Atomization-based cutting fluid application in micro-machining

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As a starting faculty member, I plan to establish a research program on advanced multi-scale manufacturing to develop innovative manufacturing technologies to bridge the gap between nano- and micro-scales, and support the increasing demand for customized miniature 3D parts. The innovative multi-scale manufacturing technologies developed through this program will allow integration of nano-scale devices into practical engineering systems. My initial efforts will be on miniaturization of manufacturing processes and systems. For competitive production to keep pace with micro/nano-scale science and technology, a shift in manufacturing paradigm is required, which is built upon the premise that miniature parts or features can be best created on miniature processes and equipments. Development of miniature or micro-scale machine tools (mMTs) can lead to cost-effective, accurate, flexible, and mobile manufacturing on a desktop so that accurate 3D miniature custom-design parts can be quickly made at a remote location where they are needed or required. Although few efforts have been made to develop mMTs, as the size-scale of the process and equipment is reduced, many new issues arise and remain to be addressed for fully functional and versatile mMTs including cutting fluid application, part handling and assembly, fixturing, metrology, on-line monitoring and control, etc.