EngD position - Flexure-based suspension development for cryogenic superconducting actuator

The EngD programme is a 2-year post-MSc technological programme with a focus on technological design. This programme contains an educational part that will be followed at the University of Twente, and a design project that will be carried out in collaboration with several groups from the University and the international company VDL ETG in the Actuator project. The educational programme will have an in-depth and broadening character with ample attention for professional development and will be partly tailored to the design project.

For the increasing accelerations of manipulation stages, the limits of permanent-magnet based actuators are (almost) reached. A next step would be to integrate superconduction in the positioning systems, but preferably not at the extremes of cryogenic temperatures. The goal of the project is 1) to design and build a miniature superconducting actuator system and 2) to develop generic tools and technologies for the design and manufacturing of superconducting actuators. This EngD project is part of a larger programme of the Science & Technology faculty in which technologies are developed for high-temperature superconducting applications. This technology includes optimized magnetic topology, coil design and the deposition of superconducting materials.

The EngD will be responsible for:
Precision mechanical design aspects of superconducting actuators, which includes achieving high support stiffness, range and accuracy under extreme magnetic forces at cryogenic temperatures.
Use of flexures to supply power and cooling to superconducting coils while allowing large movement strokes at cryogenic temperatures.
Manufacturing strategies for (miniature) superconducting actuators.
The assignment will be carried out at the University of Twente.