Mechanical Design

The Design and Fabrication Services facility (DFS) designs, analyzes, manufactures, and integrates a wide variety of instruments. Built on a strong engineering foundation, DFS' work is based on the extensive application of physics, mathematics, and core engineering principles. In collaboration with scientists and technical staff within and outside the laboratory, DFS designs a comprehensive range of equipment and instruments touching almost every aspect of the current technologies and instrumentation development within EOL and other NSF NCAR facilities.

The DFS engineering team often joins a project in the early development phase to ensure that new instruments are properly designed, analyzed, and tested to make sure they gather the most precise and reliable data needed to address science objectives. DFS utilizes the latest software tools, including SolidWorks Computer-Aided-Design (CAD) and finite-element-analysis (FEA). The engineering team continues to develop optical, laser, lidar, radar, dropsonde systems, and support equipment for new instruments used in the remote sensing of atmospheric conditions.

Core Engineering Capabilities

• Instrument Development

• Computer-Aided-Design using SolidWorks

• Specification development

• Technical drawing development

• Mechanical Design and Engineering

• Opto-mechanical Design

• Electro-mechanical design utilizing motors, actuators, and sensors

• Design Analysis including Finite-Element-Analysis (FEA)

• Design of instruments and sensors for extreme environments including ground-based systems, airborne systems, mobile systems, ship-borne systems, and balloon-borne systems

• Design reviews and mentoring