Providing expert knowledge in thermal and mechanical engineering
Thermal Design
We produce thermal design concepts for instruments, subsystems, and ground support equipment. Combined with our mechanical engineering service, we are able to produce designs that are optimised for both thermal and mechanical performance. Our designs are supplemented by our thermal analysis capabilities.
Space Instruments
We create thermal designs for both PLM and SVM subsystems, mounted externally or internally. Combined with our thermal analysis capabilities, we lead your instrument’s journey through its development phase. With our knowledge and experience, we support system engineering and thermal testing throughout the various space project milestones. We are also experienced with material, part, and process qualifications, thus providing our clients with full coverage of their thermal and mechanical needs.
Electronics Subsystems
We have extensive experience in the thermal and mechanical design and development of electronics assemblies. Not only do we generate conceptual designs for these sub-systems, but also provide detailed strategies for PCB heat sinking, and the mounting of PCB components. We combine thermal modelling with infrared thermography to optimise thermal mountings for PCBs and individual components. Our internally developed approach provides rigorous and effective design and mitigation scenarios.
Optical instruments
Our heritage in high quality scientific space instruments provides us with the required knowledge and experience to design optical instruments for space. Whether your instrument is a CCD camera, with an array of lenses, mounted on a sensitive ceramic structure, or otherwise, we are able to deliver effective designs, analyses, and test strategies, including design of thermal and mechanical ground support equipment to suit instrument test and transport requirements.
Thermal control
Using our knowledge and experience, we work closely with our clients not only in specifying thermal control hardware, such as specialised paints and heaters, but also in space-qualifying their application processes for the mission lifetime, by working closely with materials, parts, and process qualification boards.
Thermal Ground Support Equipment
We are proud of our track record in delivering thermal control system designs for vacuum chambers of different sizes. Our systems have used liquid nitrogen, heat pumps, strap networks linked to cold storage tanks, Cryocoolers, and shrouds. We have provided services for a plethora of applications including thermal cycling tests for high and low power units, optical calibration tests, vacuum scavengers, and electronics cooling. Combined with our expertise in thermal analysis and thermal testing, we guarantee the delivery of effective and reliable thermal ground support equipment, regardless of temperature and heat sinking requirements.