Available online
Description
An examination of the natural mineral and its ability to add precision timing to electronic circuits. John Watson from the Open University's Earth Sciences department, talks with Philip Ashby about... natural quartz, known as rock crystal to the ancient Greeks and its occurrence in the world. The programme then visits C-MAC crystals, of Harlow, England, a company that turns natural rock quartz into precision electronic components. Company director David Brown speaks about the mix of physical and electronic properties in quartz, and in a radio tour of the factory John Dowsett, the technical director, takes us through the processing stages. These include melting and re-crystallising, the use of X-rays to determine the atomic planes for subsequent machining and the mounting of the shaped crystal wafers. Paul Ekpenyong and Anne Harrison talk in brief interviews about the wider market and day to day problems of running a company requiring such varied skills amongst the workforce.
An examination of the natural mineral and its ability to add precision timing to electronic circuits. John Watson from the Open University's Earth Sciences department, talks with Philip Ashby about... natural quartz, known as rock crystal to the ancient Greeks and its occurrence in the world. The programme then visits C-MAC crystals, of Harlow, England, a company that turns natural rock quartz into precision electronic components. Company director David Brown speaks about the mix of physical and electronic properties in quartz, and in a radio tour of the factory John Dowsett, the technical director, takes us through the processing stages. These include melting and re-crystallising, the use of X-rays to determine the atomic planes for subsequent machining and the mounting of the shaped crystal wafers. Paul Ekpenyong and Anne Harrison talk in brief interviews about the wider market and day to day problems of running a company requiring such varied skills amongst the workforce.
| Series: | Technology Faculty Radio; Series T006 |
|---|---|
| Episode | 5 |
| First transmission date: | 1996-09-15 |
| Original broadcast channel: | Radio 4 LW |
| Published: | 1996 |
| Rights Statement: | Rights owned or controlled by The Open University |
| Restrictions on use: | This material can be used in accordance with The Open University conditions of use. A link to the conditions can be found at the bottom of all OUDA web pages. |
| Duration: | 00:28:54 |
| + Show more... | |
| Producer: | Philip Ashby |
| Contributors: | John Dowsett; Paul Ekpenyong; Anne Harrison; John Watson |
| Publisher: | BBC Open University |
| Keyword(s): | C-MAC crystals; Digital watch; Pulsar; Rock crystal |
| Master spool number: | 95YT0369 |
| Production number: | 95YT0369 |
| Available to public: | no |
