Laser Microfabrication of Micro Actuator

레이저 미세 가공기술을 이용한 마이크로 엑츄에이터의 개발

The polyimide nozzle and silicon restrictor inside a thermal micro actuator have been fabricated using state of the art laser micromachining methods. Numerical models of fluid dynamics inside the actuator chamber and nozzle are presented. The models include fluid flow from reservoir, bubble formation and growth, ejection through the nozzle, and dynamics of refill through restrictor. Since high tapered nozzle and restrictor are very important parameters for overall actuator performance design, a special setup for the beam delivery system has been developed. The effects of variations of nozzle thickness, diameter, taper angles, and restrictor shapes are simulated and some results are compared with the experimental results. It is fecund that the fluid ejection through the thinner and high tapered nozzle is more steady, fast, and robust and the tapered restrictor shows more satisfying refill than the zero taper one.