Project description
An innovative concept for microsystems
Microsystems can play a big role in industrial automation design and contribute to the EU’s economic growth. With this in mind, the EU-funded Mesomorph project proposes a concept that will integrate an all-in-one machine featuring an innovative process limiting the number of micromanipulations. Bringing together 13 partners from 5 countries, the project will propose a scale-up throughput by parallelisation and batch processing. It includes a qualified Design-to-Lifevalue Platform fully exploiting the new processes and implements a new Manufacturing as a Service business model to address financial risk.
Objective
The new emerging generation of microsystems represents a major opportunity for a substantial EU economic growth, in an industry counting already more than 200.000 workers and a turnover in 2019 of €450 billion. The Mesomorph concept provides the means to overcome the following 4 main hurdles:
1. The intrinsic physic of microsystems doesn’t allow the simple downsizing of conventional technologies to industrialize micromanufacturing processes. Mesomorphallows to limit the number of micromanipulation tasks by integrating an all-in-onemachine featuring novel processes for the direct creation of functions (electronic, fluidic, optic) directly on a substrate, with a RESOLUTION down to 300nm, by combining multi-material addition (Two-Photon Polymerization, Atomic Layer 3D nano printing) and subtraction (Femtolaser micro-ablation) in a self-contained white room.
2. Because of the intrinsic slowness of physical processes at microscale, productivity cannot be achieved by sequencing multiple single steps. Mesomorph proposes a scaleup throughput by PARALLELIZATION and batch processing UP TO 50k PARTS/YEAR, leveraging a new multiple micronozzles system to extend the SADALP working area from 10x10mm up to 500x500mm, and concurrently leveraging on the beam splitting technique of a high-power fs laser for ablation.
3. Microsystems cannot be conceived with subcomponents. Mesomorph includes a specific Design-to-Lifevalue Platform to guide the development of new microsystems by fully exploiting the new processes.
4. Innovation cannot be limited by the financial risk associated with the necessary investments. Mesomorph implements a new “Manufacturing as a Service” business model in which all the value chain’s actors can benefit from a positive net cash flow since production's start, effectively removing entry barriers for innovators.
Mesomorph consortium is composed of 13 partners from 5 different countries. Each partner represents excellence in its own field.
Fields of science
Keywords
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
RIA - Research and Innovation actionCoordinator
10024 Moncalieri
Italy