Restrictions of production engineering on micro-specific product development

Abstract

The influences deriving from technology on the functions achievable by means of product design are typical characteristics of the development of micro-technological products. As a result, unlike the conventional design process the function attainable in micro technology due to product design appears to be less subjected to certain requirements. Multitechnological influences, resulting from production processes, material characteristics or micro-specific effects have an especially restrictive impact on the design of machine elements. On the basis of the product development process for primary shaped micro components from metallic and ceramic materials a method is presented which makes it possible to detect the know-how provided by disciplines subsequent and adjacent to the design process, having influence on the design of the machine element and interpret this relevant to design. The computer-aided availability of knowledge is accomplished with a knowledge-based design environment.