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Capillary Forces in Microassembly

Modeling, Simulation, Experiments, and Case Study

  • Book
  • © 2007

Overview

  • Covers an interdisciplinary field, between the surface sciences fundamental aspects and more production and assembly oriented issues
  • The developed methodology includes an exhaustive literature review, models and simulations, experimental validation of the models and of the proposed gripping principle, within the framework of a watch bearing assembly case study
  • Provides an exhaustive basis to understand, model (analytically and numerically), and design grippers based on capillary forces
  • Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

Part of the book series: Microtechnology and MEMS (MEMS)

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Table of contents (26 chapters)

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About this book

Capillary Forces in Microassembly discusses the use of capillary forces as a gripping principle in microscale assembly. Clearly written and well-organized, this text brings together physical concepts at the microscale with practical applications in micromanipulation. Throughout this work, the reader will find a review of the existing gripping principles, elements to model capillary forces as well as descriptions of the simulation and experimental test bench developed to study the design parameters. Using well-known concepts from surface science (such as surface tension, capillary effects, wettability, and contact angles) as inputs to mechanical models, the amount of effort required to handle micro-components is predicted. These developments are then applied in a case study concerning the pick and place of balls in a watch ball bearing.

Researchers and engineers involved in micromanipulation and precision assembly will find this a highly useful reference for microassembly system design and analysis.

Reviews

From the reviews:

“Presented in five parts this text considers the use of capillary forces as a means to grip and assemble micrometre scale structures. … This book reads easily and is well presented in terms of technical figures and mathematical detail. … topics discussed are illustrated via a number of examples and, ultimately a thorough case study involving a watch bearing. … serves best as a reference for those specialists working in the field or for a postgraduate researcher looking for a clear explanation of microassembly principles.” (Matthew R. Foreman, Contemporary Physics, Vol. 51 (6), 2010)

Authors and Affiliations

  • Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Bruxelles, Belgium

    Pierre Lambert

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