PFI:AIR - TT: Micro-Laser Assisted Drilling

这个PFI：空气技术转化项目的重点是调查微激光辅助加工(Micro-LAM)系统用于执行精密钻孔(微激光辅助钻孔或Micro-LAD)的效用。以前的研究发现，微细磨料在加工非常坚硬和极脆的材料(如半导体和陶瓷)时是必不可少的。Micro-LAM工艺在加工过程中对材料进行原位修改，以使这些材料更易于切割，并使生产有用的最终产品更具成本效益。Micro-LAD系统旨在通过降低激光加热和热软化导致的硬度和脆性来提高延展性，从而促进更高效、更多产和更低成本的制造工艺。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的高压相优先加热和由此产生的热软化的程度和意义。该项目解决了该技术从研究发现转化为商业应用时的以下技术差距：通过将Micro-LAM技术扩展到钻探，并进行概念验证和市场分析，提高了半导体和陶瓷钻探的生产率和降低了成本。通过在局部使半导体和陶瓷具有更高的延展性和更少的脆性来提高与钻探相关的能力，它将变得更容易加工，从而与市场上目前的钻探工艺相比，导致更高的生产率和更低的制造成本。这些新的知识和专门知识可以被吸收到教学和教育工作中，也可以应用到工业中。总的来说，这项计划将在四个核心领域取得成果。首先，基础材料科学和工程研究将在真正的概念验证中得到推进和展示。其次，主要研究人员将与大学S技术转移办公室和产业合作伙伴合作，进一步将研究成果整合到可实现的结构中，最初是拟议的概念证明，最终是原型和商业化或生产单位。第三，将开发一种商业模式或计划来吸引行业参与？用于与拟议研究相关的市场研究活动和兴趣。最后，学生将获得与产品创新和将基础研究转化为现实世界商业用途的过程直接相关的独特教育和研究经验。项目开始时的合作伙伴包括学术和行业组织：西密歇根大学(密歇根卡拉马祖)和Micro-LAM技术有限责任公司(密歇根巴特尔克里克)。该项目为该大学制造业和机械工程专业的本科生、研究生和博士后，以及来自全校的企业家和商科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.