Micro product and process fingerprints for zero-defect net-shape micromanufacturing

Highly miniaturized systems find applications in key technological fields such as health-care, mobility, communications and optics. Required innovations for precision manufacturing of micro components can be achieved through post-process and in-process measurement of process input and output parameters.

Hence, it is of critical importance to reduce the measurement and optimization effort, since process and product quality control can take a significant part of the production time in micro manufacturing. To solve this challenge, research is undertaken in order to define, investigate, implement and validate the “Product/Process Micro Manufacturing Fingerprint” concept.

In particular, in the Horizon2020 Innovative Training Network “Process Fingerprint for Zero-defect Net-shape MICROMANufacturing”, 9 beneficiaries and 14 industrial partners are collaborating to establish this concept for several manufacturing technologies, such as micro injection and micro ultrasonic moulding, micro mechanical and micro plasma polishing, micro electrical discharge machining, micro electrochecmical machining, micro grinding, micro laser machining, micro extrusion, micro metrology, micro sintering.

The project has reached its goals of developing novel methods in micro scale manufacturing process monitoring and control, as well as micro and sub-micro product quality assurance. The overall result has been the establishment of effective micro product and process fingerprints for the considered manufacturing technologies.