Abstract
Machine material handling is complicated in micromanufacturing since standards are not applied and existing handling systems are not flexible. Usually, machine handling systems are highly dependent of microcomponent properties. If the microcomponent is changed, the handling system is also changed. The aim of this paper is to propose a packaging station based on a standard carrier to provide a product-independent inter-machine handling system. Microcomponents are arranged into standard carriers for unifying transport systems. This packaging station was designed to accomplish micro-bulk-forming requirements, but its modular design and its low microcomponent dependencies permit to easily adapt the station to new applications. © Springer-Verlag London Limited 2011.
