This report describes the fabrication of microchannels on polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) substrates for application to a Micro-Total Analysis System. Some experiments for the replication of linear channels were carried out using a brass mold on which the linear ridges with rectangular cross-section were fabricated. We found an embossing temperature of 250°C, embossing pressure of 14.7 MPa, and holding time of 1 min were optimum for transferring the microstructure to the PTFE substrate. The maximal replication accuracy reached about 95%. Consequently, it was verified that hot embossing is applicable for fabrication of microchannels on PTFE substrates.

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To prevent a decrease in the number of grains from the wheel surface, a thermoplastic resin-bonded diamond wheel was developed. The heat generated while grinding can soften thermoplastic resin and the grains can be buried in the wheel surface by contact f

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Progress in flat panel displays (FPD) with requirements for larger size and thinner sheet glass has caused problems with regard to breakage or turnover operation, which require scribing to break the cell glass. To resolve these problems, a breakless scribing wheel was developed that has the ability to propagate deeper median cracks compared with conventional methods. Previously, median crack propagation with a scribing wheel, including the breakless wheel, has been observed only statically. Therefore, the median crack propagation with the breakless wheel was observed using a high-speed camera. The results indicated rapid median crack propagation up to 60% of the glass thickness within 0.02 s after passage of the wheel, and propagation speed decreased after 0.02 s.

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The distribution and shape of cutting edges on the grinding wheel surface result in high-efficiency and high-accuracy grinding processes. In the previous paper, it was noted that the three-dimensional measurement system for grinding wheel surface topography can obtain measurements for a diamond grinding wheel in a very short time. Here, the state of CBN wheel cutting edges is traced and analyzed in grinding processes. The results indicated that the measurement system is very useful for CBN grinding wheels.

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In general, grinding fluids are supplied to the contact area between the grinding wheel and workpiece. However, it is difficult to supply grinding fluids in the case of high-speed grinding wheel rotation, as it is shed by the boundary layer around the grinding wheel. The airflow around the flank of a porous grinding wheel and that out from the peripheral surface were examined. The results indicated that the grinding fluid could be supplied from the flank of the grinding wheel. In this study, the behaviour of the grinding fluid when the grinding fluid was supplied from the flank of the grinding wheel was examined by measuring the void fraction near the peripheral surface.

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