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The World's Smallest Jigsaw Puzzle Piece
An anonymous reader writes "Scientists from the Laser Zentrum Hannover used a femtosecond laser to make what is probably the world's smallest jigsaw which will be shown at the Hannover Messe. Its size is 5mm x 5mm and it consists of 100 parts. It's supposed to demonstrate the precision with which femtosecond lasers can cut materials without burning or damaging them. (Closeup 1, Closeup 2)"
As if people didn't have enough trouble as it is keeping track of jig-saw pieces! "I think I found the corner piece...get me my electron microscope!"
Well its half a centimeter along each edge obviously.
With 10 pieces along each edge, (If you look at the picture they are pretty much square) then each piece has the width of 0.05cm or 0.0005m which for me is pretty tiny.
But the most impressive thing is that the laser is able to cut this substance while not destroying it.
groklaw, wired and slashdot. The holy trinity of work based time wasting.
That is indeed a small puzzle, but...
why did they make all the pieces almost 100% alike? Jigsaw puzzles aren't supposed to have interchangeable pieces. Each piece should be somewhat unique.
Well, not all is lost... at least the pieces seem to have a little texture...
I used Google to translate the text, and nowhere is a mention of loss of mass mentioned. Given that these are small materials to begin with, how much mass is consumed in this process? The pics show pieces that are not snug. Just a thought ...
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OK, it can cut through paper with that accuracy and didn't destory it--I'm impressed. However, how deep would a laser like this be able to penetrate before it would be rendered impotent/would start destroying the material? Or isn't that relevant because of the apps this would be used in?
We now have confirmed reports from an informed Orange County minister that Ethel is still an active communist.