Microengines
Microengines are the size of a sand grain but with the power
of a horse. Well, not exactly. Though these minature engines
etched into silicon do produce horsepower, it is as miniscule
as their size.
(12.0K)
Figure
1
Microtransmission driving a rack and pinion unit to deflect
an out-of-plane mirror.
A
transmission is a type of machine that uses a set of gears to
transmit the input force of the engine to an output force on
an object.
Micromachines
To increase the output force of a microengine, one needs to
devise a micromachine. Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories
have done just that. They have produced a miniature set of gears,
a transmission of sorts, that will increase the force a microengine
can deliver.
(14.0K)
Figure
2
Close up shot of the micromachine. The width of the picture
represents 200 µm.
How
it Works Figure 2 is an up-close shot of the machine. The microengine
is at the top and it will turn the little gear wheel, A.
Through a series of other gears, the pinion B (small
gear wheel) will turn. The pinion drives the rack C.
Notice on Figure 1 that the rack will push or pull on
the mirror.
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