News

SQS is involved in creation of an ARINC 836A standard for small cabin enclosures Type II – Miniature MRP (Modular Rack Principle) called Mini Modules (MM).

The new standard creates a concept for the installation of optical and electrical devices in the cabin of the aircraft, with an emphasis on smaller dimensions, less weight, resistance of module and frame connectors to operating errors, modularity and interchangeability of individual modules.

Mini modules can be used in all industrial applications where electronic or optical components of the system will be operated under demanding conditions, especially with respect to vibrations and a wide range of operating temperatures. For example in modern aircrafts with composite fuselage, the MM distributed system can deploy Mini Modules with electronics to multiple locations in the fuselage to provide a very efficient drain of the large amount of heat that the electronics generate.

SQS offers Mini Modules in all ARINC 836A variants equipped with its own design of locking mechanism ensuring a defined insertion and locking of the Mini Module. The design of the locking mechanism by SQS is not part of the ARINC 836A standard and it is protected by the European and American patent registered under number EP 2811326 resp. US 9086549. SQS offers Customers who would like to produce Mini Modules individually to use a license for the patented locking mechanism. Detailed license conditions will be sent to specific customers on request.

Due to our new process of active alignment of fibers onto lenses we are achieving minimum offset as well as angular deviation of outgoing light beams.

A micro-lens array is available with PM fibers as well as with high light power variants.

We would be pleased to welcome you at our stand no. D4b. The presentation of SQS is focused on new products based on company’s unique R&D and manufacturing capabilities resulting in combination of know-how and skills in three very demanding technical disciplines: fiber optics, optoelectronics, and micro machining. SQS is going to introduce especially new versions of optical fiber feedthroughs, fibre bundles, high-power and PM components, and also new activities in optoelectronic production and micro machining.

The W3 FAIR is an interdisciplinary networking trade fair for the fields of optics, electronics and mechanics. It provides these high-tech sectors with a new, multidisciplinary forum for information, innovation and contact in the traditional location of Wetzlar in Germany.

The W3 FAIR promotes communication and networking among experts and paves the way for innovative solutions and new business - a real model for success.

Dear business partners, dear friends: We wish you a Merry Christmas, and luck, good health and a lot of personal and professional success in the coming year of 2017.

  SQS Vlaknova optika a.s.

We have expanded our portfolio of vacuum feedthroughs. Now we are offering such an adaptor featuring feedthroughs, which are able to seal polarization maintaining fiber (PMf) within themselves with minimum insertion loss and maximum extinction ratio.

These feedthroughs are set in a wall of a flange, providing interfacing between normal and high vacuum environment.

Supported Projects Overview:

Automation of production of optical fiber components and serial production of high-precision fiber arrays with collimators

OP PIC - INNOVATION - IX. CALL

The aim of the project is to automate production processes in the production of fiber optic components and to start automatic serial production of new fiber optic modules with high-precision fiber optic arrays with collimators. The design of these components has been developed and optimized for multi-channel optical signal transmission between optical fibers and the corresponding inputs and outputs of photonic integrated circuits (PICs) for a new generation of photonic devices and systems with high transmission capacity.

Expansion of development capacities with CNC machining and measurement technologies with submicron precision

OP PIK - POTENTIAL - VII. CALL

The aim of the project, which is currently in the implementation phase, is to expand the research and innovation capacity with CNC machining and measurement technology for the development of extremely precise mechanical parts of special optical assemblies with high added value. The project builds on many years of experience in the development of precision mechanical parts and fundamentally shifts the company's development capabilities in the field of machining and contact measurement to submicron precision. The motivation for such precision is research applications focused on unique combinations of precision mechanics and top optics.

Offer of Supported Infrastructure Development Services

The new equipment of the development workshop of the Precision CNC Machining and Measurement Department advances the company's machining and metrology development capabilities to the currently highest achievable technological maturity in the field of submicron precision and thus opens up space for the implementation of research and development projects in new application areas of fiber optics.

Purchased machines:

• CNC lathe for hard machining
• Coordinate measuring machine
• Advanced dimensional control of workpieces

List of exams:

• Development of a functional sample, prototype, rotary mechanical part with a requirement for micron (1 µm = 0.001 mm) to submicron (<1 µm) accuracy of outer and inner diameters with the required mutual alignment of the outer and inner diameter in the order of microns.
• Micro-drilling of holes with diameters according to the optical fiber used (e.g. typically from a diameter of 0.080 mm to a diameter of 1.050 mm).
• Related high-precision measurement of the mechanical part under development on a coordinate measuring machine
• Dimensional control of workpieces

The price charged for the operation or use of this infrastructure will correspond to the market price. The price of the contract for the provision of infrastructure will be determined based on the specific demand of the entity that will be interested in the offered services.

