The Electronic and Design Service of the Physics Department supports the activity of the research laboratories by completing tasks related to electronic and mechanical systems design as well as scanning and computer aided elaboration of images and graphical materials.

The Facility takes care of planning, manufacturing, and optimization and repair of the electric and electronic equipment used in the research and teaching laboratories.

Some of this equipment requires special features not available in commercial instruments and therefore are built as prototypes.

The Facility provides technical support and counselling during the operative phases of development of a new scientific apparatus, from the design to the manufacturing, installation and usage phases.

This task is performed by working in close contact with research scientists and establishing a daily feedback process.

The Service carries out market analysis and technical-economical appraisals on the best instruments and technologies to employ in a specific project.

The successful process of instrument design and implementation requires competences in various fields such as electronics, electrotechnics, information technology for process automation, data acquisition and CAD applications, vacuum and cryogenic technologies.

The Service is equipped with advanced and up-to-date instruments for the development, testing, calibration and validation of electric safety in circuits and electric devices.

The use of an advanced CAD system integrated with a modern milling machine to make electronic circuits provides a quick and precise tool for the development and realization of prototype circuit boards.

A small mechanical workshop inside the Electronic Service is used to carry out all the necessary machine operations required for the assembly of prototypes. The widespread use of micro-controlled systems allows to satisfy user needs related to the development of automation in scientific apparatuses of increased complexity.

Such control technologies guarantee also an easy and rapid system modification, that are typical of experimental research activities. Another duty of the Facility is the design and development of software systems for instrument control and data acquisition.

In the field of mechanical development, the Service provides its competence in the design of prototypes of instruments to be used in research or teaching activities, with special reference to high and ultra-high vacuum chambers and low temperature equipments.

The drawing of technical plans for the realization of such prototypes is carried out using the CAD 3D design programs.

In the field of graphics, the Service is equipped with scanning facilities and hardware and software systems for the elaboration of images, graphics, slides, transparencies and high resolution photographic films. It carries out formatting and printing of large size (A0) posters with photographic quality.

The Electronic and Design Facility offers its services also to external users, by providing its expertise and instrumentation to public and private companies in the field of support and technical advising, design and prototype development.

Typical products

  • Custom power supplies for high voltage and/or high current applications
  • Graphical processing and printing
  • Electronics for high frequencies
  • Exhibits related to the Communication of Physical Sciences
  • Mechanical design of custom scientific instruments and components
  • Repair and calibration of electronic instruments
  • Embedded control systems based on microprocessors
  • Moving and transport systems
  • Systems for conditioning, acquisition and handling of electric signals
  • Support and technical advising
  • Software development for the automation of scientific instruments

Most significant activities

  • “Monitoring system of the Adige embankment”, Provincia Autonoma di Bolzano;
  • “Sun Tracker control” for a solar concentrator, IdEA Laboratory – Department of Physics;
  • “Convergence measurements” in the train galleries of the Merano-Malles trainline, DIMS – Geotechnical Laboratory – Faculty of Engineering, UNITN;
  • “Automated systems for sensor positioning and data acquisition on hydrodynamic pipelines for the study hydraulic phenomena”, DICA – Hydraulics Laboratory - Faculty of Engineering UNITN;
  • “RF system for ionic guides and traps”: development of the RF electronics of an ion trap for the Ulisse experiment at the Fermi@Elettra Facility, Trieste;
  • “EXAFS control system” at the GILDA beamline at the ESRF Synchrotron Radiation Facility -Grenoble (F);
  • “Exhibits for the Communication of Sciences to the general public” by the Tridentine Museum of Natural Science, within the exhibitions: “Spaziale! Astronomia in Mostra” – “Prova a Volare!” – “Giochi di Einstein” - “Destinazione stelle”;
  • “Conditioning and signal transmission for load tests on rock fall protection nets”, DIMS - Laboratory of Materials and Testing - Faculty of Engineering UNITN;
  • “Automatic control of a set-up for the coating of stainless steel balls with lubricating films” - IdEA Laboratory – Department of Physics and IAE Spa.

Service Members

Responsible Massimo Gennara
Staff Nicola FurlanLuca PenasaLuca Pichenstein