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Processing technologies for the injection moulding of hybrid microstructures
Author(s) -
Michaeli Walter,
Rogalla Arno,
Ziegmann Christian
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
macromolecular materials and engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.913
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1439-2054
pISSN - 1438-7492
DOI - 10.1002/1439-2054(20000601)279:1<42::aid-mame42>3.0.co;2-p
Subject(s) - microsystem , injection moulding , process (computing) , materials science , mechanical engineering , flexibility (engineering) , manufacturing engineering , process engineering , process control , computer science , engineering , nanotechnology , statistics , mathematics , operating system
For the production of hybrid microsystems, appropriate joining methods (for plastics parts as well as for other materials) are required. Furthermore, for their industrial realization, special handling systems and feasible process control items are necessary. These topics are objectives of a research program involving several institutes of Aachen University of Technology (RWTH). Based on the micro injection moulding process, which has been investigated at the IKV for several years, a process called micro assembly injection moulding is developed and investigated. It combines the joining of hybrid elements with the generation of functional structures. Micro assembly injection moulding is a quite diverse process with many influencing parameters. For basic studies of this process, a special mould technology with maximum flexibility and precision is developed. The mould concept includes a special system for the positioning of inlay parts and complex sensor equipment (pressure, temperature, endoscopical devices) for controlling and analyzing the process. First test structures are two‐component micro hinges, fluidic hollow structures and optical structures. The high potential of the injection moulding process (high integration rate, large scale production, wide variety of geometries and materials) is thereby transferred to the economic and efficient production of microsystems.