SQS Educational Center - DS Saurus

OP EMPLOYMENT - SUPPORT FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT AND OPERATION OF CHILDREN'S GROUPS FOR ENTERPRISES AND THE PUBLIC

The aim of the project is to build and operate a childcare facility. A corporate children's group facility with a capacity of 12 children was established. It is currently in the operation phase.

Purchase of machines and equipment for prototyping

OP PIK - POTENTIAL - I. CALL

On December 9, 2016 SQS Fiber Optics received a grant decision. The innovation project of "Purchase of machinery and equipment for prototyping" received support from the Operational Program Enterprise and Innovation for Competitiveness, support program Potential 1st call.

The main objective of the project is the implementation of laser and CNC micromachining for development of high precision mechanical parts of fiber optic and optoelectronic products.

The project includes the acquisition, installation and commissioning of machinery and equipment for the production of prototype products developed by the research and development department of the company. The aim is to enable the development department to manufacture prototypes of precision mechanical parts of various fiber optic and optoelectronic products, incl. solutions for demanding industrial applications and specific customized solutions. The aim of the project is to increase the competitiveness of the company. The project will in particular contribute to streamline and speed up development works and thus accelerate the implementation of the results of industrial research and development into production.

As of the end of the project, i.e. from 30/06/2018, all acquired technology is also available as a service to other entities for carrying out the following tests. The supported infrastructure services may be used by third parties exclusively for conducting research, e.g. for the construction of functional samples and prototypes.

The price charged for the operation or use of this infrastructure will correspond to the market price. The price of the contract for the provision of infrastructure services will be determined based on the specific demand of the entity that will be interested in the offered services. Services offered by the supported infrastructure:

IR Femtosecond laser (incl. high-precision workpiece positioning)

• tests of machinability of glasses with a femtosecond laser
• tests of direct writing of waveguides into glasses
• LIDT (Laser Induced Damage Threshold) test for an IR femtosecond laser

Multifunctional CNC machining center

• high-precision machinability tests of mechanical parts (including materials that are difficult to machine, e.g. titanium, duplex steel or materials from the category of superalloys, e.g. inconel)
• machinability tests of rotary components, which, in addition to turning operations, often contain a large proportion of milling and drilling operations at various angles, including free-form surfaces
• finding a functional and manufacturing optimal design solution

High precision CNC milling center

• machinability tests in micron to sub-micron accuracies (both for traditional metal materials, e.g. stainless steel, and for hard-to-machine materials such as glass and ceramics)
• machinability tests of complicated shaped parts

Coordinate measuring machine for optical measurement of roughness and profile

Optical measurements of workpieces

• precision mechanical parts measurements
• quality of surfaces measurements

Optical measurements of machining tools

• geometry and quality of cutting edges of machining tools measurements
• detection of defects on machining tools

Note: Especially in the tasks of achieving polished surfaces and machining with micron accuracies, it is necessary to pay maximum attention not only to the machine tool and the technology used, but also to the machining tools. In the case of high precision machining, it is necessary to perform an inspection of the machining tools before they are used in the machining process.

SQS has expanded its production program by optical fiber feedthrougs with pigtail interface. The new versions of feedthroughs had been designed for applications in high pressure environment exceeding pressures of 100 MPa. SQS may offer these high-pressure optical fiber feedthroughs in standard or custom-made designs. The optical fiber sealed inside the feedthrough shows minimal insertion loss. The optimized optical fiber feedthroug design provides time stability of all transmission parameters in all operating modes.

Such optical splitters split continuous or pulsed optical signal from the input fiber into the output fibers with highly uniform optical power. They are suitable for visible and near infra-red wavelength range where PLCs are not available. Input fibers are fitted with SMA or FC connectors with metal ferrule. Output fibers are with LC/PC or other types of connectors.

SQS Vláknová optika a.s. extended its product line of fiber arrays by a 2D fiber array with polarization maintaining fiber (PM). We are capable to manufacture PM 2D array with PM fiber according to customer requirements with extinction ratio (ER) typically larger than 25 dB and the angular deviation of propagating axis of polarization in the plane of 2D array is typically better than /- 2,5 degrees.

Into the section of fiber-optic feedthroughs with adapter interface were added two instructional assembly videos. One of them shows assembly of a feedthrough into a CF40 flunge and the other instructional video shows the exchange of ferrule's sleeves.

The media converters are designed to convert 10/100Base-T signals to/from 100Base-FX fiber signals. It is used to extend the connection distance between two Ethernet devices via fiber cable transparently with no performance degradation.

SQS is going to attend Light Building in Frankfurt as an exhibitor. Together with IQS (IQ Structures, our partner company), we are going to introduce our mutual project combining nanostructure optics by IQS with LED light engines and modules by SQS. The SQS IQS presentation will be focused on capabilities of both companies in offering Specialised Tailored Solutions of optics and LED light. We would be pleased to welcome you at our stand in Hall 4.0 number C10.