Title: MicroBridge: Bridging micro-nanomanufacturing gap

Authors: Robert Hoyle

Addresses: MicroBridge Services Ltd., c/o MEC Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK

Abstract: The future world of nano-dimensions is leading to the generation of a new range of products for markets such as medical and healthcare diagnostics, industrial automation, optical telecommunications and aerospace applications. Large-scale manufacturing requires rapid replication using injection moulding. |Direct write| and lithographic technologies are capable of structuring at the nanometre level. Precision micro-machining technologies allow machining of non-silicon materials down to 10-20 microns. This has left a |gap| between |classical| precision micro-machining and the lithographic/direct write patterning technologies. This gap has been filled by the establishment of a £7.5 million facility at Cardiff University known as |MicroBridge|.

Keywords: microengineering; micromanufacturing; nanomanufacturing; microtooling; nanoimprinting; nanoimprint lithography; NIL; picosecond laser ablation; precision engineering; scanning electron microscopy; SEM; focused ion beam; FIB; nanotechnology.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTTC.2008.020354

International Journal of Technology Transfer and Commercialisation, 2008 Vol.7 No.2/3, pp.158 - 170

Published online: 18 Sep 2008 *

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