Meopta purchases CompoTech AFL machine and winding technologies

Meopta - optika, a leading manufacturer of optical, opto-mechanical and optoelectronic products has purchased a custom-built automated fibre layup machine and advanced winding technology from CompoTech PLUS.

Meopta manufactures a wide range of devices used for analysis, testing and inspection by key market sectors. Close ongoing cooperation with CompoTech PLUS, has enabled the development of state-of-the-art performance enhancing carbon fibre (CF) composites component solutions, which are now part of Meopta's design and production of precision opto-mechanical devices and full turnkey systems

CompoTech's advanced winding technology applies ultra-high modulus fibres with ‘true zero’ degree placement, which provides CF components with excellent structural stiffness and damping behaviour. Due to the low coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) properties of the carbon fibres, a component, such as a beam or frame, has very low deformations under the thermal loading.

Meopta has found that using this carbon fibre technology for optical assemblies and structural parts in high-precision measurement machines, such as for silicon wafer inspection, has opened up new possibilities in both design and application. As a result, Meopta has decided to purchase and install its own automated fibre laying machine, which will provide a dedicated in-house facility to produce CF composite parts for precision opto-mechanical devices.

Development of several high-rigidity composite structural parts for new opto-mechanical assemblies has already been successfully achieved through innovative project collaborations between Meopta and CompoTech, jointly working on simulation models, design approaches, material testing and prototype trials. For example, the replacement of a heavy stainless steel or granite structural frame with a lightweight CF composite designed frame has enabled a significant mass reduction of devices to avoid installation problems, and developing carbon fibre gantries for optical measurement devices used in semiconductor production clean rooms.

“Meopta has long been interested in new trends, technologies, materials and design principles,” stated Meopta R&D director, Jiri Vlk. “The close cooperation with CompoTech has enabled the development of unique carbon composite component solutions, which are now part of Meopta's opto-mechanical product designs. We see carbon fibre technology as the future way for our company, which will open up completely new design and application possibilities for next generation product. This is why we have decided to order and install a custom made AFL winding machine from CompoTech. Having our own winding machine will enable us to cost-effectively manufacture many more unique parts for precision opto-mechanical devices in higher volumes, with improved designs and performance capabilities.”  

Ondrej Uher, CompoTech’s R&D director commented: "We are excited to be extending our collaboration with Meopta through the purchase of our advanced winding machine and technology knowledge sharing. We will continue to work in close collaboration with the Meopta R& D and Production teams to provide them with our knowledge and CF design expertise to ensure that they get the maximum benefit from our AFL machine and technologies to produce even more high-quality, CF composite parts for their precision opto-mechanical devices in the future”

www.compotech.com      

www.meopta.com