Micro Machines

An introduction to microscopic technologies and their potential uses.

This book introduces interesting topics, from concepts to the latest research, on cellular and micro robotic systems. The cellular robotic system is a self-organizing robotic system composed of a large number of autonomous robotic units, named cells. This idea came from the organic structure of a living body. Several attractive topics in this area are covered, such as swarm intelligence, communications, and robotic mechanisms. The micro robotic system is currently the most fascinating technology. Micro mechanisms, control and intelligence, with respect to this system are treated here. The combination of both technologies will prepare the way for a new paradigm in the field of engineering.

In Light Driven Micromachines, the fundamental principles and unique characteristics of light driven material structures, simple mechanisms and integrated machines are explored. Very small light driven systems provide a number of interesting features and unique design opportunities because streams of photons deliver energy into the system and provide the control signal used to regulate the response of the micron sized device. Through innovative material design and clever component fabrication, these optically powered tiny machines can be created to perform mechanical work when exposed to varying light intensity, wavelength, phase, and/or polarization. The book begins with the scientific background necessary to understand the nature of light and how light can initiate physical movement by inducing material deformation or altering the surrounding environment to impose micro-forces on the actuating mechanisms. The impact of physical size on the performance of light driven mechanisms and machines is discussed, and the nature of light–material interactions is reviewed. These interactions enable very small objects and mechanical components to be trapped and manipulated by a focused light beam, or produce local temperature gradients that force certain materials to undergo shape transformation. Advanced phase transition gels, polymers, carbon-based films and piezoelectric ceramics that exhibit direct light-to-mechanical energy conversion are examined from the perspective of designing optically driven actuators and mechanical systems. The ability of light to create photothermal effects that drive microfluidic processes and initiate the phase transformation of temperature sensitive shape memory materials are also explored in the book. This compendium seeks to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers by presenting the fundamental principles of this emerging interdisciplinary technology and exploring how the properties of light can be exploited for microfluidic, microrobotic, biomedical and space applications.

Advanced robotics describes the use of sensor-based robotic devices which exploit powerful computers to achieve the high levels of functionality that begin to mimic intelligent human behaviour. The object of this book is to summarise developments in the base technologies, survey recent applications and highlight new advanced concepts which will influence future progress.

Micro-Cutting: Fundamentals and Applications comprehensively covers the state of the art research and engineering practice in micro/nano cutting: an area which is becoming increasingly important, especially in modern micro-manufacturing, ultraprecision manufacturing and high value manufacturing. This book provides basic theory, design and analysis of micro-toolings and machines, modelling methods and techniques, and integrated approaches for micro-cutting. The fundamental characteristics, modelling, simulation and optimization of micro/nano cutting processes are emphasized with particular reference to the predictabilty, producibility, repeatability and productivity of manufacturing at micro and nano scales. The fundamentals of micro/nano cutting are applied to a variety of machining processes including diamond turning, micromilling, micro/nano grinding/polishing, ultraprecision machining, and the design and implementation of micro/nano cutting process chains and micromachining systems. Key features • Contains contributions from leading global experts • Covers the fundamental theory of micro-cutting • Presents applications in a variety of machining processes • Includes examples of how to implement and apply micro-cutting for precision and micro-manufacturing Micro-Cutting: Fundamentals and Applications is an ideal reference for manufacturing engineers, production supervisors, tooling engineers, planning and application engineers, as well as machine tool designers. It is also a suitable textbook for postgraduate students in the areas of micro-manufacturing, micro-engineering and advanced manufacturing methods.

A survey of the machinery and science of the nanometer scale. Its twenty-two contributing authors, drawn from many different disciplines including atomic physics, microelectronics, polymer chemistry, and biophysics, delineate the course of current research and articulate a vision for the development of the nanometer frontiers in electronics, mechanics, chemistry, magnetics, materials, and biology. They reveal a world thirty years hence where motors are smaller than the diameter of a human hair; where single-celled organisms are programmed to fabricate materials with nanometer precision; where single atoms are used for computation, and where quantum chaos is the norm. Aimed at the level of at least a junior- or senior- level undergraduate in biology, chemistry, physics, or engineering.

Micro-injection moulding is a new process, and as such it has not been thoroughly investigated until now. The peculiarities related to the three dimensional aspect of the cavity and the very small length and time scales at stake make it a very specific technology compared to conventional injection moulding. The aim of this thesis is to pave the way for micro-injection moulding modelling with a special emphasis on micro-cavity filling. Besides giving insight into the process, this work demonstrates the importance of visco-elastic effects and investigates further related issues. The different steps adopted in this work are the following ones: first an extensive review of the process is proposed, followed by a reflection on micro-cavity filling and polymer behaviour which ends up with the choice of the Giesekus model as an appropriate viscoelastic model for some polymers used in this process. A chapter dedicated to polymer characterization conducted on PC Lexan HF11110R, a micro-injection suited amorphous material, shows that the Newtonian viscosity is very low. In this case, the model admissibility from a mathematical and thermodynamic point of view is not guaranteed. This admissibility is the object of a chapter which provides an analysis for the Giesekus model completed with the PC Lexan material parameters. A further mathematical consequence of a vanishing Newtonian viscosity is that the number of inlet boundary conditions to be prescribed for the extra-stress tensor is reduced to 4 instead of 6 in case of a non-vanishing Newtonian viscosity. A specific numerical scheme to tackle this problem is proposed along with a theta-splitting based method which allows us to separate the viscous and visco-elastic effects in the governing equations and to treat subsequently a modified Stokes sub-problem and a transport sub-problem. Finally, a micromixer design and prototyping is presented as an application of this promising process.