ABSTRACT
Micromanufacturing processes have been internationally recognized and given consideration in terms of their engineering approaches and challenges in high-volume production. Products are getting miniaturized, and the addition of microfeatures improves their performance efficiency. Generally, the manufacturing process is classified into two groups, i.e., top-down and bottom-up approaches. The top-down approach is a subtractive manufacturing process, such as conventional micromachining (microturning, micromilling, microdrillling), and unconventional micromachining (magnetorheological finishing, abrasive water jet micromachining, laser beam micromachining, electrochemical machining, magnetic abrasive finishing, X-ray lithography, ion beam micromachining, and abrasive flow finishing). The bottom-up approach is the additive manufacturing processes, such as microforming, microwelding, microcasting, incremental microforming, micro deep drawing, microstamping, microextrusion, microhydroforming, microforging, and microrolling processes. This chapter discusses vital issues, such as machining parameters, limitation on machinable materials, tooling, and dimension, and material handling of micromanufacturing. A fully automated high-volume micromanufacturing machine is also discussed.
