PRECISION ASSEMBLY TECHNOLOGIES AND SYSTEMS: 5TH IFIP WG 5.5 INTERNATIONAL PRECISION ASSEMBLY SEMINAR, IPAS 2010, CHAMONIX, FRANCE, FEBRUARY 14-17, 20

The development of new-generation micro-manufacturing technologies and systems has revolutionised the way products are designed and manufactured today with a s- nificant impact in a number of key industrial sectors. Micro-manufacturing techno- gies are often described as disruptive, enabling and interdisciplinary leading to the creation of whole new classes of products that were previously not feasible to ma- facture. While key processes for volume manufacture of micro-parts such as mach- ing and moulding are becoming mature technologies, micro-assembly remains a key challenge for the cost-effective manufacture of complex micro-products. The ability to manufacture customizable micro-products that can be delivered in variable volumes within relatively short timescales is very much dependent on the level of development of the micro-assembly processes, positioning, alignment and measurement techniques, gripping and feeding approaches and devices. Micro-assembly has developed rapidly over the last few years and all the pred- tions are that it will remain a critical technology for high-value products in a number of key sectors such as healthcare, communications, defence and aerospace. The key challenge is to match the significant technological developments with a new gene- tion of micro-products that will establish firmly micro-assembly as a mature manuf- turing process. th The book includes the set of papers presented at the 5 International Precision - sembly Seminar IPAS 2010 held in Chamonix, France from the 14th to the 17th February 2010.

This book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 5th International  Precision Assembly Seminar, IPAS 2010, in Chamonix, France, in February 2010.

The 39 revised full papers were carefully reviewed and selected from numerous submissions. The papers are organized in four parts: design of micro products; micro-assembly processes; positioning and manipulation for micro-assembly; and development of micro-assembly production.