Nanotechnology

Nano Mechanical

Nano mechanical systems using these precise molecular components are the focus of current research, with complete nano machines and, by extension, nano factories probably a decade or so away. Researchers still need to figure out how to build these essential components, but when they do they will be the foundation of general-purpose nano scale manufacturing. These machines will be able to build programmable shapes, similar to CNC [computer numerically controlled] machining, but much more flexibly and efficiently. The difference is that nano factories will build by adding not by cutting, which has inherent imprecision. This will allow them to make forms that a CNC machine cannot, such as a closed object with a hole inside of it."

The only way to build a nano factory is with another nano factory. This involves the concept of exponential manufacturing, where a set of tools builds an equivalent or improved set of tools. This is essential to being able to scale up systems and it works in theory, Phoenix says, because the inputs to the process include not just the structure of the first tool, but the information used to control it. Because of the sequential, repetitive nature of molecular manufacturing, the amount of information that can be fed to the process is virtually unlimited; meaning large amounts of identical things can be built with one information stream. A tool of finite complexity, controlled externally, can build things far more physically complex than itself; the complexity is limited only by the quality of the design. Thus, repetitive manufacturing affords tremendous flexibility, as well.

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