Micro/Nano-Machining of Functional Structures and Surfaces

A special issue of Micromachines (ISSN 2072-666X). This special issue belongs to the section "E:Engineering and Technology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 July 2023) | Viewed by 7488

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
1. Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Western University, London, ON N6A 6B9, Canada
2. Automotive and Surface Transportation, National Research Council of Canada, London, ON N6G 4X8, Canada
Interests: materials and processing: materials based micro/nano structures, devices, system, and its applications, bio-inspired surfaces; micro/nano fabrication and manufacturing: patterning, surface micromachining, bulk micromachining, laser fabrication, advanced manufacturing engineering
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Advanced micro/nano-, cutting/laser-based micromachining technologies, such as the micromachining of complex parts and geometric structures and features as well as the structuring and texturing of functional, optical, and tooling surfaces, are key technologies for adding new and/or enhancing existing values of functional parts and products. These technologies exhibit significant advantages over conventional processes in terms of the process reconfigurability, accuracy, precision, surface quality, versatility, processing time and cost, as well as minimal environmental impact. In addition, micro/nano-micromachining technologies can be seamlessly integrated with novel material-additive processes and systems for surface form and topography enhancement and functionalization. 

The aim of this Special Issue is to cover advanced developments in micro/nano-, cutting/laser-based micromachining technologies towards system and part design, process and performance modelling, microfabrication, and performance evaluation of the micromachining process and/or functional surfaces and their precision, accuracy, quality, and efficiency improvement for a wide range of applications related (but not limited) to the control of wettability, friction, optical appearance, light guiding, corrosion, hydro- and aero-dynamics, and biofouling resistance. We invite full research papers, comprehensive reviews and communications covering related topics included in the keywords below. We would like to synergize the up-to-date innovative research from world-class investigators and leading experts in the field.

  • Cutting-based micro/nano-machining, including single-point cutting, milling, vibration-assisted cutting, fast/slow tool servo and other advanced technologies for microfabrication, structuring, texturing, polishing, etc.
  • Laser-based micro/nano-machining including ablation, remelting, microcladding and other advanced technologies for structuring, texturing, polishing, remelting, alloying, etc.
  • Functional surfaces and micro/nano-structures for enhanced wettability, friction, hydro/aero-dynamics, light guiding, optical holography, self-cleaning, drag, biofouling resistance, solar light trapping, boiling, water condensation, adhesion, alumophobicity, etc.
  • High-quality tooling surfaces.

Dr. Evgueni Bordatchev
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Micromachines is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • micro/nano-machining
  • cutting
  • milling
  • turning
  • single-point cutting
  • laser ablation
  • 3D laser additive manufacturing
  • laser remelting
  • functional surfaces
  • functional structures
  • functional components
  • process optimization
  • CAD/CAM design
  • modelling
  • numerical simulation
  • verification.

