Capillary Forces in Microassembly: Modeling, Simulation, Experiments, and Case Study 2007th Edition

From the reviews:

“Presented in five parts this text considers the use of capillary forces as a means to grip and assemble micrometre scale structures. … This book reads easily and is well presented in terms of technical figures and mathematical detail. … topics discussed are illustrated via a number of examples and, ultimately a thorough case study involving a watch bearing. … serves best as a reference for those specialists working in the field or for a postgraduate researcher looking for a clear explanation of microassembly principles.” (Matthew R. Foreman, Contemporary Physics, Vol. 51 (6), 2010)

Capillary Forces in Microassembly discusses the use of capillary forces as a gripping principle in microscale assembly. Clearly written and well-organized, this text brings together physical concepts at the microscale with practical applications in micromanipulation. Throughout this work, the reader will find a review of the existing gripping principles, elements to model capillary forces as well as descriptions of the simulation and experimental test bench developed to study the design parameters. Using well-known concepts from surface science (such as surface tension, capillary effects, wettability, and contact angles) as inputs to mechanical models, the amount of effort required to handle micro-components is predicted. These developments are then applied in a case study concerning the pick and place of balls in a watch ball bearing.

Researchers and engineers involved in micromanipulation and precision assembly will find this a highly useful reference for microassembly system design and analysis.