Phase One: Complete
Two important pieces came out of this theoretical exploration:
- The NMNA Paper A design specification for building a nanofactory using nanoimprinting as its core fabrication process. While nanomolding was ultimately set aside in favour of cage-based reaction catalysis, the exercise yielded real insight into everything that comes after part fabrication, particularly: a minimum viable part library for dexterous nanoassembly, surface force management, nanoshedding, and safety.
- The Cage-Based Manufacturing Article A short exploratory piece defining what it would take to manufacture nanoparts using molecular cages controlled in real time. This is the thread Phase Two will pull on.
-> Using a Cascade of Molecular Reactor Cages as a Nanomanufacturing Platform
What started as frustration (the technique I had been confident in for over a year turned out to be a dead end; read about it here) ended well. In hindsight, I'm glad I was pushed into the world of molecular nanotechnology.
Yes, it is harder. Yes, you can count on one hand the number of experiments that have demonstrated its core capabilities. But what holds me together is the immense potential, and the realisation that a large part of the reason for slow progress is simply that not enough people are working on it, not because the physics forbids it.
Till next time.
C.