Single‐Step‐Lithography Micro‐Stepper Based on Frictional Contact and Chiral Metamaterial

Abstract

Stepper motors and actuators are among the main constituents of control motion devices. They are complex multibody systems with rather large overall volume due to their multifunctional parts and elaborate technological assembly processes. Miniaturization of individual parts is still posing assembly problems. In this paper, a single‐step lithography process to fabricate a micro‐stepper engine with an accurate micrometric rotation axis and an overall sub‐millimeter size is demonstrated. The device is based on the frictional contacts and chiral metamaterials to get rid of the dependence on the accuracy of parts. The functional aspects of fabricated samples are discussed for many rotation cycles and for different frictional surfaces.

Non-reciprocal and Non-Newtonian Mechanical Metamaterials

“…However, there are still many challenges to overcome in the design of periodic porous metamaterials with embedded multi-body systems. For instance, the distance between each flexible component is tough to control precisely, especially at the micron scale 76 . Therefore, a more straightforward method to design the converters is required.…”

Micro‐Scale Mechanical Metamaterial with a Controllable Transition in the Poisson's Ratio and Band Gap Formation

“…[18,19] One of the most promising fields of study relating to such easily applicable functional materials is that of mechanical metamaterials. [20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37] Mechanical metamaterials are rationally designed structures that can exhibit counterintuitive mechanical properties based primarily on their design rather than their chemical composition. The most studied cases and well-known examples of metamaterials with extraordinary mechanical properties pertain to those with negative properties such as a negative Poisson's ratio (auxetic compression.…”

Bioinspired Flexible and Programmable Negative Stiffness Mechanical Metamaterials

“…Mechanical metamaterials are man-made by principle and possess distinctive characteristics compared to traditional materials. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10] Their properties mainly depend on their architecture rather than on their chemical composition. [11][12][13][14][15][16] A considerable number of mechanical metamaterial articles have been published during the last two decades.…”