A generative manufacturing-based concept and equipment for flexible, scalable manufacturing of microsystems

Abstract

Generative manufacturing technologies are gaining more and more of importance as key enabling technologies in future manufacturing, especially when a flexible scalable manufacturing of small medium series of customized parts is required. The paper describes a new approach for design and manufacturing of complex three dimensional components building on a combination of additive manufacturing and e-printing technologies, where the micro component is made up of stacks of functionalized layers of polymer films. Special attention will be paid to the "3-d" modeling approach, requested to support the application developer through provision of design rules for this integrated manufacturing concept. Both, the application concept as well as the related equipment and manufacturing integration are currently developed further in the project SMARTLAM, funded by the European Commission