24
A. Ghosh
Progress of TOP-DOWN & BOTTOM-UP approaches
1990
Microelectronics
Generative Manufacturing MEMS
nEMS Molecular
electronics
Time
Macro
Meso
Micro
Nano
Level of
material
manipulation
1950
2010
Chemistry
biotechnology
Fig. 27 Progress of miniaturization capabilities with time
This is not only to just increase the information collection ability but also to use the
advantages of scaling laws in many cases as indicated before. Figure 27 shows how
the capability of miniaturization has progressed over the years both through ‘bottomup’ and ‘top-down’ approaches. The processes and their respective capabilities for
miniaturization are shown in Fig. 27.
In top-down approach of making things, the desired shape is achieved by taking
a piece of material, and shaping is either by subtraction of excess volumes (viz.,
machining) or by deforming the given material (viz., casting, forming). In making
miniaturized shapes with complex geometries, the desired shape is generated by
adding material in small quantities. Present-day rapid prototyping and 3-D printing
processes belong to this class of shape generation technology. One major difficulty is
that these processes are basically slow and may not be suitable for mass production.
However, the emerging technology based upon self-assembly of material will remove
that hurdle in the not-too-distant future.
The demand for miniaturization will have major impact on various aspects of
mechanical engineering as mentioned below:
Configuration and Design
Material
Actuation and motion generation
Sensing and Control
Fabrication and Manufacturing
Energy source
Intelligent systems’ major characteristics depend upon the massively parallel
arrangement of miniaturized devices like all living organisms. This is not only to
A. Ghosh
Progress of TOP-DOWN & BOTTOM-UP approaches
1990
Microelectronics
Generative Manufacturing MEMS
nEMS Molecular
electronics
Time
Macro
Meso
Micro
Nano
Level of
material
manipulation
1950
2010
Chemistry
biotechnology
Fig. 27 Progress of miniaturization capabilities with time
This is not only to just increase the information collection ability but also to use the
advantages of scaling laws in many cases as indicated before. Figure 27 shows how
the capability of miniaturization has progressed over the years both through ‘bottomup’ and ‘top-down’ approaches. The processes and their respective capabilities for
miniaturization are shown in Fig. 27.
In top-down approach of making things, the desired shape is achieved by taking
a piece of material, and shaping is either by subtraction of excess volumes (viz.,
machining) or by deforming the given material (viz., casting, forming). In making
miniaturized shapes with complex geometries, the desired shape is generated by
adding material in small quantities. Present-day rapid prototyping and 3-D printing
processes belong to this class of shape generation technology. One major difficulty is
that these processes are basically slow and may not be suitable for mass production.
However, the emerging technology based upon self-assembly of material will remove
that hurdle in the not-too-distant future.
The demand for miniaturization will have major impact on various aspects of
mechanical engineering as mentioned below:
Configuration and Design
Material
Actuation and motion generation
Sensing and Control
Fabrication and Manufacturing
Energy source
Intelligent systems’ major characteristics depend upon the massively parallel
arrangement of miniaturized devices like all living organisms. This is not only to