GearBits

Pinball Wizards

Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) use fabrication technologies derived from the semiconductor industry to construct components of microscopic size and smaller.

Using MEMS technology, people have made gears nine microns in size, working electrostatic motors, and projectors based on digital micromirrors. Ho hum.

Now comes a true advance: a MEMS scientific team have developed a new micromachining technique and - more importantly - have demonstrated its potential by making a micro pinball machine.

The ball, a 150-micron magnetic bead, is inserted in the 24-mm square pinball table, which is tilted at 20 degrees. The flippers are electromechanical silicon cantilevers which flick the ball at speeds of up to 0.75 km per hour against silicon bumper structures. Movies of the pinball machine in action are awesome.

The team says that the revolution is in replacing traditionally complex MEMS patterning fab steps with a single simple step, and using room temperature plasma bonding. For me, the pinball machine itself is revolution enough. The ultimate in mobile gaming!