Hybrid-Manufacturing: The Challenge Of Micro-Technology

This paper is focused on potentials and limitations of the available microassembly techniques. Manipulation and joining problems which occur passing from macro to micro domain are presented and explained under the view point of technical issues, physics of microworld and design aspect. Furthermore, a 2 DOF ?PKM (Parallel Kinematics Machine) with potential application in optical transmission field, currently under study at ITIA-CNR, is described as a practical example. Its hybrid product-process design is studied, providing a deep insight of microassembly technology and techniques. A short review of the state of the art is also presented.