Method of Manufacturing a Plastic Article Having Micro-openings Defined Therein

Dr. Bier, Mr. Schaller, Dr. Schubert

Abstract

A method of manufacturing a plastic article having micor-openings defined therein by working a semi-finished plastic structure having microrecesses defined on one side thereof, the method including, in the order recited, providing a semi-finished plastic structure having opposing first and second sides, wherein the first side of the opposing sides has microrecesses defined therein; filling the semi-finished plastic structure to cover the microrecesses with a substance which is hardenable and selectively removable; hardening the substance; machining the surface of the hardened substance to smooth it; clamping the semi-finished plastic structure onto a vacuum tensioning device with the smoothed surface of the hardened substance in contact with the vacuum tensioning device; machining the second side of the opposing sides of the semi-finished plastic structure until the microrecesses of the first side are at least partially exposed thereby defining micro-openings in the structure; and removing the hardened substance sselectively from the microrecesses.