Multi Material Micro Manufacture Network of Excellence - Welcome to the 4M Network of Excellence

Kornel Ehmann appointed as Co-Chair at 4M/ICOMM 2009

Wed, 17 Dec 2008 12:38:56 +0000

Further strengthening the link with the ICOMM conference, Professor Kornel Ehmann, of Northwestern University, Illinois, USA, has been appointed a Co-Chair for the

4M December Bulletin

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 11:00:15 +0000

4M NEWS and EVENTS

*4M Association*
To continue and sustain the relationships created during the lifetime of the Network we have formed the 4M Association, and the first members have joined. Take a look at the new 4M Association website to find out more.

When polymer processing goes micro

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 09:02:28 +0000

Start: Nov 20 2008 - 09:00

End: Nov 20 2008 - 18:00

Timezone: Etc/GMT

Description:

Technology Day hosted by Plastipolis.

Presentations will be followed by a round table discussions.

General Introduction :
9h00 : What Micro-polymer processing ? Definitions, markets, processes and networks – C. Matthews, Cardiff University (UK)

SmartHEALTH Open Day

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 09:39:40 +0000

Start: Nov 28 2008 - 09:00

End: Nov 28 2008 - 13:00

Timezone: Etc/GMT

Description:

We are pleased to announce the 2nd Open Day in the course of the EC-funded SmartHEALTH Integrated Project. Driven by key applications in cancer diagnostics, SmartHEALTH was conceived and constructed to address the development and delivery of the next generation of smart diagnostic devices.
The aim of the Open Day is to interact with the user community and gather expert opinion in order to fine-tune the alignment of project aims and market needs. We will do this by introducing the technology being developed within SmartHEALTH and having an open discussion to explore the opportunities and barriers for exploitation/commercialisation in the healthcare arena. In addition, this event will launch the SmartHEALTH User Group, the role of which will be to advise the project on how to integrate the project results speedily into European healthcare systems.

Ultra-Precision Positioning Systems - piezo drive systems as a future enabling technology

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 12:09:55 +0000

Start: Nov 17 2008 - 14:00

End: Nov 17 2008 - 16:30

Timezone: Etc/GMT

Description:

In light of the ever increasing industry-driven demand for accurate positioning, this symposium discusses the state of the art of precise positioning systems, with a focus on recent developments and applications of piezoelectric driving technology. Piezoelectric positioning systems are gaining maturity, and have gradually evolved into interesting - but sometimes unknown - alternatives to conventionally driven systems in a multitude of automation, biomedical, manufacturing and metrological applications.

Technologies for the manufacture of miniaturised moulded interconnect devices(MID)

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 11:42:20 +0000

Start: Nov 26 2008 - 09:00

End: Nov 26 2008 - 16:15

Timezone: Etc/GMT

Description:

Moulded interconnect devices (MIDs) are thermoplastic circuit carriers with a patterned surface metallization which combines mechanical and electrical functionalities on a single device.

Integration of micro metallic structures in polymer devices is a broad multi-disciplinary research field, consisting of various combinations of mechanical, chemical and physical fabrication methods. Some of these combinations have been known for years and have mostly been used for decorative purposes. Other combinations or methods are very new and developing. MIDs contain huge possibilities for many applications in micro electro-mechanical-systems because of their potential in reducing the number of components, process steps and finally in miniaturization of the product.

4M November Bulletin

Fri, 07 Nov 2008 13:48:49 +0000

4M NEWS and EVENTS

*4M Association*
To continue and sustain the relationships created during the lifetime of the Network we have formed the 4M Association, and it started 1st October 2008. Take a look at the new 4M Association website to find out more.

Micro/nano fabrication technologies based on new materials for sensors and micro-optics - a workshop.

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 16:35:25 +0100

Start: Oct 15 2008 - 09:00

End: Oct 15 2008 - 16:35

Timezone: Etc/GMT

Description:

The workshop will provide the opportunity to debate the scientific and technological development of new materials, micro and nanotechnologies for sensors and micro-optics, to initiate new RTD projects and to initiate new cooperations between industry and academics applications driven.
It will be also, a forums for the exchange and dissemination of information between universities, research centres and SMEs (from MS, NMS and ACC).

4M October Bulletin

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 10:47:33 +0100

4M NEWS and EVENTS

*4M Association*
The 4M Association ..... Take a look at the new 4M Association website

Multi-Material Micro-Manufacture of RF components - at MMLive

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 15:52:17 +0100

Start: Oct 21 2008 - 10:00

End: Oct 21 2008 - 14:45

Timezone: Etc/GMT

Description:

The aim of this workshop is to identify industrially perceived needs for the manufacture of a range of functional devices that incorporate microwave elements. By the means of a series of introductions and case-book examples, this sandpit aims to identify product exploitation gaps which recent technology advances can help to fill. The fabrication of microwave components using fabrication technologies available within the 4M network will be explored.

