Revolutionary Cutting Tool Reduces Production Time and Cost of Glass Chips

Hitachi Tool Engineering Ltd. has made a breakthrough in the life sciences industry by developing a cutting tool that can etch tiny trenches in glass to make chips for DNA analysis and medical diagnosis. This innovative tool, a type of micro end mill, can slash production time by a factor of 10 and significantly reduce the cost of the chips. The glass chips currently cost hundreds of thousands of yen apiece, but with the new cutting tool, the cost could be reduced to just hundreds of yen.

Key Takeaways:

• The new cutting tool, a micro end mill, can etch tiny trenches in glass to make chips for DNA analysis and medical diagnosis, reducing production time by a factor of 10.
• The tool uses a metal coating with a thin layer of ceramic to increase wear resistance and can machine shapes with diameters of 0.1mm to 0.03mm.
• The glass chips currently cost hundreds of thousands of yen apiece, but with the new cutting tool, the cost could be reduced to just hundreds of yen.
• The tool can also be used to machine fluid bearings used in miniature hard drives and to thwart counterfeiting by etching ultrasmall lettering in chips for smart credit cards.
• Hitachi Tool plans to market products priced in the range of 11,550 yen (US$104.54) to 30,030 yen, aiming to generate sales of about 100 million yen in the first year.
• The new cutting tool is expected to have significant implications for the life sciences industry, enabling mass production of glass chips at a lower cost and faster production time.

Statistics:

• Production time reduction: by a factor of 10
• Current cost of glass chips: hundreds of thousands of yen apiece
• Potential cost reduction with new cutting tool: to just hundreds of yen
• Price of new cutting tool: 11,550 yen (US$104.54) to 30,030 yen
• Expected sales in the first year: 100 million yen

Sources:

• Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE): Hitachi Tool Engineering Ltd. (TSE:5963)
• Nikkei (September 16, 1528)