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May/Jun 2013  

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News/Features: Features
Solving Z-axis challenges during stereolithography processes

The increasing miniaturization of products and devices requires designers to iterate their designs at ever-smaller scales to arrive at a final design. Unfortunately, they often find themselves hamstrung by the lack of prototyping tools that traditionally have helped drive their iterations.

When producing 3-D parts via the SL process, it’s critical to compensate for overcure. All images courtesy FineLine Prototyping.

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Fiducials: how to be where you need to be

When running a job on a laser—or any other tool—it is frequently required that the processing toolpath be aligned to existing features. Generally, the sharper and smaller the alignment feature the more accurate the alignment.

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Drilling microholes requires expert approach

Editor's Note: Drilling a 0.003" hole is no small task. Virtual Industries Inc., a manufacturer of vacuum systems, discovered this when it needed vacuum tweezer tips capable of handling parts as small as 100μm. Based on experience with larger tips, the Colorado Springs, Colo.-based company knew local machine shops would no-bid such a small tip, so it turned to its subsidiary, Prime Axis Manufacturing LLC, also in Colorado Springs. In the following, the author explains, step by step, how Prime Axis solved the problem.

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A Glowing Report: Fast-growing optoelectronics market offers opportunities

Where there’s $1.1 trillion, there’s bound to be stiff competition. So it goes for the global electronics market.

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Tabletop Inspection

Tabletop SEMs bridge the gap between optical and conventional  scanning electron microscopes

Tabletop SEMs (scanning electron microscopes) combine the best features of optical microscopes and traditional SEMs, surpassing the imaging capabilities of optical microscopes while reducing the cost, time and complexity associated with conventional SEMs.

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Miniature Movers

When handling small parts, robots can provide flexibility, repeatability, speed. The job shop sign says: “You want quick, cheap and top quality? Pick two.” Said less bluntly, every manufacturing operation involves compromises.

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New Life

Advances in laser machining key to stent market growth

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U.K. scientists at work on micro-ear

March 2, 2010—A team of U.K. scientists are building a micro-ear that could enable them to eavesdrop on microscopic events, such as the movement of cells.

The researchers report that the micro-ear is based upon modifying an established technology that uses laser light to create so-called optical tweezers. These are already used to accurately measure tiny forces.

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Imparting fine surface finishes when micromilling

As milling tools shrink, several factors loom large in generating fine surface finishes. The productivity and surface finish a tool achieves depend on specific combinations of cutting speed, feed rate, tool runout and coolant application. In micromilling—involving tools 0.020" in diameter and smaller—the size of the tool often dictates strategies to maximize performance and surface finish.

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Keys to productive grinding of microscale tools

As cutting tools shrink, difficulties grinding them grow. Particularly as diameters slip below 0.020", manufacturers of microtools struggle to minimize runout and vibration, hold grinding points steady and avoid subjecting the delicate tools to excessive force.

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