Square Foot Manufacturing: a new production concept for micro manufacturing

Abstract

Today a large number of microstructures are already employed as separate components or as constituents of larger modules in a broad spectrum of production in medical technology, optics, biotechnology, mechatronics, fluidics, (micro)-forming and tool construction. Current research activities are directed towards the downscaling of manufacturing procedures or the formation of complex process chains for the manufacture of micro workpieces. The Square Foot Manufacturing concept represents one approach aimed at achieving significant technical, economic and ecological developments in the production of microstructures by means of machining techniques that can be applied to a spectrum of materials as broad as possible. This fabrication concept representing a refinement of existing desktop manufacturing concepts is currently being developed at the Institute of Production Engineering of Helmut-Schmidt-University/University of the Federal Armed Forces Hamburg. This paper is intended to provide an overview of the theoretical concept and the current state of its technical implementation.

A function integrated and intelligent mechanical interface for small modular machine tools

“…Here, a six-point mounting, as previously stated in [14], is selected as the positioning principle due to its high precision. Although being uncommon in macro machine tools, stiffness of a six-point mounting is sufficient as forces and momentums are relatively low for these novel, miniaturized machine modules [2]. Other error sources such as thermal influences are reduced because of size effects [15].…”

“…By reducing the size, the segmentation of the machine tool into small modules is possible [2]. The idea of modularity can be extended to the requirement for changeability of the complete machine system [3].…”

Application of Cause-Effect-Networks for the process planning in laser rod end melting

“…During the last decades, the demand for metallic micro parts continuously increased. On the one hand, these components become increasingly smaller while on the other hand, their shape's complexity and their functionality constantly increases [1], [2], [3]. Major factors contributing to this development are a rising number and complexity of applications for micro components as well as an increasing demand for such components in the markets of medical-and consumerelectronics [3].…”

Application of Stochastic Regression for the Configuration of Microrotary Swaging Processes

“…During the last years, the demand of microcomponents increased strongly. Thereby, single components became increasingly smaller, while providing more functionality and consisting of more complex geometries [1]. In addition, increasing production rates and high demands regarding the components quality render the manufacturing of microcomponents a complex task.…”