CMI
Center for Mechatronics and Innovation (CMI)
Introduction
The CMI is an interdisciplinary center that provides specialized system solutions in the frontier areas of mechatronics to address a wide variety of scientific challenges. Our mission is to provide engineering support for concept generation, feasibility studies and detailed design, which are then followed by prototype construction and validation. We provide solutions that fulfill the exacting quality standards of our research groups.
Innovative ideas, technical competence and a sound knowledge of project management are the key requirements to accomplish a project successfully. Our team of highly skilled employees has many years of experience in complimentary technical disciplines.
Another major objective of the CMI is to provide a skill center where apprentices obtain their practical work experience and where junior scientific staff members are instructed in project-related technical skills.
Technology Related Competencies
Systems Engineering:
- Multi-axial force measurements from nN to kN
- Linear and angular displacement and acceleration measurement
- MARG sensor applications (magnetic, angular-rate & gravity)
- Multi-axis actuator solutions (voice coil, linear stages driven by stepper motors, BLDC, piezo drive, etc.)
- Temperature measurement, temperature & humidity control applications (heating- & humidity chambers)
- Wireless applications with our proprietary high-data rate RF-protocol in the 2.4 GHz ISM-band
- Dedicated software solutions
- SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition)
- Sensor calibration and linearization
- System maintenance
Mechanics:
- Mechanical engineering and construction of prototypes
- 3D CAD constructions in Inventor & Solidworks
- 2D shop drawings
- Evaluation of material properties (biocompatibility, surface structures, strength characteristics)
- Purchasing of components
- Manufacturing of evaluation models & prototypes
Electronics:
- Analog and digital circuit design
- PCB-design, SMD-mounting with vapor phase soldering process
- Embedded systems engineering (μC, sensors, actuators)
- Measurement engineering
- Data acquisition and controller design
- EMC (electromagnetic compatibility)
- Apparatus engineering
- Strain gauges & piezoelectric sensor applications
Software:
- Firmware programming for microcontrollers (Assembler, C)
- LabVIEW (GUI, DAQ, Motion, Vision, Signal Processing, Real-Time)
- Matlab
Externals / ETH-Partners:
- Manufacturing of complex and highly-precise mechanical parts
- FEA simulations and calculations
Collaborations:
- Zentralwerkstatt D-PHYS ETH Zürich
- Werkstatt D-ITET ETH Zürich
- Werkstatt D-MATL ETH Zürich