MULTILAYER

Rolled multi material layered 3D shaping technology

 Partecipanti

Mappa

 Word cloud

Esplora la "nuvola delle parole (Word Cloud) per avere un'idea di massima del progetto.

 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'Various emerging markets in the field of non silicon multimaterial micro devices offer a huge potential for commercialisation in the near future. However, solutions for mass-production for most of them have still to be developed. The objective of the MULTILAYER project is to develop a set of solutions for the large-scale production of micro devices based on a technology we call “Rolled multi material layered 3D shaping technology” and using the concept of tape casting and advanced printing techniques. This technology will enable to manufacture complex multifunctional 3D-micro parts on a layer by layer manner and in a high-throughput context. Each layer can be given a specific structure. They will be printed and contain channels and cavities that are open or filled in a very high precision manner. The microsystems will have as basic building material ceramics, which is a clear advantage in applications that require high temperature, corrosive environments and long time reliability. Furthermore, it will allow spatial resolutions under 10 µm and the ceramics tapes developed will be down to 10 µm thin. The “Rolled multi material layered 3D shaping technology” will have several advantages: - it will be an efficient mass production method - the fabrication series can attain over a million units - it will offer a good flexibility for a wide variety possible component designs, - it will allow the integration of different materials as different layers enabling to manufacture multimaterial multilayered packages with a high degree of integration, - the process will be very reliable, indeed, every single layer can be advantageously inspected and controled'

Introduzione (Teaser)

European researchers have developed a new platform for the large-scale production of micro devices. This cost-effective process will increase the EU's competiveness in the massive global market for micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS).

Descrizione progetto (Article)

Currently, the mass manufacture of non-silicon micro devices cannot produce very complicated 3D parts and is not suitable for inorganic materials such as ceramics and metals. A mass market solution is required for producing very complex multifunctional 3D parts made from ceramics.

Fulfilling this need was the aim of the 'Rolled multi material layered 3D shaping technology' (MULTILAYER) project, funded by the EU. This project used the concept of tape casting combined with advanced printing techniques for the mass fabrication of micro devices.

The project developed a solution that involves cutting the design of the micro device into several different layers, which are individually structured and treated before being assembled. This technology places no limitation on the complexity of the part to be designed, which is important for the miniaturisation of micro-structured parts.

In an effort to provide a reliable set of technologies, MULTILAYER first developed the technology platform needed for several fabrication routes. This novel platform was then evaluated for making different kinds of 3D multi-material products.

A set of six demonstrators was then produced to showcase various applications and to validate the MULTILAYER platform. These were used to demonstrate the potential to address already existing and new markets, offering new products at extremely reduced costs.

Now complete, the MULTILAYER project has resulted in a novel approach to the manufacture of microsystems in Europe, which also has the potential to open up new market sectors. Consequently, it will increase job opportunities in existing European companies while promoting the set-up of new high-tech firms.