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The continuous miniaturization of products and the growing complexity of their embedded multifunctionalities necessitates continuous research and development efforts regarding micro components and related micro manufacturing technologies. Highly miniaturized systems, manufactured using a wide variety of materials, have found application in key technological fields, such as healthcare devices, micro implants, mobility, communications, optics, and micro electromechanical systems. Innovations required for the high-precision manufacturing of micro components can specifically be achieved through optimizations using post-process (i.e., offline) and in-process (i.e., online) metrology of both process input and output parameters, as well as geometrical features of the produced micro parts. However, it is of critical importance to reduce the metrology and optimization efforts, since process and product quality control can represent a significant portion of the total production time in micro manufacturing. To solve this fundamental challenge, research efforts have been undertaken in order to define, investigate, implement, and validate the so-called “product/process manufacturing fingerprint” concept. The “product manufacturing fingerprint” concept refers to those unique dimensional outcomes (e.g., surface topography, form error, critical dimensions, etc.) on the produced component that, if kept under control and within specifications, ensure that the entire micro component complies to its specifications. The “process manufacturing fingerprint” is a specific process parameter or feature to be monitored and controlled, in order to maintain the manufacture of products within the specified tolerances. By integrating both product and process manufacturing fingerprint concepts, the metrology and optimization efforts are highly reduced. Therefore, the quality of the micro products increases, with an obvious improvement in production yield. Accordingly, this Special Issue seeks to showcase research papers, short communications, and review articles that focus on novel methodological developments and applications in micro- and sub-micro-scale manufacturing, process monitoring and control, as well as micro and sub-micro product quality assurance. Focus will be on micro manufacturing process chains and their micro product/process fingerprint, towards full process optimization and zero-defect micro manufacturing.

n/a --- Fresnel lenses --- Electro sinter forging --- micro-injection moulding --- surface roughness --- charge relaxation time --- optimization --- gratings --- plasma-electrolytic polishing --- micro structures replication --- micro-grinding --- electrical discharge machining --- injection molding --- quality control --- commercial control hardware --- electrical current --- damping --- process monitoring --- fingerprints --- impact analysis --- current monitoring --- process control --- quality assurance --- surface integrity --- microfabrication --- microinjection moulding --- electro chemical machining --- superhydrophobic surface --- surface modification --- haptic actuator --- electrical discharge machining (EDM) --- surface morphology --- inline metrology --- optical quality control --- finishing --- flow length --- precision injection molding --- laser ablation --- micro metrology --- Halbach linear motor --- 2-step analysis --- computer holography --- PeP --- satellite drop --- process fingerprint --- materials characterisation --- current density --- micro drilling --- multi-spectral imaging --- lithography --- manufacturing signature --- artificial compound eye --- electrohydrodynamic jet printing --- ECM --- positioning platform --- diffractive optics --- bioceramics --- resistance sintering --- uncertainty budget --- product fingerprint --- confocal microscopy --- spectral splitting --- dental implant --- desirability function --- injection compression molding --- electrochemical machining (ECM) --- high strain rate effect --- process fingerprints

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Micro electrical discharge machining (micro-EDM) is a thermo-electric and contactless process most suited for micro-manufacturing and high-precision machining, especially when difficult-to-cut materials, such as super alloys, composites, and electro conductive ceramics, are processed. Many industrial domains exploit this technology to fabricate highly demanding components, such as high-aspect-ratio micro holes for fuel injectors, high-precision molds, and biomedical parts.Moreover, the continuous trend towards miniaturization and high precision functional components boosted the development of control strategies and optimization methodologies specifically suited to address the challenges in micro- and nano-scale fabrication.This Special Issue showcases 12 research papers and a review article focusing on novel methodological developments on several aspects of micro electrical discharge machining: machinability studies of hard materials (TiNi shape memory alloys, Si3N4–TiN ceramic composite, ZrB2-based ceramics reinforced with SiC fibers and whiskers, tungsten-cemented carbide, Ti-6Al-4V alloy, duplex stainless steel, and cubic boron nitride), process optimization adopting different dielectrics or electrodes, characterization of mechanical performance of processed surface, process analysis, and optimization via discharge pulse-type discrimination, hybrid processes, fabrication of molds for inflatable soft microactuators, and implementation of low-cost desktop micro-EDM system.

Technology: general issues --- electrodischarge micromachining --- drilling --- cubic boron nitride --- foil queue microelectrode --- micro-EDM --- step effect --- tapered structure --- wire electrical discharge grinding (WEDG) --- micromoulding --- soft microrobotics --- electrical discharge machining (EDM) --- Tungsten cemented carbide (WC-Co) --- desktop micro-electrical discharge machining (micro-EDM) system --- cut-side micro-tool --- micro-holes --- EDM --- SR --- TWR --- PMEDM --- MRR --- electro-discharge treatment --- Ti-6Al-4V --- MWCNTs --- surface characterization --- wear resistance --- corrosion resistance --- composite 3D microelectrode --- diffusion bonding --- step --- 3D microstructure --- material processing --- DSS-2205 alloy --- electric-discharge machining --- surface integrity --- surface wettability --- ceramic composite --- micro-EDM milling --- pulse discrimination --- Micro-electro-discharge machining (μEDM) --- liquid-metal electrode --- Galinstan --- Zirconium Boride --- silicon carbide fibers --- silicon carbide whiskers --- advanced material --- TiNi shape memory alloy --- TiC powder --- surface modification --- microhardness --- electrochemical discharge machining --- laser machining --- glass --- micro-groove --- n/a