NANOFACTORY – 3D micro – nano fabrication device | NANOFACTORY | Proyecto | Ficha informativa | H2020 | CORDIS

Descripción del proyecto

Dispositivos ópticos impresos en tres dimensiones con precisión nanométrica

La precisión de la tecnología de fabricación ha avanzado desde el nivel micrométrico hasta el submicrométrico. El equipo del proyecto NANOFACTORY, financiado con fondos europeos, desarrollará el primer dispositivo de su clase para fabricar dispositivos ópticos impresos en tres dimensiones (3D) con una precisión nanométrica. La tecnología de NANOFACTORY combinará técnicas de fabricación por adición y sustracción y aprovechará una amplia gama de materiales para la fabricación de estructuras complejas de alta calidad. El nuevo dispositivo, que ha demostrado un menor índice de error en comparación con las tecnologías actuales, ayudará a aumentar la producción de dispositivos ópticos impresos en 3D para satisfacer la demanda industrial. Los mercados iniciales a los que se dirigen los nuevos dispositivos ópticos son los sensores de automoción, la óptica médica y los sensores para drones.

Objetivo

New nano microstructures are constructed at nano scale in emerging fields such as micro-optics because of the growing demand for complex nano-microstructures. These developments are enabled by micro-nano manufacturing devices. However, existing devices in the market have a number of important limitations. First of all, it is complicated to produce arbitrary shaped 3D micro-optical elements that could allow industrial scale production. Moreover, there is no single universal solution that combines both additive and subtractive manufacturing techniques in one device and enables to fabricate and processes nano-micro structures.Currently complex micro-nano structures must be produced not in a standard way but rather according to the customer’s request and can be fabricated either in low quality or by at least two different devices with a need of assembly, which limits the overall quality. NANOFACTORY, developed by Femtika, is the first multi-functional manufacturing device that has no limitations in terms of reaching dimensions up to millimeter yet retaining nanometer precision and this way allowing industrial-scale production of integrated 3D micro-optical devices. Moreover, it combines additive and subtracting manufacturing techniques, in-situ, enables fabrication of high quality functional complex structures, and has the ability to use wide range of materials and composites. Working prototype has been validated in both lab and industrially relevant environments. Automotive sensors market, medical optics market and drone sensors market have been selected as relevant target markets for NANOFACTORY’s commercialization. In order to start active sales of the device, validation of target markets and user needs is needed. The feasibility study will be a crucial step towards commercialization of the solution.