PL-2 Micro/Meso-scale Mechanical Manufacturing : Opportunities and Challenges

The overarching objective of this paper is to outline a vision for a plausible way for meeting the requirements of manufacturing high accuracy micro/meso-scale components and devices ((10)^2-(10)^4μm) in a broad range of materials. It is proposed that micro/meso-scale mechanical manufacturing methods, derived from their conventional macro-scale counterparts, performed on miniaturized equipment integrated in a massively parallel fashion into "micro-factories of the future" could meet the technological requirements (i.e., relative accuracy, geometric complexity, cost, etc.) and offer capabilities that are beyond those currently available. First, the rationale and justification for this concept is outlined followed by an account of the science and technology foundation needed and a synopsis of the scientific, technological and commercialization barriers that will have to be overcome in the course of the realization of the proposed concept.