WS2 used on "ultra high cleanroom" Torque Wrenches
Torque wrenches do not work too well without grease - they do when they are coated with WS2!
WS2 to Export to Mars!!
Photo "All rights reserved Beagle2"
A small East Yorkshire company have announced their ultimate export order …to Mars!
The company, WS2 Coatings Ltd. of Holme-on-Spalding-Moor, have provided their WS2 (tungsten disulphide) very low friction dry lubricant coating to the Beagle 2 Mars probe. Beagle2 is being developed by a consortium including The Space Research Centre at the University of Leicester. WS2 was developed by NASA for lubrication in deep space.
Most of the coated parts were in the Microscope
focussing/Wide Angle Mirror mechanism shown above.
The microscope focussing mechanism on Beagle2 performs two tasks
- the first to move the microscope backwards and forwards until
an in-focus image is achieved. To do this, a stepper motor turns
a leadscrew, which drives the sliding table to which the
microscope is attached. The motor bearings, leadscrew, nut and
slides have all been lubricated with WS2.
The second task of the focussing mechanism is to move the Wide
Angle Mirror (WAM) into and out of the field of view of one of
the pair of stereo cameras.
The lubricated components must withstand high vibration and shock
loading associated with the launch and landing. They must also
withstand 6 months in the vacuum of space while Beagle2 travels
to Mars. Finally the mechanisms must work on Mars for 6 months at
temperatures ranging from 0C to -90C.
Currently the WS2 coated components are being tested in
conditions simulating the flight and operations, and have
performed well.
WS2 works well from –273o to 450o C
and down to 10-14 Torr and has earth based uses in
plastics injection moulding and engineering.
Information on WS2 can be found at www.ws2.co.uk and Beagle2 at www.beagle2.com
WS2 Coatings Tel 01430 861222