Micro-etched components

The miniature unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) features an array of small, lightweight, and precise components manufactured by Precision Micro, a division of global engineering group, Meggitt PLC.

The UAV engine uses miniature motor laminations, etched to tight tolerances. The laminations use Precision Micro’s R-bond technique, which uses the photo resist protecting the material surface during chemical etching as the bonding agent.

This approach offers improved performance versus conventional punched, riveted, or welded laminations.
 

Eliminating conventional machining

Another engine component, which requires micro radii, can only be produced by combining Precision Micro’s photo chemical etching and wire EDM technologies.

After chemical etching a 1mm thick blank, a 100μ wire profiles the 0.1mm feature to sub-10μ tolerances, negating the option of conventional machining techniques, such as precision presswork or laser cutting. The magnetic pole plates used to tilt the rotors and steer the nano UAV also could not be manufactured by conventional means.

For the helicopter to effectively navigate obstacles and identify hidden dangers and enemy positions, the composition of the base metal must not be compromised during manufacture.

An ambient, non-contact process, photo chemical etching does not induce any material stresses, meaning original properties remain unaltered throughout the process.

Communication to ground elements is maintained by Precision Micro shielding cans protect the sensitive electronics from EMI and RFI interference.

A flexible process, photo chemical etching relies on digital tooling, which enables design iterations to be carried out quickly and economically.

With low set-up costs, the customer was able to try multiple components without incurring excessive charges and have them in hand in a matter of days.

This UAV has fast become a key component in intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance activities.

Precision Micro Ltd.
www.precisionmicro.com