero-freeplay XY mechanism gives accurate positioning and long-term stability. This mechanism does not rely on grease to take up the clearance between sliding elements, reducing drift over time or temperature. Finally, independent locks for each axis of translation and rotation lock the mechanism with negligible influence on the other axes. The ESP300, also from Newport, is an integrated motion controller/driver that can drive up to three axes of motion by using DC and/or stepper motors. This instrument can drive nearly all Newport stages, from small actuators to long-travel linear stages. A 400 W power supply option is available and recommended for multi-axis systems with large stages. Contact: www.newport.com
EviDot nanocrystals Semiconductor nanocrystals with specific emission wavelengths and absorption resonances are being manufactured commercially by Evident Technologies. Core-shell EviDots are CdSe/ZnS nanocrystals that are available in a range of colors in standard solutions. Production quantities of the nanocrystals can be obtained, and a five color test kit includes EviDots with emission wavelengths of 520-620 nm. Additionally, Lake Placid Blue EviDots are available with a wavelength of 490 nm. The nanocrystals have a narrow color emission with a full width half maximum of <30 nm. EviDots have a shell coating that stabilizes the nanocrystals, improving their quantum yield and reducing photodegradation. The EviDots are expected to have applications in nanotechnology, optics, photonics, and biotechnology. PbSe Core EviDots are also available for applications in the infrared spectrum, including photovoltaics, thermoelectrics, photodetectors, and chemical sensors. PbSe EviDots are available in four standard absorption resonance wavelengths of 1100 nm, 1310 nm, 1550 nm, and 1900 nm. Contact: www.evidenttech.com
Optical bonding
60
MUSiC to your ears
A range of high performance adhesives for the bonding of optical fibers and photoconductive wavepath cladding is being launched by Daikin Chemical Europe. Called Optodyne UV, the adhesives have a wide refractive index range of 1.45-1.51 and show good bond strength. The bonds are still stronger than the attached optical components after 1000 hours at 85°C and 85% relative humidity. The adhesives bring together the benefits of fluorinated chemistry, which gives excellent light transmission with bond strength and durability, with acrylic and epoxy technology. All Optodyne UV grades are single component systems with a long pot life, low viscosity, and fast UV curing. They can be dispensed cleanly from the packaging with no outgassing or post curing.
FLX Micro is offering access to MEMS prototyping using SiC through its MUSiCSM program. This multi-user service combines multiple chip designs onto a single large-area substrate to take advantage of economy of scale. Each user purchases a portion of the wafer, and designs from different users are fabricated simultaneously. The MUSiCSM multi-user MEMS prototyping service is the first surface micromachining process that uses silicon carbide (SiC). Using SiC could extend microsystems technology into a wide range of applications and operating environments. FLX Micro is currently receiving design submissions for the next MUSiC run. The first run contained designs from 13 customers in different fields.
Contact: www.daikin.co.jp/chm/en/
Contact: www.flxmicro.com
February 2003
Contact: www.janis.com
Tube furnaces A new range of 1800°C horizontal tube furnaces is being released by Elite Thermal Systems Ltd. With a variety of tube diameters and heated zone lengths, the furnaces are designed for both laboratory research and small-scale production work. They are equipped with graded insulation for thermal efficiency and vertically suspended MTD heating elements for continuous use. Optional equipment includes worktubes, gas/vacuum tight end fittings, radiation shields, and a range of temperature controllers, programmers, and chart recorders. Contact: www.elitefurnaces.com
Pressure sensor Tactilus® is a tactile force and pressure indicating sensor from Sensor Products, Inc. The sensor allows the precise monitoring of force distribution between any two contacting or mating surfaces in real time in the range 0.1-9000 PSI. Tactilus® is a Windows-based system consisting of an electronic sensor element ‘skin’, an interface controller, and software. The skin is a flexible sheet densely packed with sensing points or pixels. The pixels can be as close as 1 mm and can collect data 60 000 times per second. Applications include the measurement of pressure distribution between machine components, ultrasonic welding, explosive forming, indication of uniformity in composite materials fabrication, and determining drawing pressure in dies. Contact: www.sensorprod.com
20/01/2003
11:56
Page 60
TOOLS & TECHNIQUES UPDATE
Cryogen-free cooling Janis Research Company, Inc. has launched a cryogen-free He-3 system for cooling samples in a vacuum. The HE-3-CCR-SSV cryostat uses a two-stage mechanical cooler to give a minimum temperature of 300 mK. The system includes a complete set of thermometers and heaters to monitor and control the temperature of the various stages of the cryostat. All the valves and pressure gauges required for safe and reliable system operation are included.
