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Low-Cost Micromachine Writes Calligraphy With Atoms
ckwu writes "Scientists at Boston University have put together an inexpensive microelectromechanical machine that can direct atoms onto a surface in a controlled manner (abstract). The device—which acts as a moving stencil—can lay down such precise, complex patterns that the technique is akin to writing with atoms, the researchers say. They've used the machine to draw rings and infinity symbols out of gold atoms, but the technique should be compatible with almost any material."
Sure, all they have to do is scale it down further a few orders of magnitude. Easy Peasy.
I think the story is low cost/inexpensive.
Low cost? Have you seen the prices for atomic refill cartridges for this thing? And you thought ink jet ink was overpriced!
John
Instead of waiting 5 hours to print your Yoda head, you can print it in mere decades.
The upside, you won't have layer lines, and you can choose materials other than PLA and ABS.
"Lame" - Galaxar
If it takes one second to print a square nanometer, then printing a whole square meter will take 10^18 seconds, that's more than 3x 10^8 years which is 300 million years. Then you need many, many layers to make e.g. a thin crust pizza.
Of course, maybe it can be faster, maybe you can use ten thousands nanoprinters/picoprinters in parallel or more but that's the main objection I have for now about printing macro objects on the nano scale. I do realize the existence of regular food means the concept isn't totally unworkable, it gives an indication of the "scale up" factor as well. How many millions, billions or trillions of cells are involved in making a grain of rice or an egg?, I have no clearly accurate idea.
We come back full circle to punch cards.
Jeez, RTFA much? This can write with anything that's vaporizable; dip-pen nanolithography is limited to liquid inks. It's mentioned by name in the story.
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