When building laser systems that are used in space, it is essential to assemble optics with the highest precision. Scientists at Fraunhofer ILT and the Chair of Digital Additive Production DAP at RWTH Aachen University have now developed an additively manufactured gripper arm with a bionic design for adjusting the corresponding components.
This allows components to be positioned with micrometer precision in optical superstructures. The gripper arm can move significantly heavier parts than previously used tools and at the same time enables more stable alignment. Among other things, a laser system is currently being set up for the Franco-German climate mission MERLIN, which aims to map the distribution of methane in the Earth's atmosphere.
The topology-optimized gripper arm was manufactured using laser powder bed fusion. With special post-processing, cleanroom class ISO5 can be achieved, an absolute novelty in this field. Until now, residual powder on components prevented the use of additive methods for such precision tools in cleanrooms.
