Microfactory

A microfactory refers to a small dimension factory able to produce small dimension products. The term was proposed by the Mechanical Engineer Laboratory (MEL) of Japan in 1990^[1]. The microfactory main advantages are to save great amount of resources like space, energy, materials and time^[2] .

Due to its reduced dimensions, microfactories should be highly automated. It might contain automatic machine tools, assembly systems, quality inspection system, material feed system, waste elimination system, a system to evaluate tool deterioration and a system to replace tools ^[3].

References

1. ^ Makoto Tanaka, Development of desktop machining microfactory. Riken Review N. 34 Focused on Advances on Micro-mechanical Fabrication Techniques, April, 2001. Available in the WEB at http://www.riken.go.jp/lab-www/library/publication/review/pdf/No_34/34_046.pdf
2. ^ Yuichi Okazaki, Nozomu Mishima, and Kiwamu Ashida. Microfactory - concept, history, and developments. Journal of Manufacturing Science and Engineering, pages 837–844, 2004. Available in the WEB at http://scitation.aip.org/getabs/servlet/GetabsServlet?prog=normal&id=JMSEFK000126000004000837000001&idtype=cvips&gifs=yes
3. ^ Ernst Kussul et al. Development of micromachine tool prototypes for microfactories, Journal of Micromechanics and Microengineering, V. 12. N. 6. November 2002. pp.795-812. Available in the WEB at http://www.iop.org/EJ/abstract/0960-1317/12/6/311

See also

• MEMS
• Microfabrication
• Microtechnology

External references

• Japanese microfactory project
• Microfactory picture
• MicroManufacturing Conference