Microlamination method for making devices

A method for making a micro- or meso-scale device or a component of such a device comprising:

• providing three or more laminae made from a non-thin film metal or metal alloy that coupled together collectively define a device or a component of a device;
• registering the laminae to define at least one internal lamina, positioned between a first and a second lamina, the at least one internal lamina having a structure and at least one substructure coupled to the structure or another substructure by at least one fixture bridge;
• bonding the laminae one to another to form a monolithic device or a component of a device;
• and
• eliminating the fixture bridge prior or subsequent to bonding the laminae by applying an electrical current across the fixture bridge.

A method for making an array of devices or an array of components of devices, comprising:

• providing plural laminae made from a non-thin film metal or metal alloy where at least one of the plural lamina has an array of at least two assemblies, each assembly in the array comprising at least one structure, at least one substructure, and at least one fixture bridge, such that at least one of the structures and at least one of the substructures define a space therebetween, and at least one substructure is coupled to at least one structure by at least one fixture bridge across the space;
• registering the laminae to define at least one internal lamina, positioned between a first and a second lamina;
• and
• dissociating at least one substructure of an internal lamina from the structure to which it is coupled by applying an electrical current across the fixture bridge sufficient to eliminate the fixture bridge, thereby making an array of devices or an array of components of devices.

A method for making a device or a component of a device, comprising:

• providing plural laminae that coupled together collectively define a monolithic device or a component of a device, at least one of the lamina having at least one structure, at least one substructure, and at least one fixture bridge, the structure and the substructure defining a space therebetween, and further with the substructure being coupled to the structure by the fixture bridge across the space;
• registering the plural laminae;
• filling the space between the structure and the substructure with a fixative prior to eliminating at least one fixture bridge;
• dissociating the substructure by eliminating the fixture bridge;
• eliminating the fixative;
• and
• bonding the plural laminae one to another to form a monolithic device or a component of a device prior to or subsequent to eliminating at least one fixture bridge.

A method for making an array of devices or an array of components of devices, comprising:

• providing plural laminae where at least one of the plural lamina has an array of at least two assemblies, each assembly in the array comprising at least one structure, at least one substructure, and at least one fixture bridge, such that at least one of the structures and at least one of the substructures define a space therebetween, and at least one substructure is coupled to at least one structure by at least one fixture bridge across the space;
• filling the space between each structure and its coupled substructure with a fixative prior to eliminating the fixture bridge;
• dissociating at least one substructure from the structure to which it is coupled by eliminating the fixture bridge(s), thereby making an array of devices or an array of components of devices, where dissociating each substructure from the structure to which it is coupled by eliminating the fixture bridge(s) is performed before the plural laminae are registered and bonded;
• and
• eliminating the fixative.

A method for making a micro- or meso-scale device or a component of such a device comprising:

• providing three or more laminae that coupled together collectively define a device or a component of a device;
• registering the laminae to define at least one internal lamina, positioned between a first and a second lamina, the at least one internal lamina having a structure and at least one substructure coupled to the structure or another substructure by at least one fixture bridge made of a non-refractory material;
• bonding the laminae one to another to form a monolithic device or a component of a device;
• and
• eliminating the fixture bridge prior or subsequent to bonding the laminae by applying an electrical potential across the fixture bridge.