The smallest hole in the world: 0.022 mm

Researchers at Cardiff University's Center for Production Engineering have successfully conducted drilling holes on steel with a diameter of just 22 microns using discharge techniques. This is considered the smallest hole in the world today.

Discharge drilling technique is a technique that uses extremely high intensity sparks to create extremely small bore holes in suitable materials. The Space Daily reported that Cardiff University engineers used electric sparks of just 6 microns in diameter to create extremely small bores with a diameter of just 22 microns. Frank Marsh, director of the research center, said that the drill holes created by his research group are currently the smallest steel drill holes in the world today.

Frank Marsh said that the world's smallest types of boreholes are now at 150 microns in diameter and all are made with laser drilling technology. The laser drilling process will not be comparable to the electric spark drill process because the bore holes in laser are irregular, and in the form of a pyramid, the drilling by electric sparks will produce drill holes evenly. Regularly according to the vertical cylinder.

The application range of techniques to create extremely small holes is extremely wide, especially in optical, medical and electronic applications .

HOANG KIM ANH ( According to Theregister )