View source for Assembly level 1 (gem-gum factory)

The '''From molecule-fragment to crystolecule assembly level'''.

* '''Previous processing step:''' [[preprocessing step 2 (gem-gum factory)]]
* '''Next processing step:''' [[assembly level 2 (gem-gum factory)]]
* Up: [[Assembly levels]]

== Overview ==

Summarized characteristics:
* '''In goes:''' fully preprocessed [[moieties]] on reusable tools
* '''Out goes:''' assembled [[crystolecule]]s 
* '''Where processing is done:''' [[robotic mechanosyntesis core]]s in specialized assembly lines.
* '''What processing is done:''' [[force applying mechanosynthesis]] in [[molecular mills]] <br>very stiff bulky design of mill wheels and assembly lines – hard-coded operation

* This is the third processing step after the the two preprocessing steps.
* This is the first real assembly level where small parts are getting put together to much bigger parts.

=== About the products of this assembly levels – the crystolecules ===

Assembled are typically small [[diamondoid]] or more generally [[gemstone-like]] [[crystolecule]].
* Either structural often with some bonds intentionally left open. See: [[crystolecule fragments]]
* Or small machine elements like shafts and bearings. See: 
* Small [[gemstone-like molecular element]]s including small [[diamondoid crystolecular machine element]]

Pictures and animations of atomistically modelled examples of <br>
diamondoid crystolecules examples can be found here:[[Examples of diamondoid molecular machine elements]]

Bigger machine elements (functionally minimal per definition) ([[crystolecular unit]]s) may be too big for this assembly level.
So at this assembly level only structural parts of them can be made. and assembly has to wait for the next assembly level.
 
Terminology quickly gets confusing. <br>
See: [[Terminology for parts]]

=== Product reusability ===

Crystolecules are most useful when they are designed to be reusable standard models. <br>
For any kind of conceivable nano-system holds: <br>
From every type (or set of types) of ''[[diamondoid molecular element|DMEs]]'' an enormous number of identical copies is needed. <br>
<small>(The reasons for this are nontrivial and lie in [[data-compression]].)</small> <br>

Therefore for an efficient system  <br>
lots of specialized building chambers in <br>
lots of specialized assembly lines for the different [[crystolecule]]s makes sense. <br>
This naturally leads to the [[on-chip nanofactory]] design.

Examples for a sets of standard parts (producible by specialized assembly lines) are e.g.: 
* [[Diamondoid_molecular_element#Sets|set for minimal dynamic systems]]. <br>
* [[mechanical circuit element]]s

=== Lack of reversibility on the first assembly level ===

'''Main page: [[Assembly level 2 (gem-gum factory)]]'''

A note on '''recycling:''' [[mechanosynthesis|Mechanosynthesis]] is not necessarily reversible. <br> That is: It is most likely not reversible in some processing steps. Not all.

If diamond is used as building material then the carbon atoms that get bound as diamond (or similar) into the products <br>
can only be brought back to the biosphere by burning of the [[crystolecule]]s. (See: [[Diamondoid waste incineration]].) <br>
There are other [[diamondoid|diamondoid materials]] that are slightly water soluble and <br>
may allow for an unattended route back to the biosphere.

Silicon carbide (aka moissanite) a base material that is some properties superior to diamond. <br>
and a material that is isostrucural to diamond (and thus also diamondoid) is not at all combustible. <br>
So only something like chemical dissolution in highly aggressive hot acids is a last resort option.
See: [[Diamondoid waste incineration]], [[Recycling]], [[Spill prevention guideline]], ...

== Related ==

* [[Productive Nanosystems From molecules to superproducts]]
* [[Gemstone metamaterial on chip factory]]