Magnetic-Driven Micro-Gear Pair Fabricated by Femtosecond Laser Writing

Gear transmission holds paramount significance for intricate mechanical systems. However, when the size of the driving gear is miniaturized to less than 50 microns, both manufacturing and control meet challenges. Here, a magnetic-driven micro-gear pair (MMGP) and its manipulation strategy are proposed. The MMGP is composed of two micro-gears fabricated by the two-photon polymerization (TPP) and its manipulation strategy depends on the gear engagement. The driving gear is processed with a magnetic photoresist and can rotate stably with a rapid rotation response (<100 ms) under the control of an external magnetic field. The driven gear can be driven by the driving gear through the meshing relationship of the gear teeth. As a proof of concept, number counters and the delivery of drugs are achieved by specially designed MMGPs. This development establishes a pivotal foundation for micro-gear transmission in complex intelligent systems, microfluid operation, and biological manipulation.