Design of Micro Products 23 Proceed. of the euspen International Topical Conference, Aachen, Germany, May 19 th /20 th , 2003 Fig. 1: Multidisciplinary boundary conditions influencing the micro-compatible design. Methodological investigation of the product development in micro technology J. Marz, N. Burkardt, A. Albers Institute of Machine Design and Automotive Engineering, University of Karlsruhe, Germany Abstract Both in micro technology and in macro technology the early phases of product design are of considerable importance. However, unlike the conventional design process in micro technology the function achievable by means of product design is rather technology-driven than subjected to requirements. Especially multidisciplinary influences such as production processes, material characteristics and micro-specific effects have a restrictive impact on the design of the machine element. On the basis of the product development process for primary shaped micro compo- nents from metallic and ceramic materials a method is presented, which makes it possible to detect the know-how provided by disciplines subsequent and adjacent to the design process, having influence on the design of the machine element and interpret this relevant to design. The computer-aided availability of knowledge is carried out via a knowledge-based design environment. Micro-specific product design Components and systems of micro technology are multi-technology products. According to a definition a micro system is based on the common “use of different, at least two basic technologies“ [6]. Only in an all-embracing integration of technology, process and product development, material sciences and simulation optimal, innova- tive micro systems can be realized. Multidisciplinary influences on micro-compatible design Multidisciplinary influences in micro technology such as material anisotropy or limited possibilities for manufacturing micro structures due to unavailable tools (figure 1) cause an alteration of the approaches for development and design known from macro technology. Thus almost every design can be realized according to the conventional approach, unless it infringes general design axioms, even if this requires great technologi- cal and financial efforts. In micro technology the product designer frequently deals with the question which products he can manufacture and which kind of behaviour the machine elements will show. However, it is rather