Speaker Profile
Mr. François Barrot
Project manager, CSEM SA
Switzerland
Title
Space Heritage Flexure Design for Silicon Watch Mechanisms – and Beyond
Abstract
This presentation shows how flexure based precision mechanism design, originally developed at CSEM for demanding space applications, has been transferred to the field of watchmaking.
By combining this design heritage with deep reactive ion etching (DRIE), we are able to design and produce silicon flexure components with the accuracy required for watch oscillators and escapements.
Several original mechanisms designed and manufactured at CSEM will be presented, illustrating how this approach enables novel architectures with potential for high performance timekeeping.
The talk concludes by highlighting how the same design and manufacturing framework can open new opportunities beyond watchmaking.
By combining this design heritage with deep reactive ion etching (DRIE), we are able to design and produce silicon flexure components with the accuracy required for watch oscillators and escapements.
Several original mechanisms designed and manufactured at CSEM will be presented, illustrating how this approach enables novel architectures with potential for high performance timekeeping.
The talk concludes by highlighting how the same design and manufacturing framework can open new opportunities beyond watchmaking.
Bio
François Barrot is a Project Manager at CSEM (Swiss Center for Electronics and Microtechnology), within the Instrumentation Business Unit. He has been involved for many years in applied research and development projects related to high-precision micro-mechanical systems.
His work is carried out in close collaboration with multidisciplinary teams of engineers and researchers, whose expertise is central to the success of the projects. He mainly contributes to the coordination of projects focusing on compliant mechanisms and flexure-based systems, in particular for applications in scientific instrumentation and advanced watchmaking. His activities aim at supporting the link between research, development, and industrial partners, from early feasibility studies to functional demonstrators.
His work is carried out in close collaboration with multidisciplinary teams of engineers and researchers, whose expertise is central to the success of the projects. He mainly contributes to the coordination of projects focusing on compliant mechanisms and flexure-based systems, in particular for applications in scientific instrumentation and advanced watchmaking. His activities aim at supporting the link between research, development, and industrial partners, from early feasibility studies to functional demonstrators.