Components of the European Research Satellite EURECA
EURECA was put into earth's orbit by the space shuttle Atlantis at an altitude of 508 km. After 10 months of successful scientific experiments, the satellite was retrieved by the space shuttle Endeavour, so that the results could be analyzed. It has since been re-equipped for further missions. The FAULHABER miniature drive system was employed to drive a swivel slide valve extremely precise and slow in a device for the culture of large mono-crystals.
FAULHABER drive solution: Miniature drive system with a guaranteed minimum operating lifetime of 1000 hours as well as operability within the temperature range of -30 oC to +150 oC and a gravitational pull of 20 G in all three dimensions. This was made possible by the combination of a DC-Micromotor series 2233 with encoder and a specially developed hybrid gearhead with reduction ratio 636'155:1. The hybrid gearhead, combining spur and planetary gearhead arrangements, was made in 100% stainless steel. Some parts were treated with a TiNitrid coating and a special lubrication was adopted for the extreme conditions.
