This is what they can do with MEMS nowdays.

[Sceadwian]

Thought I'd share this link for people that don't keep up on current science/technology trends. This is one of the coolest things I've seen this year, the possibilities being truly endless.

https://www.wired.com/wiredenterprise/2012/02/robotic-bee/

 

[duffy]

Very cool! I wonder if there's some way to do that on a hobbyist level? The metal layers might be etched, the plastic layers might be laser-cut or photo-machined with selective UV cure epoxy, thinner layers might be cute with a film cutter like a Cricket.

 

[DerStrom8]

Wow, Scead, thanks for sharing! That's fascinating! It never ceases to amaze me what they can do nowadays

 

[Sceadwian]

It could duffy, for the right price...

The examples given in the video are pretty much lab based toys. The only way this construction and scale method becomes practical is at scale, give it a few years modern industry is expanding it's abilities at a rate that is close to Mores law, for things that just a handful of years ago were at best one shot.

The next 50 years are going to be rather exciting if the world doesn't fold in on itself politically.

 

[cr0sh]

Great post, Sceadwian! It's a very interesting technology that could be applied to so many small devices; times definitely are interesting!