Fabrication
This department is in charge of manufacturing parts for experimental and observation equipment.
The Machining team, Additive Manufacturing team, and Measurement team work together to support equipment development through fabrication.
Team Overview
Manufacturing team
We use machining centers, milling machines, lathes, electric discharge machines, and various other machine tools to manufacture observational devices and other equipment.
Additive Manufacturing team
We are currently developing applications of additive manufacturing technology for astronomical observational equipment using metal and plastic 3D printers.
Measurement team
We perform precision measurements such as shape measurements of machined parts, position measurements for assemblies, and alignment adjustment of optical equipment.
Manufacturing Design Group's YouTube Channel
Machine List
The Manufacturing and Design Group supports the development of astronomical instruments and experimental equipment through "manufacturing," mainly metalworking by our three teams that perform machining and ultra-precision machining; metal 3D printing; and precision measurement.
Main Machines
5-axis Machining Center
Metal 3D Printer (Powder bed fusion type)
Wire Electrical Discharge Machine
Ultra-Precision Machine Tool
Three-Dimensional Measurement System
Example Products
Pick-off Mirror Drive Mechanism
(TMT/InfraRed Imaging Spectrograph)
Material: Invar 36 (FN-36)
Corrugated Horn, Fabricated by Metal 3D Printer
(ALMA receiver parts)
Material: AlSi10Mg
Circle-Square Conversion Waveguide
(Experimental Parts)
Material: Aluminum alloy
Lens Retainer with Heat-sink Capability
SUNRISE-3, third flight of the international balloon project SUNRISE
Material: Aluminum alloy
Monolithic Kinematic Mirror-mount with Stress-relief Function
Solar-observing sounding rocket experiment CLASP (Chromospheric Lyman-Alpha Spectro-Polarimeter)
Material: Super invar (FN-315)
Filter holder for Tomo-e Gozen camera for Kiso Schmidt telescope, University of Tokyo (Kiso Observatory, The University of Tokyo)
Material: AlSi10Mg