The European Space Agency’s Rosalind Franklin Rover is due for launch from Baikonur, Kazakhstan in summer 2022, with a target to land on the surface of Mars in March 2023. Once there it will set about identifying signs of water-rich minerals, which could indicate past life. Key to these investigations will be the optical bench which, as the ‘eyes’ of the rover will contain two stereo cameras, a mono high-definition camera and array of electronics. Known as the ‘Pan Cam’ this device was developed and manufactured by the Mullard Space Science Laboratory, the home of UCL’s Department for Space & Climate Physics.

The optical bench comprises a box with separate top and bottom, machined from 5083 grade aluminium, which are joined together using electron beam welding techniques. Machining was completed at the laboratory’s workshop in Surrey using an XYZ MiniMill, the smallest vertical machining centre available from XYZ Machine Tools.

Due to the complex design, there were some extremely fine details to machine, such as an O-ring groove around the lid, measuring just 0.35 mm wide, as well as numerous M1.6 threaded holes.
The success of this project convinced Simon Hemsley – head of the mechanical workshop – of the value and flexibility provided by machining centres with tool-change capabilities. So much so that an order has just been placed for an XYZ 500 LR linear rail vertical machining centre. This machine, which has been part funded through the Government’s Research Capital Investment Fund, comes with the latest Siemens 828D control featuring the optional advanced programming software package that includes ShopMill technology.

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