micromachine
Minuscule mechanical system
A micromachine is a mechanical device built at microscopic scale, typically smaller than a millimeter.
The term covers tiny sensors, actuators, and motors used in medicine, electronics, and robotics.
Micromachines can be injected into the bloodstream or embedded in chips.
The field overlaps with nanotechnology, though micromachines are generally larger than nanoscale devices.
Microscale electromechanical devices
- microfabricationManufacturing miniature structures precisely
- sensorInput-detecting device
- actuatorDevice producing controlled motion
- transducerEnergy form converter
silicon · wafer · etching · lithography · microsystem · lab-on-a-chip · biosensor · piezoelectric
Ultrafine material fragments
- nanotubesHollow molecular cylinders
- grapheneMonolayer carbon hexagonal lattice
- nanomedicineMolecular-level medical technology
- drug deliveryConveying medicine to tissues
self-assembly · nanorobotics · quantum dots · nanofibers · biosensors · nanoscale · bottom-up · nanosensor
Proportionally reduced reproduction
- dioramaEnclosed miniature scene display
- replicaFaithful scaled reproduction
- collectibleObject worth amassing
- toyObject for amusement
Hot Wheels · matchbox · tabletop · dollhouse · figurine · miniaturization · pocket-sized · small-scale
Manufacturing at microscopic scales
- accuracyDegree of correctness
- calibrationAdjusting for measurement accuracy
- toleranceWillingness to accept difference
- instrumentationDesign of measuring devices
fine-tuning · micromanipulation · laser cutting · EDM · CNC · metrology · cleanroom
MEMS
Microscale electromechanical devices
- microfabricationManufacturing miniature structures precisely
- sensorInput-detecting device
- actuatorDevice producing controlled motion
transducer · silicon · wafer · etching · lithography · microsystem · lab-on-a-chip · biosensor · piezoelectric · accelerometer
nanoparticles
Ultrafine material fragments
- nanotubesHollow molecular cylinders
- grapheneMonolayer carbon hexagonal lattice
- nanomedicineMolecular-level medical technology
drug delivery · self-assembly · nanorobotics · quantum dots · nanofibers · biosensors · nanoscale · bottom-up · nanosensor
scale model
Proportionally reduced reproduction
- dioramaEnclosed miniature scene display
- replicaFaithful scaled reproduction
- collectibleObject worth amassing
toy · Hot Wheels · matchbox · tabletop · dollhouse · figurine · miniaturization · pocket-sized · small-scale · detailed
micromachining
Manufacturing at microscopic scales
- accuracyDegree of correctness
- calibrationAdjusting for measurement accuracy
- toleranceWillingness to accept difference
instrumentation · fine-tuning · micromanipulation · laser cutting · EDM · CNC · metrology · cleanroom
- MicrodevicesMEMS, microsensor, microprocessor, microcircuit, microcontroller
micromachineheavy machinery
Large powered industrial apparatus
heavy equipment · bulldozer · factory equipment · crane · industrial machinery