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JWST Mirrors Crafted by UK Precision Engineering Pioneer
1 Apr
Summary
- Patrick McKeown developed 11 principles of machine design.
- His work at Cranfield led to ultra-precision tools for medical scanners.
- His unit manufactured mirrors for the James Webb Space Telescope.
Patrick McKeown, a renowned precision engineer, passed away at 95. He authored '11 principles of machine design,' which became a cornerstone of precision engineering globally. In 1968, he established a leading precision engineering unit at Cranfield University.
This unit developed ultra-precision tools capable of measuring and shaping objects to atomic-level accuracy. These technologies are vital for creating MRI and CT scanners, large stadium display screens, and the tiny integrated circuits found in phones and laptops.
A significant achievement was the manufacturing of high-precision mirrors for the James Webb Space Telescope's Mid-Infrared Instrument. McKeown's legacy also includes founding the European Society for Precision Engineering and Nanotechnology (Euspen) in 1999.
