Special Interest Groups

Micro-Nano

 


The Micro:Nano SIG was launched at AILU's 10th microprocessing workshop in June 2008. Lasers are a key technology in the micro and nano-engineering fields, where they provide high-resolution, accuracy, speed and flexibility. The engineering of micro features is key to the technical and commercial success of many mass-produced components ranging from photovoltaic cells, inkjet print heads and flat panel displays, to MEMS components and disposable medical instruments. It is to address the special needs of this burgeoning sector that AILU launched the Micro:Nano group.

Free Membership of the Micro:Nano Group
Membership of the Micro:Nano Group is free to AILU members and non-members alike.

The activities of the Micro:Nano Group will address the interests of laser processing

Message from the Chair by Geert Verhaeghe

September 2009

The Micro:Nano Special Interest Group (SIG) is run by the Association of Industrial Laser Users (AILU) and has been sponsored by the Photonics Knowledge Transfer Network. The group was launched at AILU's 10th microprocessing workshop in June 2008, with the vision to bring together researchers, engineers, equipment and service providers who are dedicated to the development and application of laser processing technology for micro- and nano-scale manufacturing.

In today's world we are surrounded by micro-components or components that contain micro- and/or nana-features. These include the tools used by a surgeon for performing keyhole surgery, the iPhone and the solar-panel covered roofs of buildings in many Southern European countries. Ongoing miniaturisation continues to push manufacturing technology to its limits. Laser technology has played an important part in this, and will, undoubtedly, continue to do so in the foreseeable future. With the range of laser sources at growing almost by the day in terms of available power, beam quality, spot size, wavelength and pulse duration becoming, there is an increasing need to better understand laser-material interactions at the micro- and nano-scale level and thereby maximise the potential of this exciting technology.

Laser micro-hole drilling of PCBs and engine turbine blades, laser joining for packaging in MEMS and micro-devices, laser soldering of surface-mounted electronic components, laser scribing of Si wafers, rapid prototyping using laser stereo lithography and laser cutting of medical stents, are just a few current examples of major laser application areas on the micro- scale. But who knows what micro- and nano-applications will become major in the medium to long term?

The industrial uptake up of the technology has enabled the annual market for laser micro-processing systems to grow from virtually zero in the early 1980's to around $2 billion in 2007 and to support a product value chain estimated to be in excess of $350 billion. Furthermore, laser micro-processing system sales were predicted (in 2007) to grow to S4.2 billion by 2010, making it the largest of all laser materials processing applications. According to a US survey earlier this year, this market is re-adjusting itself to the current economic climate (i.e. a 40% fall in sales of low-power lasers compared with 2008) but is expected to recover in 2010 and to grow again beyond thaI. Furthermore, it is predicted that the strongest growth will be in sectors of fibre lasers, diode lasers, green lasers, mode-locked (ultrafast) lasers, and lasers for manufacturing solar cells.

Recently the group completed its first survey of members. The survey shows that the group has been very successful in attracting organisations involved in the use of lasers for micro- and nano-scale industrial manufacture. By building on synergies in technology. process and/or practice, the Micro:Nano SIG is helping expand networking activities and the exchange of know-how that is central 10 the aims of the AILU and the newly formed Photonics and Plastic Electronics KTN.

The Micro:Nano Speciallnlerest Group will help to organise sector specific workshops, networking events and informal meetings covering topics ranging from markets and business opportunities to technology and process know-how enable members to both enhance their knowledge and keep abreast of the rapidly moving developments in the field. Membership is free so why not join us?

professionals involved in producing products, processes, devices and instrumentation for all sectors. All members will be mailed relevant news and events information as and when we receive it and will be offered the opportunity to shape future events and other Micro:Nano Group activities. As well as enjoying the AILU magazine, workshop discounts, free consultancy and networking benefits, AILU members of the Micro:Nano Group can participate in discussions on the dedicated Micro:Nano forum in the members area of the website.

The Micro:Nano Group activities and events are done in partnership with the Nanotechnology KTN and the Photonics KTN.

       

Joining the Micro:Nano Group
To join the Micro:Nano Group either fill in the flyer or email the AILU Office or Toby Gill (NanoKTN).

Accessing the on-line Micro:Nano SIG Forum

To access the forum you first need to login using your assigned name and password. The entry point is in the top right corner of this page. (tip: If you are still using the random number/letter password you were originally given, why not change it to something memorable by clicking on the ‘edit details’ link after you’ve logged in?)

Once you do this a link to the forum will appear in the left hand links column under ‘Laser User Groups’.

Micro:Nano Group Events

AILU workshop - Meeting future manufacturing needs with laser-materials innovations at the micro- and nano level, 22 September 2009: See events listing for full details of the programme.

Funding opportunities in High Value Manufacturing: Micro/Nano laser processing success stories, 25 November 2008: See events listing for full details of the programme. Click here transfer to the Nanotechnology KTN web site and to download the presentations

PKTN LUNCHTIME LECTURE: 7th July 2008: The Micro:Nano Group is delighted to present the first AILU lecture which is part of the Photonics KTN lunchtime lecture series.

Title: Laser processing of micro-optics and interconnects
Mike Osborne, Optek Systems, Abingdon, UK

Abstract: Laser processing of quartz optical components can be both rapid, flexible, reproducible and accurate. View the Lecture here

These interactive meetings through the web provide an excellent opportunity for you to hear experts talking about their innovation with an opportunity to ask questions after their presentation.

FUTURE LECTURES

AILU would like to provide names of people available to give this type of lecture to a broader audience to promote the activities of all Special Interest Groups within AILU.

If you would like to suggest a topic and speaker for this forum please contact AILU Office.

Call for UK Stategy on Nanotechnologies

Thursday 16 July 2009 saw Lord Drayson, Science and Innovation Minister and chair of the Ministerial Group on Nanotechnologies, call on industry and interested groups to help create a UK strategy for nanotechnologies. The aim of the strategy is to describe the actions necessary to ensure that the UK obtains maximum economic, environmental and societal benefit from nanotechnologies while keeping the risks properly managed.

Industry, academia and consumer groups will be invited to use a new website to help develop the strategy, building on and consolidating the existing research and consultations that have already taken place. The Department for Business, Innovations and Skills want the strategy to be influenced and informed by the full range of stakeholders. The website will gather views on core issues including research, regulation, innovation and commercialisation, measurement and standards and information as well as on the anticipated impact of nanotechnologies on a wide range of sectors. It can be found at: www.interactive.bis.gov.uk/nano

Funding Opportunities

European funding

A series of Framework 7 ICT calls relevant to Photonics are anticipated in the Autumn of 2009. The final work program has yet to be announced but you can find indication to the content here .

Check out the ‘interesting text’ and ‘a list of possible’ link for information that would allow you to start to think of relevant projects and partners. There are also current calls open in nanotechnology and new materials that may be relevant to you, see http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/dc/index.cfm.

Thanks to SEPNET, The South East Photonics Network, for supplying these summaries

Useful Links

The Centre of Excellence in Metrology for Micro and Nano Technologies (CEMMNT) offers a convenient, single point access for clients to outsource their materials and processing challenges through a unique partnership of world class technology organisations.  For more information click here

The Solar Energy Society (UK-ISES) UK National Section of the International Solar Energy Society.
This Society represents the UK national section of the International Solar Energy Society (ISES). ISES has launched a world-wide information system for renewable energy, WIRE. This is a resource website for fast, comprehensive and up-to-date information on renewable energy. For more information click here


Back to top