The history of our UAP project.


  • April 2018

    UAP Project Kick-off

    The User Adjustable Pole-piece (UAP) project was initiated following a 2018 Science Foundation Ireland infrastructure call. Even before the point of bidding for a new TEM, pole-gap choices and compromises are made.

  • July 2018

    Initial Designs

    Initial designs were developed after studying the existing 200kV pole-piece. The main principle behind the lifting mechanism was decided.

    July 2018

  • September 2018

    First Vendor Meeting

    Preliminary discussions were held with JEOL’s Tokyo factory R&D team. After positive feedback on the concept, a research student was hired to work on the UAP team.

  • April 2019

    First Plastic 3D Print

    3D printing of first design in plastic begins. The plastic printing has limited precision but already allows aspects of the mechanics concept to be tested.

    April 2019

  • May 2019

    OL Module Arrives

    A loaned objective-lens (OL) module arrives from JEOL Tokyo. This allows for the mechanical integration design tasks to begin.

  • August 2019

    First Metal 3D Print

    An updated design is 3D printed in metal. The metal print is more precise and heavier giving a more realistic test of the mechanism and leading to some design revisions.

    August 2019

  • October 2019

    Magnetic Simulations Completed

    Computer simulations of the UAP design are conducted, starting with the current OL design as a reference. These simulations allow the shape and strength of the lens field to be predicted for each pole-gap setting.

  • December 2019

    Endoscopic Camera Added

    An endoscopic camera is used to visualise the pole movement as the gap spacing adjusts. The camera shows a visualisation of what future users might see when the UAP is in use.

    December 2019

  • March 2020

    Royal Society Scientific Entrepreneurship Course

    UAP innovation was pitched as part of an ‘elevator style’ competition and declared winner.

  • August 2020

    Motorised Controller Developed

    The first test of motorised controller for the gap adjustment. The electronic controller makes the position adjustments easier and more reproducible.

    August 2020

  • November 2020

    First CNC Parts Machined

    The first machined components are manufactured in aircraft grade aluminium yielding superior precision and surface finish.

  • June 2021

    Partnership with IMR

    Discussions opened with the Irish Manufacturing Research centre (IMR) at Mullingar, national specialists in advanced manufacturing.

    June 2021

  • October 2021

    Enterprise Ireland Commercialisation Funding Awarded

    Secured a substantial funding award to expand the team and pilot produce the first UAP units for delivery.

  • December 2021

    First Dedicated Conference Presentation

    Team-member Patrick McBean presents the first public conference talk on the UAP at the SEMT meeting in London.

    December 2021

  • April 2022

    Patrick McBean wins Poster Award

    Team-member Patrick McBean wins award for “Most Technologically Innovative Poster” at the MSI 2022 Conference, for his work simulating the performance of magnetic lenses.

  • May 2022

    Patrick McBean presents at PICO 2022

    Patrick McBean presents his research and the progress on the UAP development at the PICO 2022 conference.

    May 2022