Multi-axis NanoECM machine for sub-micro scale component manufacture

用于亚微米级部件制造的多轴 NanoECM 机器

• 批准号: 10007546
• 金额: $ 70.85万
• 依托单位: PECM SYSTEMS LTD
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Collaborative R&D
• 财政年份: 2021
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2021 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=10007546
• 关键词: Multi; axis; NanoECM; machine; sub

Many industries, including electronics and medical are interested in miniaturisation, but this requires the ability to machine increasingly small components with superior geometries and surface topologies. Our conventional electro-chemical machining (ECM) machines are sold to customers globally and operate at the macro-scale, attaining surface roughness ~0.2 micro-metre Ra (depending on material grain). Although high-quality, our customers state this intricacy is not conducive for machining at the sub-micro scale and does not deliver the array of 3D geometries modern industries aspire to. Our new approach will address these short-comings and have profound industrial and social benefits.PECM (in collaboration with Brunel University & Faraday Motion Control) wish to engineer a 4-axis micro-pulsed electro-chemical machine (micro-pECM) capable of fabricating sub-micro scale multi-dimensionally in a single machining iteration; with Ra down to 5-nano-metres.Brunel University have proven the concept by building a laboratory single-axis prototype through two FP7-projects. Brunel University now wish to build upon this success and partner with PECM-Systems and Faraday Motion Control to develop the above proposed test machine.BENEFITS: (1) customers can develop new, miniaturised products to drive sales; (2) cost effective system (relatively cheap technology and no specialist tooling required); (3) reduced material consumption (environmental benefit. .Key technical risks are associated with: (1) producing desired rate of electrical pulses; (2) Real-time inter electrode adaptive gap monitoring, control of multi-axis and material removal rates not achievable in a commercial machine; (3) ensuring motion control specification and operational mode is developed coherently to ECM hardware and power supply system.

包括电子和医疗在内的许多行业都对机械化感兴趣，但这需要能够加工越来越小的具有上级几何形状和表面拓扑结构的部件。我们的传统电化学加工（ECM）机床销往全球客户，并在宏观尺度上运行，达到约0.2微米Ra的表面粗糙度（取决于材料颗粒）。虽然质量很高，但我们的客户表示，这种复杂性不利于亚微米级的加工，也无法提供现代工业所渴望的3D几何阵列。我们的新方法将解决这些短期问题，并产生深远的工业和社会效益。PECM（与布鲁内尔大学和法拉第运动控制合作）希望设计一台4轴微脉冲电化学机器（微-pECM）能够在单次加工迭代中多维地制造亚微米尺度;布鲁内尔大学已经通过两个FP 7项目建立了一个实验室单轴原型，证明了这一概念。布鲁内尔大学现在希望在此成功的基础上，与PECM-Systems和法拉第运动控制合作开发上述拟议的测试机器。好处：（1）客户可以开发新的，可扩展的产品来推动销售;（2）成本有效的系统（相对便宜的技术，不需要专业的工具）;（3）减少材料消耗（环境效益）。关键技术风险与以下方面相关：（1）产生所需的电脉冲速率;（2）实时电极间自适应间隙监测、多轴控制和材料去除速率在商用机器中无法实现;（3）确保运动控制规范和操作模式与ECM硬件和电源系统一致。