HINMICO: High throughput integrated technologies for multimaterial functional Micro Components Projects uri icon

type

  • European Research Project

reference

  • NMP2-SE-2013-609110

date/time interval

  • October 1, 2013 - September 30, 2016

abstract

  • Volume production at industrial scale of miniaturised multi-material 3D (polymer-polymer, metal-polymer,
    metal-metal, polymer-ceramics,...) still face important challenges to be affordable by SMEs. Challenges not only
    in terms of precision manufacturing (precision engineering <0.01%) but also in the adequate interaction between
    the different constituent materials.
    Besides multi-material micro-system manufacturing processes still show to be time and cost consuming
    mainly from assembling activities and back en processes (35-60% of the total manufacturing costs come
    only from the assembling), so further research efforts in alternative and more integrated manufacturing
    concepts(over-moulding of micro-components and in-mould assembly technology would avoid the assembly
    step) are needed.
    To answer those problems the development of high-throughput and cost-efficient process chains based on micro
    injection should consider the following aspects:
    • Improved volume production, not only from the standpoint of the necessary accuracy and performance of the
    process, but also regarding the interaction/bonding of the different materials which make up the produced parts
    and the possibility of selective functionality of their surfaces.
    • The integration of the different processes including the feeding and handling systems for automatic operation in
    order to eliminate human intervention and manufacturing costs.
    • Analyse the most suitable process control, online verification and back-end processes taking into account the
    features of the multi-material replicated parts represented by five demonstrators.
    The aim is to reduce manufacturing costs up to 40%. Thus, the HINMICO project final outcome will enable to produce high quality multi-material micro-components through more integrated, efficient and cheaper process chains.

keywords

  • micromanufacturing; high-throughput; in-mould assembly; automatic feeding and handling; online verification; process control; integrated process chains