Additive manufacturing, reverse engineering and metrology to support mechanical design: future developments among the INAF facilities

In the framework of STILES PNRR Project and as a natural evolution of the INAF Minigrant project on the Integrated approach to the mechanical design for Astronomical Instrumentation, was funded an advanced mechanical engineering laboratory inside the INAF - Observatory of Naples. This facility represents a leap forward in technological research applied to design and development of Ground-based Telescope Instrumentation for the INAF researchers. The role of the new laboratory for mechanical engineering is essentially to support the advanced design, prototype with different Additive Manufacturing 3D printers, maintain state-of-the-art for astronomical instruments and equipment and revamp/retrofit the existent facilities utilizing also the Reverse Engineering approach. The real innovation of this laboratory is represented by the technologies and techniques that will be implemented inside it. Another focus is on Metrology applied to characterize, control and accept the mechanical items designed validated by FEA approach. The synergy between these disciplines promises to improve the scientific collaboration and the technological expertise for INAF researchers of Naples.