Non-Contact Sensor Technology to Locate Electromagnetic Grids in Ceramics

Electromagnetic structures buried in optical ceramic domes may be accurately located using an electromagnetic sensor and detection technology. A preliminary experiment demonstrated this claim but an investigation into electromagnetic properties that can vary as a result of manufacturing tolerance is required. Similar off-the-shelf technologies will be prone to error caused by these property variations. Competing technologies such as capacitive, optical, or sonic lack a key advantage the electromagnetic approach offers - optical ceramic, cutting fluids, dust, and surface conditions are electromagnetically transparent. This makes it possible to develop a small, light weight sensor that can integrate to a standard coordinate measuring machine or directly to a ceramic grinding and polishing machine. In a manufacturing environment, the sensing technology could be used to tell the grinding and polishing machine, real-time, where to locate dome surfaces. Resodyn Corporation proposes a Phase I study to quantify electromagnetic property variations on test specimens manufactured to tolerance limits. Using existing Resodyn Corporation technology and know-how a custom sensor will be fabricated for the study and compensation methods will be formulated.