nanotechnology

=Nanotechnology=

toc Read here about people's capabilities to operate on the nano-scale, a subject important to scale studies.

=Overview=

Nanotechnology is an informal term for operations on the scale of approximately 10^-9.

=History=

Structural dimensions in meters of academic disciplines mechanics, biology, and chemistry, from 1930 to 2006 by Hansen et al, Annals of the CIRP 2006. The disciplines listed are fine mechanics, micromechanics, cell biology, molecular biology, molecule engineering, inorganic compounds, complex chemistry, nano-materials.

>>>Image convergence

=Exponential Trends=

Decrease in size of mechanical devices (diameter in mm), number of nanotech science citations.

=Machining=

Increase in total machining accuracy, 1900 to 1983, versus total machining accuracy by Taniguchi, cited in “Dimensional micro and Nano Metrology” by Hansen et al, Annals of the CIRP 2006. The machining transitions in the following order, from 0.1 mm to 0.3 nm: ordinary cutting, ordinary grinding, ordinary lapping, ordinary polishing, ultra-precision processing, nano-processing. The machining is performed by normal machining, precision machining, high-precision machining, and ultrahigh-precision machining or extremely accurate machining.



Exponential trends in aspect ratio geometry as machined into components by Hansen et al, Annals of the CIRP 2006. The vertical dimension and lateral dimension are shrinking at different rates. Components shown include LIGA devices, nano photonics, optical mirrors, micro tools, microfluidics, stents and DVD CD.



See also microscopy, for comparison of structural dimensions in meters vs. structural complexity of dimensional visualization enabled by measuring technologies including stylus instrument, light optical microscope (LOM), coordinate measuring machine (CMM), 3D scanning electron microscope (SEM), scanning probe microscope (SPM).

Calibration artefacts, showing the very low aspect ration or dimensionality at small scales. Sinusoidal standards, roughness standards, superfine roughness standards, nano-roughness standards. By Hansen et al, Annals of the CIRP 2006.