Thermo Fisher: Cable Infrastructure Design for Electron Microscopes

Modular and future‑proof cable infrastructure for electron microscopes

Thermo Fisher Scientific required additional functionality integrated into an existing electron microscope platform, without increasing the system footprint and while preserving strict Design for Serviceability principles.

OUR CLIENT

Thermo Fisher Scientific is a global leader in advanced scientific and imaging technologies. Their products are used in high‑precision research, semiconductor development, and industrial innovation, requiring consistently high engineering standards, reliability, and scalable product architectures.

THE CHALLENGE

Increasing functionality within a fixed footprint

Thermo Fisher needed to integrate new system capabilities into an already densely packed electron‑microscope platform without increasing the 3 × 3 × 5 m housing.

Maintaining serviceability in complex environments

All added systems had to remain accessible for maintenance, upgrades, and field service, despite extremely limited space.

Adapting to evolving technical requirements

During the project, new insights and customer requests continued to emerge. The design had to stay flexible, robust, and aligned with the platform architecture.

Building excellence together

Together were delivered a clear, repeatable, and scalable design package, including detailed 3D cable‑routing models and structured documentation such as cable‑length tables.

The impact we made

A future‑proof cable architecture enabling consistent replication across customer configurations:

Facing Similar challenges?

PDM supports high‑tech OEMs in engineering modular, scalable, and service‑friendly system designs.

OUR APPROACH in action

We joined Thermo Fisher’s design team as part of the core engineering backbone, with one clear goal: make the add‑on systems feel like they had always been part of the original machine.

Designed for fast maintenance
We mapped service actions first and routed all add‑on cabling so technicians can still reach everything inside the tight 3 × 3 × 5 m housing.

Created modular cable clusters
We clustered new cables and hoses into clean, removable modules to simplify installation and service.

Engineered with proven methods
We integrated all cables, hoses, brackets and dynamic breaches using standard CAD/CAM tools and best‑practice design rules.
Fitted everything within the original housing
We fitted all additions within the original envelope with room left for future options.
Delivered documentation ready for reuse
3D routing visuals and cable‑length tables enable Thermo Fisher to reuse this configuration across future customers.

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Design & Engineering

We help manufacturers accelerate complex product development through modular design, scalable architectures, and engineering excellence from concept to integration.