Diamond Tool With A Multi-Tipped Diamond

Abstract

In one embodiment, a tool used for creating grooves in a microreplication tool is described. The tool includes a mounting structure and a multi-tipped diamond mounted in the mounting structure. The different tips of the diamond may correspond to different grooves to be created in the microreplication tool. In this manner, the creation of a microreplication tool using a diamond can be simplified and/or improved.

1 . A tool used for creating grooves in a work piece comprising: 
 a mounting structure; and    a multi-tipped diamond mounted in the mounting structure, wherein different tips of the diamond are focused ion beam milled to correspond to different grooves to be created in the work piece and define a valley between neighboring tips that corresponds to a protrusion to be created in a work piece.    
   
   
       2 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the multi-tipped diamond includes two tips.  
   
   
       3 . The tool of  claim 2 , wherein a pitch spacing of the two tips is less than approximately 500 microns.  
   
   
       4 . The tool of  claim 2 , wherein inner surfaces of two tips meet along an axis to form a bottom of the valley.  
   
   
       5 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the valley defines a bottom surface selected from the following group: a convex arc shaped surface, a concave arc shaped surface, and a flat surface.  
   
   
       6 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein a pitch spacing between neighboring tips is less than approximately 200 microns.  
   
   
       7 . The tool of  claim 6 , wherein the pitch spacing is less than approximately 100 microns.  
   
   
       8 . The tool of  claim 7 , wherein the pitch spacing is less than approximately 10 microns.  
   
   
       9 . The tool of  claim 8 , wherein the pitch spacing is less than approximately 1 micron.  
   
   
       10 . The tool of  claim 9 , wherein the pitch spacing is less than approximately 0.1 micron.  
   
   
       11 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein an aspect ratio of a height of a tip relative to a width of the tip is greater than approximately 1 to 1.  
   
   
       12 . The tool of  claim 11 , wherein an aspect ratio of a height of a tip relative to a width of the tip is greater than approximately 2 to 1.  
   
   
       13 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the tips define a width of less than approximately 200 microns.  
   
   
       14 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the tips define substantially straight side walls and wherein a bottom of the valley formed by neighboring tips approximately defines a right angle relative to the side walls.  
   
   
       15 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the tips define undercut side walls and wherein a bottom of the valley formed by neighboring tips defines an acute angle relative to side walls adjacent the bottom of the valley.  
   
   
       16 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the tips define side walls and wherein a bottom of the valley formed by neighboring tips defines an obtuse angle relative to side walls adjacent the valley.  
   
   
       17 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the diamond defines a thickness, and wherein the valley extends a distance along the thickness.  
   
   
       18 . A multi-tipped diamond having tips that are focused ion beam milled to correspond to grooves to be created in a microreplication tool, wherein a valley is defined between neighboring tips that corresponds to a protrusion to be created in the microreplication tool.  
   
   
       19 . The diamond of  claim 18 , wherein the diamond includes two tips.  
   
   
       20 . The diamond of  claim 19 , wherein a pitch spacing of the two tips is less than approximately 500 microns.  
   
   
       21 . The diamond of  claim 19 , wherein inner surfaces of two tips meet along an axis to form a bottom of the valley.  
   
   
       22 . The diamond of  claim 18 , wherein the valley defines a bottom surface selected from the following group: a convex arc shaped surface, a concave arc shaped surface, and a flat surface.  
   
   
       23 . The diamond of  claim 18 , wherein a pitch spacing between neighboring tips is less than approximately 200 microns.  
   
   
       24 . The diamond of  claim 23 , wherein the pitch spacing is less than approximately 100 microns.  
   
   
       25 . The diamond of  claim 24 , wherein the pitch spacing is less than approximately 10 microns.  
   
   
       26 . The diamond of  claim 25 , wherein the pitch spacing is less than approximately 1 micron.  
   
   
       27 . The diamond of  claim 26 , wherein the pitch spacing is less than approximately 0.1 micron.  
   
   
       28 . The diamond of  claim 18 , wherein an aspect ratio of a height of a tip relative to a width of the tip is greater than approximately 1 to 1.  
   
   
       29 . The diamond of  claim 28 , wherein an aspect ratio of a height of a tip relative to a width of the tip is greater than approximately 2 to 1.  
   
   
       30 . The diamond of  claim 18 , wherein the tips define an average width of less than approximately 200 microns.  
   
   
       31 . The diamond of  claim 18 , wherein the tips define substantially straight side walls and wherein a bottom of the valley formed by neighboring tips approximately defines a right angle relative to the side walls.  
   
   
       32 . The diamond of  claim 18 , wherein the tips define undercut side walls and wherein a bottom of the valley formed by neighboring tips defines an acute angle relative to side walls adjacent the bottom of the valley.  
   
   
       33 . The diamond of  claim 18 , wherein the tips define side walls and wherein a bottom of the valley formed by neighboring tips defines an obtuse angle relative to side walls adjacent the bottom of the valley.  
   
   
       34 . The diamond of  claim 18 , wherein the diamond defines a thickness, and wherein the valley extends a substantial distance along the thickness.  
   
   
       35 . A diamond tooling machine used for creating grooves in a work piece comprising: 
 a diamond tool including a mounting structure and a multi-tipped diamond mounted in the mounting structure, wherein tips of the diamond correspond to grooves to be created in the work piece and wherein a valley is defined between neighboring tips that corresponds to a protrusion to be created in the microreplication tool; and    an apparatus to receive the diamond tool and to control positioning of the diamond tool relative to the work piece.    
   
   
       36 . The diamond tooling machine of  claim 35 , wherein the machine is a fly-cutting machine that rotates the diamond tool about an axis.  
   
   
       37 . A tool used for creating grooves in a microreplication tool comprising: 
 a mounting structure; and    a multi-tipped diamond mounted in the mounting structure, wherein tips of the diamond are focused ion beam milled to correspond to grooves to be created in the microreplication tool, wherein a valley is defined between neighboring tips that corresponds to a protrusion to be created in the microreplication tool, wherein the multi-tipped diamond defines a thickness, and wherein the valley extends a substantial distance along the thickness.