Additive manufacturing as an emerging technology for fabrication of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS)

Abstract

The recent success of additive manufacturing processes (also called, 3D printing) in the manufacturing sector has led to a shift in the focus from simple prototyping to real production-grade technology. The enhanced capabilities of 3D printing processes to build intricate geometric shapes with high precision and resolution have led to their increased use in fabrication of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). The 3D printing technology has offered tremendous flexibility to users for fabricating custom-built components. Over the past few decades, different types of 3D printing technologies have been developed. This article provides a comprehensive review of the recent developments and significant achievements in most widely used 3D printing technologies for MEMS fabrication, their working methodology, advantages, limitations, and potential applications. Furthermore, some of the emerging hybrid 3D printing technologies are discussed, and the current challenges associated with the 3D printing processes are addressed. Finally, future directions for process improvements in 3D printing techniques are presented.