Micromachining Using Electrochemical Discharge Phenomenon

This book presents an unconventional and largely unknown technology, which is able to micro-machine at relatively low cost glass, polymers and other materials. This process is called Spark Assisted Chemical Engraving (SACE), or Electro Chemical Discharge Machining (ECDM). First presented in 1968 in Japan by Kurafuji and Suda, this technology was studied essentially in the academic world and mainly applied for micro-fluidic devices. This book explains the fundamentals of SACE, promotes the technology, and encourages researchers and engineers from industry to use it for their specific applications. Therefore, the book, after presenting in details the fundaments of SACE (in particular the Electrochemical Discharges), deals mainly with practical aspects of implementing the machining technology. The book is written so that researchers from fields other than micro-technology (e.g., from life science) will be able to build a simple machining set-up, together with his mechanical work-shop, for individual needs.

Rolf Wuumlet;thrich is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at Concordia University, Montreal. His research includes: micromachining of glass and ceramics by non-traditional processes (fundamental aspects, modeling and simulation); development of microdevices for microfluidic, Lab on a Chip, microfuel cells and biosensors; and fabrication of nano-particles using electrochemical discharges. Dr. Wuumlet;thrich has published over 50 peer-reviewed journal and conference papers in his research field of micromachining of glass using electrochemical discharges, and has been invited to give keynotes in international conferences.