Projects

PI(s):
Michael Liebman, Marsette Vona, Vijay Shilpiekandula
Sponsor(s):
National Science Foundation

We are designing and building a prototype hybrid machine tool axis as a key component of new manufacturing machines for meso-scale parts.  By hybrid we mean that the two axes of motion are... Read more...

PI(s):
Yuka Miyake, Tony Poovey (formerly at UNC-Charlotte)

A common problem associated with controlling magnetic suspensions is the lack of an accurate model for the nonlinear relationship between the actuator force, coil current, and gap.  We use this... Read more...

PI(s):
Stephen Ludwick, Michael Holmes (UNC - Charlotte)

The device uses active magnetic bearings in combination with squeeze film dampers to form a very stable, vibration resistant motion... Read more...

PI(s):
Don Nohavec
Sponsor(s):
MIT Lincoln Laboratory

Design of a 6 D.O.F. actuator to position a scanning mirror in a Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) interferometer. The scanning mirror is used on NASA's Geosynchronous Operational Environmental... Read more...

PI(s):
Michael Liebman
Sponsor(s):
Anorad Corporation

We analyze and design a high force per unit volume linear motor for use in machine tools. The motor is the first to incorporate coils wound with separated end-turns so that each layer of the coil... Read more...

PI(s):
Michael Liebman
Sponsor(s):
Charles E. Reed Faculty Initiatives Fund

This is a public disclosure of key ideas developed in our laboratory for magnetically suspending a heart pump impeller.  This research was supported by the Charles... Read more...

PI(s):
Sai-Bun Wong
Sponsor(s):
ADE Corporation

Capacitance sensors can be used for noncontact measuring of an airgap. Typically, the probe and drive electronics are separated by a length of cable, and disturbances to this cable lead to noise... Read more...

PI(s):
Won-jong Kim
Sponsor(s):
Sandia National Laboratories

These pictures show our linear-motor-levitated stage for positioning wafers for photolithography. This stage was developed by Dr. Won-jong Kim in his Doctoral thesis under the supervision of Prof... Read more...

PI(s):
Pradeep Subrahmanyan
Sponsor(s):
Integrated Solutions Inc.

This project involves the design and implementation of various linear and nonlinear control schemes for a single DOF magnetic suspension. Plant uncertainty is introduced on purpose and countered... Read more...

PI(s):
Mark Williams, Pradeep Subrahmanyan
Sponsor(s):
Integrated Solutions Inc.

Wafer steppers are used in photolithography to position the uncut silicon wafer underneath a lens assembly in order to expose each of the future microchips. As such, the machine is required to... Read more...

PI(s):
Ming-Chih Weng, Xiaodong Lu, Robin Ritter
Sponsor(s):
National Science Foundation

In some industrial operations, it may be advantageous to handle the material without directly touching it, such as plastic film production, coating, and painting. This project explores the... Read more...

PI(s):
Andrew Stein
Sponsor(s):
National Science Foundation

Together with UNC Charlotte, we have built a magnetically-suspended stage designed to achieve 0.1-nm resolution, 1-nm repeatability, and 10-nm accuracy over a macroscopic range of 25 mm in X,Y and... Read more...

PI(s):
Marten Byl
Sponsor(s):
National Science Foundation

We have built a prototype turning machine specialized for the production of plastic spectacle lenses. This machine features a novel rotary fast-tool servo, which can track trajectories at... Read more...

PI(s):
Darya Amim-Shahidi, Dean Ljubicic
Sponsor(s):
National Science Foundation
PI(s):
Mohammad Imani Nejad

This thesis presents the design, implementation and control of a new class of self-bearing motors. The primary thesis contributions include the design and experimental demonstration of hysteresis... Read more...

PI(s):
Jun Young Yoon

We have designed, built and tested a high accuracy robotic single-cell manipulator, which is able to pick individual cells from array of microwells, each 30 μm or 50 μm cubed. Design efforts have... Read more...

PI(s):
Ross Ian MacKenzie

Reluctance actuators can generate high force densities at small operating gaps, making them an attractive actuator technology for high-acceleration applications where low moving mass is critical,... Read more...

PI(s):
Roberto Meléndez, Mohammad Imani Nejad, Jim Zhen Sun
Sponsor(s):
National Instruments, MIT Department of Mechanical Engineering

Hands-on laboratory components are crucial for students to grasp the concepts of control systems effectively. However students might not have the opportunity to take part in such labs because of... Read more...

PI(s):
Roberto Meléndez

A limitation of reluctance actuators that prevent their use in precision positioning is their stiffness. Reluctance actuators are sensitive to both linear and angular disturbances. It is very... Read more...

PI(s):
Lei Zhou
Sponsor(s):
MIT Lincoln Laboratory

Goal of the Project: Small satellite angular attitude control with a suspended sphere of uniform hard steel instead of 3 reaction wheels; Novel hysteresis drive can generate torque, and stabilize... Read more...

PI(s):
Minkyun Noh
Sponsor(s):
Boston Children's Hospital

About 1000 infants a year in the states are born with their esophagus disconnected, which is called Esophageal Atresia (EA). The standard operation for esophageal atresia is Foker process, which... Read more...

PI(s):
Xiaodong Lu, Augusto Barto
Sponsor(s):
National Science Foundation

We have designed, implemented, and tested an electromagnetically driven fast tool servo for diamond turning precision contoured surfaces with nanometer resolution. Our device is based on a novel... Read more...

PI(s):
Lei Zhou, Jun Young Yoon, Mohammad Imani Nejad

In this project, we have developed a compact, low-cost, single-board Flexlab/Levlab electromechanical system for use in teaching modeling, dynamics, and control of mechatronic systems. The board... Read more...

PI(s):
Markus Raab, Professor Arif Kazi (Aalen University)
Sponsor(s):
National Instruments

In a collaborative project with Professor Arif Kazi of Aalen University in Germany, a modular brushless DC motor (BLDC motor) with a reluctance based magnetically levitated rotor was developed as... Read more...