PFI:AIR - TT: Micro-Laser Assisted Drilling

这个PFI：AIR技术翻译项目的重点是研究微激光辅助加工（Micro-LAM）系统在执行精密钻孔（微激光辅助钻孔或Micro-LAD）方面的实用性。 先前的研究发现，Micro-LAM在加工非常硬和非常脆的材料（例如半导体和陶瓷）时至关重要。Micro-LAM工艺在加工过程中原位修改材料，使这些材料更容易切割，并使其更具有成本效益，以产生有用的最终产品。 Micro-LAD系统旨在通过激光加热和热软化降低硬度和脆性，从而提高延展性，从而促进更高效，生产力和成本更低的制造工艺。 本研究项目旨在评估Micro-LAD系统，该系统利用这一基本材料行为，并确定在加工过程中半导体和陶瓷高压相的优先加热和由此产生的热软化的程度和意义。本项目解决了以下技术差距，该技术从研究发现转化为商业应用：通过概念验证和市场分析，将Micro-LAM技术扩展到钻孔领域，提高半导体和陶瓷钻孔的生产率并降低成本。 通过局部地使半导体和陶瓷更具延展性和更少脆性来提高与钻孔相关联的能力，与市场上当前的钻孔工艺相比，它将变得更容易加工，从而导致更高的生产率和降低的制造成本。这些新的知识和专业知识可以被吸收到教学和教育工作中，也可以被分配到工业中。 首先，基础材料科学和工程研究将在真实的概念验证中得到推进和展示。 第二，主要研究人员将与大学合作？技术转让办公室和工业合作伙伴进一步将研究成果整合到可实现的结构中，最初是提出的概念验证，最终是原型和商业化或生产单元。第三，将制定一个商业模式或计划来吸引行业？兴趣和与拟议研究相关的市场研究活动。最后，学生将获得与产品创新直接相关的独特教育和研究经验，以及将基础研究转化为真实的世界商业用途的过程。该项目的合作伙伴包括学术和行业组织：西密歇根大学（密歇根州卡拉马祖）和Micro-LAM Technologies LLC（密歇根州巴特尔克里克巴特克里克）。 该项目为来自大学制造和机械工程课程的本科生，研究生和博士后学生以及来自整个大学的创业和商业学生提供实践培训机会，涉及先进的科学，工程和材料概念。

This PFI:AIR Technology Translation project focuses on investigating the utility of the micro-laser assisted machining (Micro-LAM) system to perform precision drilling (micro-laser assisted drilling or Micro-LAD). Previous research has found Micro-LAM to be essential in machining materials that are very hard and extremely brittle (e.g. semiconductors and ceramics). The Micro-LAM process modifies the material, in-situ during machining, so as to render these materials easier to cut and makes it more cost effective to generate useful end products. The Micro-LAD system aims to achieve enhanced ductility through reduced hardness and decreased brittleness from laser heating and thermal softening, which promotes a more efficient, productive and less costly manufacturing process. This research project aims to evaluate the Micro-LAD system that capitalizes on this fundamental material behavior and determines the degree and significance of the preferential heating and resultant thermal softening of the high-pressure phases of semiconductors and ceramics during the machining process.This project addresses the following technology gaps as the technology translates from research discovery toward commercial application: improve the productivity and decrease the cost of drilling semiconductors and ceramics by extending the Micro-LAM technology to drilling with a proof of concept and performing a market analysis. By advancing the capability associated with drilling semiconductors and ceramics by locally rendering them more ductile and less brittle, it will become easier to machine, resulting in greater productivity and reduced cost of manufacture when compared to the current drilling process in the marketplace. This new knowledge and expertise can be assimilated into teaching and educational efforts, as well as distributed into industry.Overall, the project will produce achievement in four core areas. First, fundamental materials science and engineering research will be advanced and showcased in a real proof of concept. Second, the principal investigators will work with the university?s technology transfer office and industrial partners to further integrate the research results into realizable structures, initially the proposed proof of concept and eventually a prototype and commercialization or production unit. Third, a business model or plan will be developed to engage industries? interests and for market research activities associated with the proposed research. Finally, students will achieve unique education and research experiences directly related to product innovation and the process of moving fundamental research into real world commercial use.Partners at the inception of the project include both academic and industry organizations: Western Michigan University (Kalamazoo, Michigan) and Micro-LAM Technologies LLC (Battle Creek, Michigan). This project provides hands-on training opportunities to undergraduate, graduate, and post-doc students from manufacturing and mechanical engineering programs at the university, as well as entrepreneurship and business students from across the university, related to advanced scientific, engineering and materials concepts.