Nanoscale cutting using self-excited microcantilever.

The application of self-excitation is proposed to improve the efficiency of the nanoscale cutting procedure based on use of a microcantilever in atomic force microscopy. The microcantilever shape is redesigned so that it can be used to produce vibration amplitudes with sufficient magnitudes to enable the excitation force applied by an actuator to be transferred efficiently to the tip of the microcantilever for the cutting process. A diamond abrasive that is set on the tip is also fabricated using a focused ion beam technique to improve the cutting effect.