The Mechanical engineering department responds to the needs of the laboratory poles. It carries out studies (design, calculations and sizing), mechanical engineering (technical specifications and monitoring of industrial achievements), the production of mechanical assemblies and prototypes, measurement and test checks, on-site assembly and maintenance if necessary.

The department is organized into 2 departments: a Design office and a Realizations and mechanical assemblies Service distributed in several workshops.

Among its main activities, one can cite study and design activities (CAO CATIA), the realization of vibration, thermal and resistance calculations of materials, instrumental R&D, internal / external manufacturing monitoring, Assembly and integration on site, management of clean rooms and assembly rooms, activities in cryogenics and vacuum, conditioning of power couplers, production and R&D on photo-injector guns (machining, vacuum brazing), manufacturing of parts on machines conventional and / or digital tools, 3D plastic printing, sheet metal work (welding, forming, etc.), dimensional and alignment checks.

The department has different tools. Studies and designs go through CATIA V5, finite element modeling by CATIA and ANSYS analysis. The measurement activities are based on a traction machine and various sensors (force, extensometer, vibrations, accelerometer, magnetic field). The dimensional control relies on various tools (three-dimensional machine, dimensional and alignment laser tracker, measuring arm, roughness, profile measurement).

The manufacturing activities benefit from 3-axis and 4-axis CNC machining centers for milling and turning, a wire EDM machine, conventional tooling for turning and milling. The sheet metal and boilermaking workshop performs T.IG., M.IG. welding, vacuum brazing, folding, cutting, with hydraulic press, rolling machine, punching. Manufacturing activities are carried out for parts in composite materials (use of oven) and for parts in additive manufacturing (plastic 3D printers).

Assembly and test activities are carried out in halls equipped with overhead traveling cranes carrying up to 15 tonnes, and in clean rooms of ISO class 4 to 6.