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 6420 KiB  
Article
Fabrication of Large-Area Micro-Hexagonal Cube Corner Retroreflectors on Three-Linear-Axis Ultraprecision Lathes
by Senbin Xia, Ziqiang Yin, Cheng Huang and Songtao Meng
Micromachines 2023, 14(4), 752; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi14040752 - 29 Mar 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1243
Abstract
Hexagonal cube corner retroreflectors (HCCRs) are the micro-optics arrays with the highest reflectivity. However, these are composed of prismatic micro-cavities with sharp edges, and conventional diamond cutting is considered unmachinable. Besides, 3-linear-axis ultraprecision lathes were considered unfeasible to fabricate HCCRs due to the [...] Read more.
Hexagonal cube corner retroreflectors (HCCRs) are the micro-optics arrays with the highest reflectivity. However, these are composed of prismatic micro-cavities with sharp edges, and conventional diamond cutting is considered unmachinable. Besides, 3-linear-axis ultraprecision lathes were considered unfeasible to fabricate HCCRs due to the lack of a rotation axis. Therefore, a new machining method is proposed as a viable option to manufacture HCCRs on the 3-linear-axis ultraprecision lathes in this paper. For the mass production of HCCRs, the dedicated diamond tool is designed and optimized. The toolpaths are proposed and optimized to further increase tool life and machining efficiency. The Diamond Shifting Cutting (DSC) method is analyzed in-depth both theoretically and experimentally. By using the optimized methods, the large-area HCCRs with a structure size of 300 µm covering an area of 10 × 12 mm2 are successfully machined on 3-linear-axis ultraprecision lathes. The experimental results show that the whole array is highly uniform, and the surface roughness Sa of three cube corner facets is all less than 10 nm. More importantly, the machining time is reduced to 19 h, which is far less than the previous processing methods (95 h). This work will significantly reduce the production threshold and costs, which is important to promote the industrial application of HCCRs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Micro/Nano-Machining of Functional Structures and Surfaces)
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18 pages, 33197 KiB  
Article
Preliminary Assessment of Asymmetric Triangular Riblet Microstructures for Drag Deduction and Fouling Resistance: Numerical Modeling, Fabrication, and Performance Evaluation
by Benjamin W. Hamilton, Remus O. Tutunea-Fatan and Evgueni V. Bordatchev
Micromachines 2022, 13(12), 2208; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi13122208 - 13 Dec 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1270
Abstract
Several species of plants and animals demonstrate an ability to resist the accumulation of contaminants natural to their environments. To explain this phenomenon, mechanisms that facilitate fouling resistance have to be deciphered. Along these lines, this study is focused on the correlation between [...] Read more.
Several species of plants and animals demonstrate an ability to resist the accumulation of contaminants natural to their environments. To explain this phenomenon, mechanisms that facilitate fouling resistance have to be deciphered. Along these lines, this study is focused on the correlation between drag reduction and fouling resistance for underwater surfaces. This was accomplished by means of a novel microtopography inspired by fish-scales and conceived as a series of asymmetric triangular microgrooves oriented in the spanwise direction. A parametric study involving Large Eddy simulations was carried out to determine the most effective dimensions of the riblets and the results obtained have indicated a 9.1% drag reduction with respect to a flat reference surface. Following this, functional samples were fabricated in acrylic by means of a multi-axis micromachining center and diamond tooling. Surface quality and form accuracy of the fabricated samples were assessed with an optical microscope and optical profilometer. Finally, the fouling resistance of the samples was assessed by subjecting them to a flow of contaminated water. The results demonstrate that a relationship exists between the relative size of the particle and the fouling resistance of the microstructured surface. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Micro/Nano-Machining of Functional Structures and Surfaces)
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12 pages, 9478 KiB  
Article
High-Efficiency Copper Removal by Nitrogen Plasma-Assisted Picosecond Laser Processing
by Yunfan Li, Xuanqi Guo, Shuai Wang, Shizhuo Zhang, Yilin Zhao, Dingyi Guo, Chen Zhang, Sheng Liu, Gary J. Cheng and Feng Liu
Micromachines 2022, 13(9), 1492; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi13091492 - 08 Sep 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1497
Abstract
Copper (Cu) removal efficiency is a key parameter in the processing of Cu-based electronic devices. Herein, a nitrogen plasma-assisted picosecond (ps) laser process for Cu removal is presented. Based on the cleaning and activation effect of nitrogen plasma on the surface of Cu [...] Read more.
Copper (Cu) removal efficiency is a key parameter in the processing of Cu-based electronic devices. Herein, a nitrogen plasma-assisted picosecond (ps) laser process for Cu removal is presented. Based on the cleaning and activation effect of nitrogen plasma on the surface of Cu film in ps-laser ablation, the removal efficiency can be significantly improved. Theoretically, the interaction mechanism between Cu and the ps-laser under the action of the plasma flow field is investigated by the dual temperature model (TTM) and finite element analysis (FEA). Meanwhile, the experimental results show that the angle of the plasma flow significantly affects the laser ablation of Cu. Small-angle plasma helps to improve the ps-laser processing precision of Cu, while large-angle plasma can effectively improve the ps-laser processing efficiency of Cu. Under the laser fluence of 2.69 J/cm2, the removal depth of the Cu film by a 30° plasma-assisted ps-laser is 148% higher than that by the non-plasma-assisted ps-laser, which indicates the application potential of nitrogen plasma in improving the laser ablation process. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Micro/Nano-Machining of Functional Structures and Surfaces)
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Review

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23 pages, 4290 KiB  
Review
Friction Behavior of Rough Surfaces on the Basis of Contact Mechanics: A Review and Prospects
by Siyuan Zhang, Dawei Li and Yanwei Liu
Micromachines 2022, 13(11), 1907; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi13111907 - 04 Nov 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2857
Abstract
Contact and friction are closely related as friction cannot happen without contact. They are widely used in mechanical engineering, traffic, and other fields. The real contact surface is not completely smooth, but it is made up of a series of tiny contact asperities [...] Read more.
Contact and friction are closely related as friction cannot happen without contact. They are widely used in mechanical engineering, traffic, and other fields. The real contact surface is not completely smooth, but it is made up of a series of tiny contact asperities as viewed in the micro-scale. This is just the complexity of the contact and friction behaviors of rough surfaces: the overall mechanical behavior is the result of all asperities which are involved during the contact. Due to the multiplicity of surface topography, the complexity of contact scale, and the nonlinearity of the constitutive material, there are still many open topics in the research of contact and friction behavior of rough surfaces. Based on the perspective of the macroscopic and micro-nano scale contact mechanics, this review gives a brief overview of friction for the latest developments and points out the existing issues and opportunities for future studies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Micro/Nano-Machining of Functional Structures and Surfaces)
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