David Bishop

Atomic 3-D Printing

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The goal of our research is to create atomic scale 3D printers. To achieve this we use MEMS devices such as shown in the figure. The device pictured is a MEMS writing plate. The plate is attached via the tethers to micron scale motors. The center of the plate has small holes drilled into it and atoms rain down on top of the plate as we move it. Essentially what we have is a small can of atomic spray paint we can write patterns and structures with. The purple structure above the plate is a shutter to stop and start the writing. We call this approach “atomic calligraphy”.

The process of creating these MEMS devices is one of sending designs to an outside foundry, they make them, return them to us and then we package and test them. The summer project will be to design and submit a MEMS device to the foundry. The task requires the participant to first learn how the process works and then design a device using a CAD design tool. After being designed, the CAD file is sent to the foundry where the device is then built. We envision having the device designed during the summer period, submitted to the foundry at the end of the summer and then having the participant return for a week in the Fall or Winter break to see and test the device after it has been built by the foundry. There are travel funds for the one-week visit in the Fall.

The specific device that will be built is a writing plate such as shown in the figure. The purpose of the writing plate is to write optical devices with nanoscale features that have an optical response that one can’t get with conventional, naturally occurring materials. In a very real sense, we will be using macro machines to create micro machines and then these micro machines to create nano machines. The one-week visit in the Fall will be to see the writing plate designed by the participant “in action” or directly writing nanoscale features.

LEARNING GOALS
• Understand what MEMS devices are, what they can do and how one builds them.
• After a successful summer, we would expect that the participant will be able to design and build MEMS devices either in a graduate school environment or in a commercial setting.
• Thus we would expect that building MEMS devices will be a skill that the participant will have for their later career.

Learn more about Professor Bishop on his faculty page.