Why us?
Our mission is to provide a full service, from initial problem definition through to the supply of high performance thermal components and systems. This includes mechanical design, thermal analysis, prototyping and production.
The team design, analyse and test all components using the latest software and machinery to ensure that client performance requirements are consistently achieved.
Mechanical design
From an initial concept, we can produce technical mechanical drawings and designs for thermal elements. Our mechanical engineering team are specialists in the area of thermal management and all designs are complemented by the use of thermal simulation to determine the performance and efficiency of the component under various conditions.
We have a team of skilled CAD designers that can help you visualise your idea or concept from a simple sketch into a mechanical design to ensure that all components fit and will work together correctly. We use SolidWorks to produce our designs but CAD drawings and performance data can be sent in any format necessary. We can also take your model and simplify it for simulation purposes to resolve any geometric issues, saving time and money for simulations.
Thermal analysis
We offer the following types of thermal analysis:
- Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) techniques using Ansys CFX and Fluent. CFD is used to predict the behaviour of liquids and gases by conducting fluid flow and thermal analysis.
- Mathematical modelling using Matlab.
- Thermography using a FLIR thermal imaging camera.
Simulation, test and monitoring
Analysis and CFD simulations are carried out on our dedicated HPC cluster computer server. Parallel processing enables us to carry out and solve very large and complex thermo-fluids problems and get results in relatively short periods. The computing power is backed up by dedicated thermal management test facilities that we use to verify our simulations.
Airflow and temperature sensing
Thermal analysis is used to determine how the physical and chemical properties of a substance change as a function of temperature during a temperature-controlled programme. Undertaking proper simulations and analysis at the beginning of a project ensures that potentially costly mistakes are identified as soon as possible. The process may unlock further potential for the project and issues identified are usually easily amended.
Environmental test facility
Our workshop has an environmental test chamber to simulate the temperature and humidity conditions to which machinery, materials, devices or components may be exposed. The test chamber is a Heraeus Vösch HC-4057 chamber which is capable of simulating temperature conditions between -40 to +180ºC with relative humidity of up to 95%.
Stress analysis
We can offer the following types of stress analysis:
- Finite Element Analysis (FEA) using Ansys Mechanical – FEA in the early stages of a project ensures that costly mistakes are avoided at the prototyping or build stages.
- Multi-physics modelling using COMSOL.
Stress analysis can be used to determine how a component may perform under stresses such as vibration or force, performance data will be provided for analysis work that is undertaken.
Embedded electronics
Embedded electronics systems can be created from design to supply for a variety of applications such as temperature or speed controls for a fan. Our skilled in-house electronics team can take an idea or a concept from design through to production with strict testing, ensuring that all performance requirements are met throughout the process. Our software and systems design capabilities include -
- schematics and PCB layout design in Altium environment,
- embedded firmware design and programming in C, C++ and Python
- solid experience in MSP430 and TI ARM cores and
- Windows-based GUI programming.
Hardware and software development
Our current embedded electronics product development is focused on; power, thermal, sensing and energy harvesting, resulting in off-the-shelf and evaluation/prototype solutions. We are continually advancing design and manufacturing capabilities to ensure that we maintain a competitive position within our markets.
Design for manufacture
We are heavily investing and broadening our design and manufacturing capabilities in both hardware and software systems, gaining invaluable expertise with the aim to become completely autonomous, creating innovative and user-friendly products with outstanding reliability and quality.
Prototyping
Our in-house workshop can build, test and provide performance data for any thermal component prototype, we then work with you to analyse performance and engineer the best solution for your requirements.
The workshop machinery includes two CNC machines. In May 2018 we took delivery of the CNC lathe. Part-funded by a Leicestershire Business Growth grant, this lathe will allow us to produce more complex thermal components both for prototyping and small production runs.
