This whimsical image is a colorized Scanning Electron
Micrograph (SEM) of mechanical gear which is smaller than a
human hair. The gear was made polycrystalline silicon using
surface micromachining techniques and is no longer attached
to the substrate. However, the gear did eventually lodge
onto an electrical bond pad (shown in green) due to surface
forces. This image illustrates the extraordinary capability
of MEMS technology to enable the realization of extremely
small mechanical elements. This device was made through
the MEMS and Nanotechnology Exchange fabrication network.
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