Instrument Workshop

Adjustable Slide Holder (Pic 1)
Designed and manufactured from brass and stainless steel. The design allows for a difference in slide length, width and thickness to be supported. Slides from several suppliers can be precisely located on the X, Y and Z axis.

Balloon Inflation Instrument (Pic 2)
This instrument was designed and machined for N.C.A.S and is used to calibrate the inflation buoyancy of experimental balloons. This instrument is used by assembling multiple parts. The body is manufactured using a combination of brass and PVC, brass weights attach via the fine screw thread and can be attached in various combinations to achieve a pre-determined weight.  
Double Torsion Rig. (Pic 3)  Flow Isokinetic Splitter. (Pic 4)

PIV Flume (Pic 1)
This has been designed to enable laboratory investigation of the distribution of turbulence in density currents. The only technique that provides instantaneous measurements of velocity in 2D planes and 3D volumes is Particle Imaging Velocimetry (PIV). To enable PIV in quasi-steady state refractive index matched density currents a highly specialised facility is required. This flume is designed to provide good visualisation and optical access whilst generating a near steady state current. At the same time the input must be stripped of any entrained air to ensure no bubbles enter the experiment.

LIDAR Scissor Lifting Table (Pic 2)
Designed and manufactured for I.C.A.S. – Manual scissor designed lifting table to raise and lower a precision light detection and ranging instrument. Specs - weight of LIDAR  85Kg, range of movement 60cm.

Microscope Sample Holder (Pic 3)
Designed so the microscope operator has the ability to examine 25mm diameter samples, the holder is made of two parts, a 1.5mm thick plate and a cylindrical insert, both stainless steel. 

Resin Sample Holder (Pic 1)
Designed and developed for the Electron Optics facility – manufactured from aluminium, the design incorporates a Redux wave spring to allow for sample thickness variation.

Minirhizotron (Pic 2)
Designed, developed and manufactured for the school of Geography. The Minirhizotron is a precision instrument used to observe, photograph and measure root growth over time and trace individual roots in the course of their development. 

Sample slide holder (Pic 3)
Designed for the Electron Optics facility – manufactured in brass, the design allows flexibility to view samples more efficiently. Both holders can be removed and precisely relocated.

Sand Box (Pic 1)
Manufactured for the teaching labs, this instrument is used to place sand under lateral compression to show the effects of geological forces that deform the earth’s crust

Sled (Pic 2)
This sled was designed and manufactured for I.C.A.S and used to transfer heavy items of experimental equipment across the snow whilst on research expeditions in Antarctica.  

Raman cold stage: Temperature and humidity controlled stage coupled to a Raman microscope for probing phase changes in atmospherically relevant particles. Manufactured from Aluminium, Stainless Steel, PEEK and PTFE / Teflon. 
Shelved and Cylindrical Bubble Apparatus: Shelved bubble apparatus: For use in testing a reduced complexity model of methane ebullition in peat Cylindrical bubble apparatus and measuring methane ebullition from peat soil.

 

4-Axis Laser positioning equipment: This equipment is used for precisely positioning a Litron laser for experimental purposes on the 12 metre long, hydraulic flume in the Sorby Environmental Fluid Dynamics Laboratory.. 

Wet Splitter: This clear cast acrylic wet splitter is used for the precision splitting of micro paleontological samples in liquid suspension. An improved design, manufactured for the School of Geography.

Deposition Mode ice nucleation Chamber (DMC) is designed to produce a temperature differential between an ice film and a sample. By accurately determining the temperature of these points the relative humidity at the sample can be calculated.

Motion stabilising platform

Two motion stabilising platforms, designed and manufactured by the Instrument Workshop for Professor Ian Brooks (N.C.A.S). The platforms were used to securely mount two scientific instruments (LiDAR and Radiometer). The platforms were deployed on board an ice breaking ship and used to take constant measurements during a 16 week voyage across the Arctic Ocean.

The design of the platforms provided the ability to stabilise the movement of the instruments, counteracting the movement of the ship and maintaining an even plane, this was essential to take collect accurate research data.

Throughout the operation the stabilisation on both axis maintained an accuracy of 20 minutes of a degree 24/7.

(Pic 1) Connection to the Nema gearbox and motor. (Pic 2) Testing within the Instrument Workshop.

(Pic 1&2) In position on board the ice breaker Oden.

​​​​​​