Prototyping
Prototyping essentially integrates
electronics design, mechanical design, software design and
simulation in order to build an engineering solution to a problem,
often resulting in instrumentation assembly and production.
This capability has been developed as it is essential for
meeting the demands from the scientists undertaking experiments on
STFC facilities.
Within STFC this has been developed over many years from dealing
with requests to make instruments or interfaces to instruments that
are not available elsewhere. For example, many projects have been
progressed by integrating several pieces of equipment to develop
new measurement capabilities.
Flexible data acquisition is a key component in developing new
instrumentation and STFC has significant expertise in data
acquisition and control software.
In order to build a wide range of instrumentation a network of
companies is also needed. Access through Daresbury SIC to STFC
opens up the possibility of collaborative projects drawing input
from across the STFC industrial and academic network.