And the winner is.........

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 09:58:04 +0100

At this year's 4M conference we were able, thanks to the generous sponsorship of Commercial Micro Manufacturing magazine, to offer a prize for the best paper.

4M September Bulletin

Mon, 01 Sep 2008 10:30:59 +0100

4M NEWS and EVENTS

*4M2008 - Have you registered yet?*
4M2008, the 4th annual conference of the 4M Network of Excellence will be held on 9th – 11th September 2008 at the Julian Hodge, Cardiff, UK. To secure your place please register here by 13th August 2008. Full detailed programme now available.

Low-power humidity sensor for RFID applications

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 16:42:58 +0100

L. Löfgren (a), B. Löfving (a), T. Pettersson (a), B. Ottosson (a), C. Rusu (a), S. Haasl (a), K. Persson (a), O. Vermesan (b), N. Pesonen (c), P. Enoksson (d)

(a) The Imego Institute, Arvid Hedvalls Backe 4, SE-400 14 Göteborg, Sweden
(b) SINTEF ICT, N-0314 Oslo, Norway
(c) VTT, Wireless sensors, FIN-02044, Espoo, Finland
(d) Chalmers University of Technology, Micro and Nanosystems group, SE-41296 Göteborg, Sweden

Abstract

Wireless sensors incorporated in RFID systems are important in several industrial, consumer and logistics applications. By extending RFID tags to sensing applications, the products become smarter. Application areas for these smart tags include; health care (verification of the environmental conditions during transport or in storage of e.g. diapers, bandages, etc.), food monitoring (food quality during transport, storage and sales) and construction industry (e.g. building material).
In this paper, a small, very low power and low cost humidity sensor tailor made for passive RFID applications is presented. The sensor consists of a glass chip substrate with a sub-micron interdigitated gold electrode structure covered with a humidity sensitive polyimide layer. The humidity absorbed by the sensing layer is measured capacitively. Finite element modeling and analytic calculations were used to determine the design of the interdigitated electrodes and the optimal thickness of the polyimide layer. A read-out electronics circuit was designed and used to evaluate the sensor. Sensors were fabricated and calibrations have been made to verify their function. The sensor response was close to linear from below 20 to above 90 %RH and its response time was proven to be at least as short as that of the climate chamber, namely 0.1 %RH/s. The concept can easily be adapted to measure a range of other parameters such as temperature or the presence of certain substances.

Active microvalves for micro-fluidic networks in plastics – selecting suitable actuation schemes

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 16:35:33 +0100

A.Boustheen (a), F.G.A. Homburg (a), J.E. Bullema (b), A. Dietzel (a), (c)

(a) Micro and Nano Scale Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, The Netherlands
(b) TNO Science and Industry, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
(c) Holst Center, Eindhoven, The Netherlands

Abstract

Using active microvalves liquid flow in microsystems can be precisely controlled and timed. Plastic microfluidic networks offer high flexibility in the material selection and potentially also allow for low cost mass fabrication. For selecting a suitable micro-actuation scheme, the different options are compared on the basis of actuation performance parameters. For thermal-expansion, electrostatic, electroactive, piezoelectric and shape memory actuation principles the work density is derived from basic actuator physics and literature material parameters. For the targeted actuator dimensions also frequency, stroke and force characteristics are calculated. These are compared with actuator performance targets typical for micro-fluidic networks: forces between 160μN and 16mN, stroke of 50μm, repetition frequencies ranging from 100Hz to few mHz. As a result, only electroactive polymer and thermal actuation principles remain as viable options and shall in further work be experimentally evaluated using a modular design with interchangeable actuators.

Sub-Micron Referencing System for Ultraprecision Machining Processes

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 16:26:45 +0100

C. Brecher (a), (c), M. Weinzierl (a), A. Rashid (b), R. Schmitt (c), D. Köllmann (c)

(a) Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology IPT, Germany
(b) System 3R Intl. AB, Sweden
(c) Werkzeugmaschinenlabor (WZL), RWTH Aachen University, Germany

Abstract

The set-up of ultraprecision machining processes is characterized by manual process steps which require a lot of personal skill and experience to full fill sub-micron requirements in form accuracy. Besides the fact that these manual process steps require a lot of time, they individualize each ultraprecision machined work piece and therefore prevent ultraprecision machining processes from becoming universal and cost efficient machining processes for high precision work pieces. To overcome this deficit, automation solutions are developed within the European Integrated Project (IP) »Production4μ« which enable the realization of efficient ultraprecision process chains with a high level of accuracy. In this paper, a sub-micron referencing system is introduced, which has been developed within this IP to contribute to the
high accuracy process chains by enabling the automated and repeatable clamping of work pieces with submicrometer deviations from their original position. This does not only enable the efficient combination of different machine-tools and processes but also allows for an increase in product quality.