Position with precision Newport has redesigned its LP series of optical lens positioners, improving a number of features. Two-axis XY models have orthogonal transverse adjustments. Three-axis XYZ models add translation along the Z-axis controlled by a knurled ring with 80 threads per inch (TPI). Five-axis XYZθXθY models have true gimbaling about two orthogonal, coplanar axes, allowing an optic to be positioned in any plane along any axis. 6.35, 12.7, or 19.1 mm diameter optics can be mounted. 100 TPI adjustment screws allow smooth adjustment with increased sensitivity. A zero-freeplay XY mechanism gives accurate positioning and long-term stability. This mechanism does not rely on grease to take up the clearance between sliding elements, reducing drift over time or temperature. Finally, independent locks for each axis of translation and rotation lock the mechanism with negligible influence on the other axes. The ESP300, also from Newport, is an integrated motion controller/driver that can drive up to three axes of motion by using DC and/or stepper motors. This instrument can drive nearly all Newport stages, from small actuators to long-travel linear stages. A 400 W power supply option is available and recommended for multi-axis systems with large stages. Contact: www.newport.com
EviDot nanocrystals Semiconductor nanocrystals with specific emission wavelengths and absorption resonances are being manufactured commercially by Evident Technologies. Core-shell EviDots are CdSe/ZnS nanocrystals that are available in a range of colors in standard solutions. Production quantities of the nanocrystals can be obtained, and a five color test kit includes EviDots with emission wavelengths of 520-620 nm. Additionally, Lake Placid Blue EviDots are available with a wavelength of 490 nm. The nanocrystals have a narrow color emission with a full width half maximum of <30 nm. EviDots have a shell coating that stabilizes the nanocrystals, improving their quantum yield and reducing photodegradation. The EviDots are expected to have applications in nanotechnology, optics, photonics, and biotechnology. PbSe Core EviDots are also available for applications in the infrared spectrum, including photovoltaics, thermoelectrics, photodetectors, and chemical sensors. PbSe EviDots are available in four standard absorption resonance wavelengths of 1100 nm, 1310 nm, 1550 nm, and 1900 nm. Contact: www.evidenttech.com
Optical bonding
60
MUSiC to your ears
A range of high performance adhesives for the bonding of optical fibers and photoconductive wavepath cladding is being launched by Daikin Chemical Europe. Called Optodyne UV, the adhesives have a wide refractive index range of 1.45-1.51 and show good bond strength. The bonds are still stronger than the attached optical components after 1000 hours at 85°C and 85% relative humidity. The adhesives bring together the benefits of fluorinated chemistry, which gives excellent light transmission with bond strength and durability, with acrylic and epoxy technology. All Optodyne UV grades are single component systems with a long pot life, low viscosity, and fast UV curing. They can be dispensed cleanly from the packaging with no outgassing or post curing.
FLX Micro is offering access to MEMS prototyping using SiC through its MUSiCSM program. This multi-user service combines multiple chip designs onto a single large-area substrate to take advantage of economy of scale. Each user purchases a portion of the wafer, and designs from different users are fabricated simultaneously. The MUSiCSM multi-user MEMS prototyping service is the first surface micromachining process that uses silicon carbide (SiC). Using SiC could extend microsystems technology into a wide range of applications and operating environments. FLX Micro is currently receiving design submissions for the next MUSiC run. The first run contained designs from 13 customers in different fields.
Contact: www.daikin.co.jp/chm/en/
Contact: www.flxmicro.com
February 2003
Contact: www.janis.com
Tube furnaces A new range of 1800°C horizontal tube furnaces is being released by Elite Thermal Systems Ltd. With a variety of tube diameters and heated zone lengths, the furnaces are designed for both laboratory research and small-scale production work. They are equipped with graded insulation for thermal efficiency and vertically suspended MTD heating elements for continuous use. Optional equipment includes worktubes, gas/vacuum tight end fittings, radiation shields, and a range of temperature controllers, programmers, and chart recorders. Contact: www.elitefurnaces.com
Pressure sensor Tactilus® is a tactile force and pressure indicating sensor from Sensor Products, Inc. The sensor allows the precise monitoring of force distribution between any two contacting or mating surfaces in real time in the range 0.1-9000 PSI. Tactilus® is a Windows-based system consisting of an electronic sensor element ‘skin’, an interface controller, and software. The skin is a flexible sheet densely packed with sensing points or pixels. The pixels can be as close as 1 mm and can collect data 60 000 times per second. Applications include the measurement of pressure distribution between machine components, ultrasonic welding, explosive forming, indication of uniformity in composite materials fabrication, and determining drawing pressure in dies. Contact: www.sensorprod.com