Apparatus and method of dispensing small-scale powders

A particle feeding system, the system comprising:

• a support having a substantially linear vertical opening;
• a capillary with a substantially linear vertical opening having a center longitudinal axis, the capillary being fixed in the linear vertical opening of the support, the capillary having a first end to receive the particles and a second end, generally opposite the first end, to discharge the particles;
• and
• an actuator coupled to the capillary and extending in a plane substantially parallel to and offset from a plane bisecting the capillary along the center longitudinal axis so as to cause motion of the particles in a substantially helical path within the capillary substantially about the longitudinal axis.

An apparatus comprising:

• a feed mechanism that discharges a fabrication material towards a substrate, the feed mechanism including:
• a support having a substantially linear vertical opening;
• a capillary fixed in the substantially linear vertical opening of the support, the capillary having a first end to receive the fabrication material/bio-materials and a second end, generally opposite the first end, to discharge the fabrication material;
• and
• a source of ultrasonic vibration mechanically coupled to the capillary to transmit ultrasonic vibration to the capillary so as to discharge the fabrication material from the second end towards a substrate to deposit the fabrication material and wherein the source of ultrasonic vibration is generally orthogonal to an outer surface of the capillary and extends in a plane substantally parallel to and offset from a plane bisecting the capillary along the center longitudinal axis so as to cause motion of said material in a substantially helical path within the capillary substantially about the longitudinal axis;
• a three-axis stage that supports the substrate, wherein the stage is translated during deposition of the material;
• and
• a laser to process the material to produce a pattern, and to micro-machine the pattern.