Cedrat Technologies, innovation in mechatronics

Piezo actuators are commonly used within Fast Steering Mirrors (FSM) for active stabilization, pointing and tracking functions. Such compact mechanisms are requested for Free-Space Optics and Deep Space Optical Communication since they are embedded and offer fast (up to 1kHz) and precise (µRad) tip tilt motion (up to +/-2°). The use of large amplified actuator within mirror telescope is new and become relevant since it displays enough power, reliability and do not fall apart when a failure occurs: steady state design with high stiffness 64N/µm. The purpose of this paper is to present the development and the qualification of the world largest Amplified Piezo Actuator ever integrated in a telescope tip-tilt mirror of more than 2 meters diameter.

New space giant constellations based on Free-Space Optical Communication (FSO) are a new challenge from many perspectives. Considering the mandatory cost efficiency, with repeatability of performances, and reliability with no defect at customer integration, requires an upheaval in space production and acceptance test methods, when the quantities are beyond several thousands of units. Starting from the former PYSCHE PAM30 flight project heritage for Deep Space Optical Communication (DSOC), CEDRAT TECHNOLOGIES (CTEC) presents the new design and test results of the P-FSM150S Fast Steering Mirror (FSM) Engineering Models, developed under ARTES project TELCO-B for future FSO constellations.

Piezoelectric motors offer many advantages for applications in numerous industrial sectors. The requirements for which these solutions are developed are focused on their main advantages such as non-magnetic and radiation compatibility, high force/volume ratio, good unpowered stall force and low power consumption. Such applications are typically concerned by exotic working conditions on which the piezoelectric motors still need to improve regarding the technological readiness level.

The MICA linear actuator technology (Moving Iron Controllable Actuator) is being continuously improved at CEDRAT TECHNOLOGIES (CTEC) for applications needing high controllable stroke, force, and power. The MICA20CS Proof Mas Actuator is a new actuator model, which is now completing the CTEC Proof Mass Actuator family together with the MICA300CM.

The current trend in the market to solve long boring bar related chatter problems are passive dampers integrated in the boring bar, which has derived in patents and commercial products; This solution, however, is not feasible in very slender bars or trepanning operations, due to small space available in the tool. Active damping has been tested and indus-trialised in different applications, including machine tool structures, but never in internal turning tools. The application of active damping on boring bars has been proposed in several researches...

SYNJET3C is a CleansKy2 development project aiming at improving the efficiency of Synthetic Jet Actuators (SJA), with a consortium composed of major European actors to this technology which are ONERA, FRAUNHOFER, TRISITEC, and CEDRAT TECHNOLOGIES (CTEC).

This review presents CEDRAT TECHNOLOGIES (CTEC) solutions developed for more than 20 years for Fast & fine Steering Mirrors (FSM) as required in air, space, defence & other embedded or demanding applications: Typical appli-cations are for example Lidar, free space optical communication (FSO) and Laser interferometry.