View source for Zero friction freestanding attachment chain transport

Free-floating attachment chains have no direct contact to surrounding surfaces and <br>
[[Van der Waals force]] drops off very very rapidly off with distance. <br>
Strong dipoles and actual charges can be much longer range but those can be avoided. <br>

Thus due to almost completely absent interactions with the surrounding environment <br>
transport via free standing attachment chains can be pretty much completely friction free. <br> 
Well, as long as there is no interaction needed like in [[molecular mill]]s. <br>

Sprockets at the end of the transport chains and associated friction losses of course cannot be avoided.

== Where this may be employable ==

In [[transport channels]] crossing [[sub-layers]] and in [[routing laysers]]. <br>
See: [[Optimal sublayernumber for minimal friction]]

== Spanning length ==

A question is: How long a transport chain can be made freestanding. <br>
Since it's nanoscale sagging from gravity is not an issue. <br>
As are pretty much all but the most extreme jerks from external shocks. <br>
Dynamic stability: Excitation of resonant waves in the chain may be of concern. <br>
Especially with transport typically running at faster speeds than assembly. <br>

== Related ==

* [[Transport channels]], [[Routing layer]]
* [[Optimal sublayernumber for minimal friction]]
* [[Batch transport for reduction of friction losses]]

Not applicable to [[Bottom scale assembly lines in gem-gum factories]] where <br>
lots of densely packed physical interaction is required like in [[molecular mill]]s.

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* [[Levitation]]