microFLEX — A new concept to address the needs for adaptable meso and micro assembly lines

Abstract

Assembly of products from the micro and the meso domain like micro-optical systems and/or micro-mechanical actuators is often done manually and with increasing product volumes more and more automatically. According to the specific needs associated with the size, such implementations should be realised in an adapted way without just downscaling macro process and equipment solutions. This leads to the Mini-/Microfactory concepts which have been under development since years in different working groups. The paper presents the new microFLEX concept aiming at space- and energy-saving automation solutions for the meso and micro domain. Based on the results of an investigation of the assembly of a fine mechanical reference product, the requirements list is generated and the basic logistic approach will be derived. The table-based concept is outlined and a simple scenario is used to illustrate the usability of the system.