2007 MIT Manufacturing Summit
Precision Engineering Session
Miniature machines for nano-scale research and manufacturing: A new model for equipment and instrumentation
Prof. Martin L. Culpepper
Rockwell International Associate Professor
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
http://pcsl.mit.edu
Advances in nanopositioning technology make it possible to (a) increase the pace of discoveries (via instruments) and (b) improve the pace with which discoveries are manufactured and commercialized. There are a growing number of instrument/equipment applications wherein small-scale (meso- and micro-scale) nanopositioners are needed in order to achieve commercially viable speeds (kHz), resolution (Angstroms), cost ($100s) and thermal stability (Angstroms/min). New small-scale nanopositioners are emerging to meet these requirements, however there are a few technological issues that must be addressed. The purpose of this talk is to cover (i) the fundamental reasons that will compel the creation of these nanopositioners, (ii) the economic and performance benefits that they will enable and (iii) how partnerships can help to overcome the few remaining technical/scientific issues. The import of partnerships between machine design researchers, nanofabrication process researchers, and manufacturers will be stressed as well as a plan that is focused upon creating these partnerships. The talk ends with a vision for a new class of small-scale, low-cost instrument/equipment platforms to support a new model for nano-scale research and manufacturing and the LMP's role in the future of small-scale manfuacturing.
Biography
Dr. Culpepper received his BSME (1995) from Iowa State University, and his MS/PhD (1997/ 2000) from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He then ran his own consulting company before returning to join the faculty of Mechanical Engineering at MIT in 2001. Prof. Culpepper is the recipient of an NSF Presidential Early Career Award (PECASE) for his work in Nanomanufacturing equipment/instrumentation, two R&D 100 awards (1999, 2003) and a TR100 award. Prof. Culpepper's research laboratory - Precision Compliant Systems Laboratory - works on the science/engineering required to create new positioning technologies for emerging manufacturing and instrumentation applications. Prof. Culpepper is the Assistant Director of the MIT Interdepartmental Laboratory for Manufacturing and Productivity and he is the founding Director of the MIT Precision Engineering Center.
MEMS Manufacturing - To take the road less traveled?
Professor Martin A. Schmidt
Professor of Electrical Engineering, MIT
MEMS Manufacturing has historically followed the 'Semiconductor Manufacturing Paradigm'. Specifically, we have used nfrastructure and processes which were developed to manufacture integrated circuits. This paradigm has been successfully applied to a multitude of high volume 'MEMS-enabled' products such as accelerometers, pressure sensors, ink-jet printers, and digital light processors. None the less, this paradigm has also been proven to be a failure for certain products. In this talk, we will review the state of manufacturing in MEMS, and explore alternatives manufacturing methods which offer great promise. These manufacturing methods have the potential to transform how we think about manufacturing at the Micro and Nano level, and could lead to a micro/nano industrial revolution!
Biography
Martin A. Schmidt is a Professor of Electrical Engineering at MIT, having joined the faculty at MIT in 1988. He holds a BS degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and a SM and Ph.D. from MIT. He has conducted research in MEMS throughout his career, and has been active in the commercialization of MEMS-enabled products, having served as an advisor to industry for 20 years. He co-founded BioScale, Living Microsystems, and CellPoint Diagnostics; all venture-backed start-ups in the BioMEMS space. He was a recipient of the NSF Presidential Young Investigator Award, several MIT departmental awards for teaching, and he holds an Honorary Doctorate from the Technical University of Denmark.
Precision Matters: Designing for Nanometers
Dr. Stephen J. Ludwick
Aerotech, Inc.
Director of Advanced Technologies
Biography
Stephen Ludwick is the Director of Advanced Technologies for Aerotech, Inc. in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He is responsible for developing and implementing next-generation precision motion control systems with an emphasis on the interactions between mechanical, electrical, and algorithmic components of a design. Steve joined Aerotech in 1999 as a development engineer, and later became the Mechanical Engineering Manager responsible for the creation of standard products as well as highly customized precision machines for commercial and government applications. These projects include linear and rotary stages, air bearings, advanced control algorithms, metrology and system error correction, and vibration-control systems. In his present assignment, Steve identifies, develops, and prototypes promising new technologies for nanometer-level motion control. From 1990 to 1994, Steve attended Carnegie Mellon University and received a dual B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering & Engineering and Public Policy. An internship at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory during this time introduced him to the field of Precision Engineering. He next attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and in 1999 received a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering for research into high-dynamic machine tools. Steve teaches a course in Mechanical Design at the University of Pittsburgh, and also supervises sponsored research projects at multiple area universities. Steve is the author of a chapter on Precision Motion Control in the CRC Handbook of Robotics (2004), and is an active member of the American Society for Precision Engineering.
