Magazine for microstructured moulded parts and method for the production thereof

Abstract

This describes a procedure for replicative fabrication and packaging of at least one microstructured molded part as one magazine/molded part composite as well as a magazine with at least one microstructured molded part as one magazine/molded part composite. The first step covers fabrication of at least one microstructured molded part using an initially closed tool which consists of at least one first and one second tool half. In the second step, both tool halves are opened, whereby the molded part remains in the first tool half. In the third step, at least the second tool half is replaced with at least one additional tool half. In the fourth step, the replicative fabrication of the magazine is carried out using the first tool half containing the molded part and the additional tool half. Finally in the fifth step, magazine and molded part are demolded simultaneously as one magazine/molded part composite. Under the invention, either the magazine or the microcomponents can be fabricated first depending on the final design of the microcomponent and magazine. This procedure, which preferably uses a 2-component injection molding process, allows the direct fabrication of several molded parts or microcomponents and their magazine packaging as one magazine/molded part composite without any after-treatment requirement, whereby different physical heights are fabricated for the magazine and microcomponents. Since the magazine connects the microcomponents only at parts of the side, bottom or face surfaces, a gripper can be used for very precise, fully automated mounting of the microcomponent.