Mechanical Platform

Five agents work full-time on this platform, which consists of a mechanical workshop and a raw materials store.

We respond to requests both from within the laboratory and from outside, from numerous laboratories at CNRS, UGA, Grenoble-INP, CEA, ILL, ESRF, etc. We also work with research-based start-ups. Since 1967, the mechanical platform has always kept pace with technological developments and has been able to adapt to the demands of science.

The platform's strengths are:

• Availability and interaction between requesters and mechanics
• Responsiveness
• Knowledge and expertise in many fields
• Machining of a wide variety of materials
• Staff training

Operation

Depending on the case :

• The requester has questions about how to get his/her result, he/she can drop by the workshop to discuss it with the staff and find a simple solution.
• The requester has detailed and dimensioned drawings (made on software or by hand), he/she can bring them to the workshop for the manufacturing of the parts, or can also send them by mail in PDF format. For some jobs, we ask for a DXF file, to facilitate the programming of the numerical control machines.

In all cases, a quote will be provided and the completion time will be specified.

Team

We are a team of five agents. Over time, machinists have adapted to different technological requirements depending on the field of application. Machining skills are thus used in the fields of medicine, chemistry, biology, vacuum and ultra-high vacuum, lasers, planetology, etc.

All mechanics are accustomed to working in teams and regularly under pressure; they demonstrate particular technical skills and expertise. Their skills are recognized by all the laboratories for which they work.

Equipment

Our mechanical workshop has a wide range of machinery:

• 7 lathes (Cazeneuve, Schaublin, Hernault)
• 4 milling machines (Deckel)
• 1 numerically controlled milling machine (DMG model DMU 50)
• 1 numerically controlled lathe (SOMAB TRANSMAB 250)
• 1 2-metre cut-off saw
• 1 water jet cutter (Wazer)
• 1 5-wire 3D printer (Prusa)
• Other tools: semi-automatic saw, guillotine, press, rolling machine, bending machine, 2 TIG stations, etc.

We machine all kinds of materials:

• Non-ferrous: aluminium, copper, brass, etc.
• Ferrous: stainless steel, steel, etc.
• Plastics: PC, PMMA, POM, PTFE, PEEK, etc.
• More exotic materials: molybdenum, titanium, etc.