Specifications for 32-bot Alpha Diamagnetic Micro Factory
The diamagnetic micro factory has been rapidly produced to bring you the most cutting-edge technology as it becomes available. These initial specifications are for discussion purposes; actual specifications may change with future product iterations and users can customize components and capabilities.
Micro factory systems can be configured for sliding mode (“diamagnetically enhanced”) using graphite film or fully levitated mode (thicker graphite plates), or both on the same system. Users can reconfigure their system as desired using supplied or commercial graphite.
- BOARD AREA
The micro factory board is approximately 4” x 8” (10 x 20 cm) and uses commercially-made circuit boards. - SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS
A custom micro robot control program with graphical user interface can be supplied on a system laptop or is also suitable for downloading on a user Windows computer with serial USB interface. - FLEX CIRCUITS
Flex circuits are used for robot interconnects such as feed, modular sub-systems, variable 3D, angles etc. The standard system configuration includes 4 flex circuits. - CONTROL ZONES
The standard micro factory includes 32 control zones, providing 96 degrees of freedom (64 planar DOF). - NUMBER OF ROBOTS
The 32-bot micro factory drives up to 32 independent robots (36 counting flex drives). This number can be increased to provide parallel control…typically up to ~ 100-150 robots. - ROBOT SIZE
Robots typically measure 2.8 – 28 mm on a side; different sizes and shapes can be engineered to fit desired applications. Robots are based on magnet arrays, whose size can range from 2 x 2 up to 20 x 20 on standard arrays of 1.4 mm magnets; larger robots can be operated on the same system using additional magnets. - ROBOT FORCE
Continuous sliding mode force: ~ 100% magnet array weight. In the fully levitated mode with continuous power robots can exert a force of ~ 15% of its magnet array weight. Forces in intermittent power mode can be much higher, up to approximately 5 times magnet weight. - POSITION RESOLUTION
In sliding mode, the robot position resolution is approximately +/- 50 um open loop with a step size of 0.7 mm. Microstepping to about 100 um resolution is possible. In the fully levitated mode, the robot position resolution is approximately 0.2-0.4 um open loop (typical) depending on ambient vibrations. - SPEED
Robot speed is nominally 5-10 cm/s in continuous power mode; max speed in intermittent power mode is up to 100 cm/s, but motion reliability at the highest speeds may be compromised depending on configuration/payload. - VOLTAGE AND POWER REQUIREMENTS
The 32-bot microfactory system can be operated using a 8V, 4 A, DC power supply. Higher and lower voltages can also be used. A variable DC supply for 5-18 V and 15 A or higher, is generally recommended if intermittent pulse power or low power modes are used. A variable power supply can be purchased separately. - POWER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
The 32-bot micro factory includes software switches for power management mode. This mode turns off zones when they are not in use after a user-specified number of timesteps, thereby reducing power and heating. The power management mode enables higher speed, higher force, and thicker worksurface testing to maximize flexibility in exploring applications, albeit for reduced duty cycle.