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Small-scale Manufacturing
One of the important technical
challenges facing micropower systems is the ability
to manufacture small devices to high precision.
Because the length, mass, and power constraints
for personal autonomy are significantly larger
than those typically considered the range of
microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), the precise
photolithographic methods available to MEMS have
limited usefulness in the micropower arena. At
the same time, macroscale manufacturing tolerances
are insufficient to achieve high performance
in sub-centimeter system packages. This challenge
has given rise to a field of "mesoscale" manufacturing.
These mesoscale techniques include scaled down
macromachining methods like wire electrodischarge
machining (EDM) as well as deposition methods
scaled up from the MEMS environment. Rapid prototyping
will also be an important tool for developing
micropower systems.
- Subtopics:
- Miniature Combustion
System
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