Microfabrication

Microfabrication is a process of making teeny tiny things using machines and special tools. Just like how you play with playdough to make different shapes, microfabrication people work with materials like silicon, metals, and plastics to make tiny machines, sensors, and devices.

First, they clean the materials to remove any dirt or unwanted stuff. Then, they use a special machine called a lithography machine that helps them draw a design on the material with really, really tiny lines that are thousands of times thinner than a human hair! Then, they use other machines and tools to cut, drill, and etch the material to create the exact shape and size they need.

After the design is ready, they add different things to the tiny structures to make them work the way they want. For example, they can add chemicals to make sensors that detect things like pollution or light, or tiny wires called electrodes that can measure electricity or communication devices that transmit information.

Once everything is ready, the microfabrication people test all the things they made to make sure they work correctly. This process is important because even the smallest mistake can ruin the entire project. But when it all works out, they can make things that are so small that you can only see with a microscope, but are incredibly useful for things like medical devices, computer chips, and more!