A Fast and Flexible Industrial Process for Sub-Micron Accuracy Adjustment of Micro-Parts Using Laser Irradiation

Objective

Objectives and content

In the industrial production of electrical, optical, and micro-mechanical components, progress in miniaturisation requires improved adjusting techniques. Sub-micrometer accuracy adjustment must be obtained within a second, and the accuracy should be stable over many years. All methods that are presently applied for manipulation in sub-micron dimensions are cumbersome, time-consuming, and tedious, and require very expensive equipment. Automated micro-manufacturing technologies for mass production should be developed in order to make Europe competitive with low-wage countries, and in order to assemble components where tolerance conditions and accessibility are beyond human capability.

In research, a novel method has been found in which permanent deformations of thin metal sheets are obtained by using thermo-mechanical stresses that occur when the sheets are locally heated using short, intense, laser pulses. The aim of the Consortium is to develop this method as a fast and flexible industrial process for sub-micron accuracy manipulation of metal micro-parts. The target is to achieve sub-micron accuracy within a few seconds. This can be applied to a range of products, such as:

- TV electron guns, automotive lamps (adjustment inside the glass enclosure) - computer peripherals (hard disk drives, CD-ROM, etc.)
- fibre-couplings for the telecommunication industry
- audio and video heads
- optical components and complex lens systems (wafer steppers, photo-copiers, etc.). The method is applicable in every sector of industrial production where cheap and fast (sub-)micron accuracy must be obtained.

To obtain the desired accuracy in an industrial production process, closed-loop control of the laser irradiation procedure is essential. This is achieved by:

- computer modelling of the thermo-mechanical mechanisms
- high-speed inspection systems
- fast adaption of the laser-irradiation sequence
- advanced closed-loop control-systems. To account for specific requirements for the manufacture of dedicated micro-parts, novel nano-phased materials will be synthesised and investigated.

An industrial set-up for closed-loop laser-adjustment will be developed and demonstrated. From the knowledge obtained in the project, it will be possible to integrate the laser-manipulation process into industrial production lines within a time frame of 2 years after the project.

Fields of science

• engineering and technology › materials engineering
• natural sciences › physical sciences › optics › laser physics

Programme(s)

• FP4-BRITE/EURAM 3 - Specific research and technological development programme in the field of industrial and materials technologies, 1994-1998

Topic(s)

• 0101 - Incorporation of new technologies into production systems

Call for proposal

Data not available

Funding Scheme

CSC - Cost-sharing contracts

Coordinator

Nederlandse Philips Bedrijven BV

Address

1a,kastanjelaan
5600 MD Eindhoven
Netherlands

Participants (9)

Danmarks Tekniske Universitet

Denmark

Address

2800 Lyngby

FRAUNHOFER GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FORDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG E.V.*

Germany

Address

Steinbachstrasse 15
52074 Aachen

Lambda Physik GmbH

Germany

Address

12,hans-böckler-straße 12
37079 Göttingen

Lasag AG Industrial Lasers

Switzerland

Address

52,mittlere Strasse
3600 Thun

MBN NANOMATERIALIA SPA

Italy

Address

Via Bortolan 42
Carbonera

Links

Sacel di G. Caretto & C. Sas

Italy

Address

Localita Risera
10080 Ozegna Torino

Siemens AG

Germany

Address

6,otto-hahn-ring
81739 München

Société de Production et de Recherche Appliquée - SOPRA

France

Address

26,rue Pierre Joignaux 26
92270 Bois

UNIVERSITY OF ERLANGEN-NUREMBERG

Germany

Address

11,egerlandstraße 11
91058 Erlangen