Nature’s 3D Printer
Growing Riblets with Light
MicroTau’s Direct Contactless Microfabrication (DCM) technology is a photolithographic fabrication technique for the production of biomimetic surfaces, including drag-reducing shark skin.
DCM utilizes MicroTau’s custom UV-curable coatings that are durable to the many environmental stressors experienced by aircraft while also enabling accurate and reliable microstructure fabrication.
DCM “grows” riblets with light, enabling rapid iteration of riblet designs and materials. Riblet designs can be customised for particular aircraft and optimised for specific use cases. Ultimately, this means the best performing product for our customers.
Precision means Performance
DCM produces microstructures with a high resolution and a high aspect ratio. This means high-performing riblets and greater efficiencies delivered to aircraft.
Tuned
to a T
Riblets are designed to accommodate for local flow and tailor-made to achieve maximum efficiency gains for a given use case.
Infinite
Iteration
With tooling costs orders of magnitude lower than alternative technologies, DCM is able to continually improve on existing designs for greater efficiency.
Nature’s 3D Printer In Action
RIBLET FILM
Inspired by the skin of fast-swimming sharks, MicroTau’s riblet films leverage millions of years of R&D (and present-day innovations in materials science and fluid dynamics) to deliver critical efficiencies to commercial and defence aircraft.