REMS: a laboratory for integrated micro-manufacturing

In order to improve the regional technological scenario on 2011 the research project REMS (Rete Lombarda di Eccellenza per la Meccanica Strumentale e Laboratorio Esteso) was funded by Lombardy Region. In this project several regional partners were involved as CSMT (Centro Servizi Multisettoriale e Tecnologico di Brescia), University of Brescia, University of Bergamo, Politecnico di Milano and CNR-ITIA. The aim of this project was the development of technological themes of prior interest for Lombardy Region, based on Instrumental Mechanics: ultra-precision machining, production of smart machine and rapid prototyping. In this paper a part of the results achieved by the University of Brescia and University of Bergamo during this project in the ultra-precision field is presented. In particular, at the University of Brescia, a characterization of the laser polishing process was studied as a function of process parameters as laser path and assist gas. A full experimental plan was designed to investigate the influence of process parameters in terms of achieved average roughness reduction. On the same topic the University of Bergamo focused the research on EBL and micro-EDM technologies for the fabrication of a plunging EDM tool having micrometric features by means of EBL. A super conductive silicon disc with a layer of silicon oxide was obtained from a silicon wafer and a photoresist was then spin coated on the silicon oxide surface. With EBL technology the negative pattern was then transferred on the photoresist and after the chemical etching of the surface the resulting component was fixed on the tip of a cylindrical EDM tool, that was used for some experimental tests on magnesium with the micro-EDM machine Sarix SX 200.