Instruments

13 pages, 1733 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Design of an E × B Chopper System Based on Permanent Magnets for the Injection Line of the SPES Project Cyclotron

by Alberto Ruzzon, Mario Maggiore, Arturo Abbondanza, Piergiorgio Antonini and Lorenzo Pranovi

Instruments 2025, 9(2), 10; https://doi.org/10.3390/instruments9020010 - 16 Apr 2025

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This paper presents the requirements and design solutions of the chopper for the injection line of the cyclotron of the SPES project at Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro. The device aims to precisely modulate the average current injected into the cyclotron, thereby controlling the current it delivers. A precise control of the beam current is essential for many experiments foreseen for the cyclotron. Due to safety constraints and limited space, a tailored design has been developed. The chopper features a Wien filter configuration, where the electric field is pulsed and the magnetic field is generated by permanent magnets. Full article

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43 pages, 10261 KiB

Open AccessReview

X-Ray and UV Detection Using Synthetic Single Crystal Diamond

by Maurizio Angelone, Francesca Bombarda, Silvia Cesaroni, Marco Marinelli, Angelo Maria Raso, Claudio Verona and Gianluca Verona-Rinati

Instruments 2025, 9(2), 9; https://doi.org/10.3390/instruments9020009 - 11 Apr 2025

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Abstract

Diamond is a semiconductor with a large band gap (5.48 eV), high carrier mobility (the highest for holes), high electrical resistance and low capacitance. Thanks to its outstanding properties, diamond-based detectors offer several advantages, among others: high signal-to-noise ratio, fast response, intrinsic pulse-shape discrimination capabilities for distinguishing different types of radiation, as well as operation in pulse and current modes. The mentioned properties meet most of the demanding requests that a radiation detection material must fulfil. Diamond detectors are suited for detecting almost all types of ionizing radiation including X-ray and UV photons, resulting also in blindness to visible photons and are used in a wide range of applications including ones requiring the capability to withstand harsh environments. After reviewing the fundamental physical properties of synthetic single crystal diamond (SCD) grown by microwave plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (MWPECVD) technique and the basic principles of diamond-photon interactions and detection, the paper focuses on SCD detectors developed for X-ray and UV detection, discussing their configurations, construction techniques, advantages, and drawbacks. Applications ranging from X-ray detection around accelerators to UV detection for fusion plasmas are addressed, and future trends are highlighted too. Full article

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18 pages, 990 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Design and Uncertainty Analysis of an AC Loss Measuring Instrument for Superconducting Magnets

by Pasquale Arpaia, Davide Cuneo, Ernesto De Matteis, Antonio Esposito and Pedro Ramos

Instruments 2025, 9(2), 8; https://doi.org/10.3390/instruments9020008 - 8 Apr 2025

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Abstract

A novel instrument was designed and numerically validated for measuring AC losses in ramped superconducting magnets. These power losses are expected to be in the 1

W

to 100

W

range. The instrument improves metrological performance compared to existing instruments by reaching a [...] Read more.

A novel instrument was designed and numerically validated for measuring AC losses in ramped superconducting magnets. These power losses are expected to be in the 1

W

to 100

W

range. The instrument improves metrological performance compared to existing instruments by reaching a target power loss uncertainty in the order of

0.1

watt. This allows accurate measurement of the power losses to improve magnet modeling. A Monte Carlo analysis is used to evaluate the measurement uncertainty. Such an analysis addresses the lack of uncertainty investigation in the literature for this kind of measurement, and the proposed approach can be applied to various magnet models. The physical design of the instrument is carried out by relying on an FPGA-based acquisition platform. Results on a representative case study reveal that the target uncertainty can be reached without any compensation or correction mechanism. Instead, when aiming to use compensation or correction of the inductive magnet voltage, the sensitivity analysis points out that offset errors and time delays must be limited. This also suggests that the magnet’s inductance estimation should be improved more than the metrological performance of the instrumentation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Selected Papers from Instruments’ Editorial Board Members)

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19 pages, 2291 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Real-Time Coordinate Estimation for SCARA Robots in PCB Repair Using Vision and Laser Triangulation

by Nuwan Sanjeewa, Vimukthi Madushan Wathudura, Nipun Shantha Kahatapitiya, Bhagya Nathali Silva, Kasun Subasinghage and Ruchire Eranga Wijesinghe

Instruments 2025, 9(2), 7; https://doi.org/10.3390/instruments9020007 - 7 Apr 2025

Viewed by 247

Abstract

The Printed Circuit Board (PCB) manufacturing industry is a rapidly expanding sector, fueled by advanced technologies and precision-oriented production processes. The placement of Surface-Mount Device (SMD) components in PCB assembly is efficiently automated using robots and design software-generated coordinate files; however, the PCB repair process remains significantly more complex and challenging. Repairing faulty PCBs, particularly replacing defective SMD components, requires high precision and significant manual expertise, making automated solutions both rare and difficult to implement. This study introduces a novel real-time machine vision-based coordinate estimation system designed for estimating the coordinates of SMD components during soldering or desoldering tasks. The system was specifically designed for Selective Compliance Articulated Robot Arm (SCARA) robots to overcome the challenges of repairing miniature PCB components. The proposed system integrates Image-Based Visual Servoing (IBVS) for precise X and Y coordinate estimation and a simplified laser triangulation method for Z-axis depth estimation. The system demonstrated accuracy rates of 98% for X and Y axes and 99% for the Z axis, coupled with high operational speed. The developed solution highlights the potential for automating PCB repair processes by enabling SCARA robots to execute precise picking and placement tasks. When equipped with a hot-air gun as the end-effector, the system could enable automated soldering and desoldering, effectively replacing faulty SMD components without human intervention. This advancement has the potential to bridge a critical gap in the PCB repair industry, improving efficiency and reducing dependence on manual expertise. Full article

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Instruments, Volume 9, Issue 2 (June 2025) – 4 articles

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