3D Digital Simulation Technique for Design and Optimization of Active Laser Reflector
For large-scale scientific devices like tokamak and particle accelerators, it is necessary to automatically monitor the positions and gestures of their important components. Laser trackers and reflectors are suitable for monitoring these devices, and it is necessary to use active laser reflectors as datum points to ensure they can receive the beams from different laser trackers. In this article, a new version of active laser reflector was designed and a new prototype was based on the weakness of the first version. In terms of the structure, an adjustable turntable and a customized reflector for the second prototype were designed, utilizing 3D digital simulation techniques and CATIA for design and optimization with finite element analysis (FEA). CATIA models were instrumental in generating precise manufacturing drawings and aiding in the assembly and adjustment process. Through digital integration, a reduction in positioning accuracy was achieved from ±0.23 mm to ±0.1 mm, thereby enhancing precision substantially. The objective of this work was to re-engineer the control software, ensuring compliance with the protocols of modern automated monitoring systems. Based on the principle of automatic monitoring, it has established a simulated automatic monitoring system in the laboratory using the two active laser reflectors. The simulated system can measure the length of standard ruler at regular intervals automatically, which preliminary verified the feasibility to build automatic monitoring system using the designed active laser reflector.