Difference between revisions of "Gem-gum technology"

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The nature of products in this technology level is outlined in the definition of APM on the [[Main Page]]. <br>
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{{Template:Site specific definition}}
This page should give more details to the different aspects of advanced APM systems.
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{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; margin-left: 10px; text-align: center"
 +
! colspan = "2"|Defining traits of technology level III
 +
|-
 +
| building method
 +
| robotic control ([[machine phase]])
 +
|-
 +
| building material
 +
| minimal [[Moiety|molecule fragments]] and single H atoms
 +
|-
 +
| building environment
 +
| vacuum or noble gas
 +
|-
 +
! colspan = "2"|Navigation
 +
|-
 +
| back to very first level
 +
| [[technology level 0]]
 +
|-
 +
| previous level
 +
| [[technology level II]]
 +
|-
 +
| previous step
 +
| [[introduction of practically perfect vacuum]]
 +
|-
 +
| '''you are here'''
 +
| '''Technology level III'''
 +
|-
 +
| basis for products
 +
| [[diamondoid metamaterials]]
 +
|-
 +
| products
 +
| [[further improvement at technology level III]]
 +
|}
 +
[[File:Box_full_of_future_technology.jpg|400px|thumb|right|This box is full of things made with future '''gemstone metamaterial technology'''. While we can already make out roughly what [[products of gem-gum technology|some products]] could look like their exact visual appearance for now remain censored and hidden for our still undeserving eyes.]]
  
----
+
'''Gemstone metamaterial technology (or gem-gum-tec for short)''' is the far term target technology of [[Main Page|atomically precise manufacturing]]. <br>
  
Defining traits of technology level III:
+
Gem-gum-tec as a technological target point worth aiming for …
* robotic control ([[machine phase]])
+
* was identified via stringent application of low level [[exploratory engineering]] done in the book [[Nanosystems]].
* handling of very small moieties or single atoms
+
* is not just some fantastic vision based on mere wishful thinking. <br> That is: It's not like "we want the periodic table to behave like a construction kit therefore it will". No. There was feasibility analysis being done and things tuned out to be surprising promising. <br><small>(See: [[Ultimate limits#Whisful thinking vs Exploratory engineering]])</small>
* operation under vacuum
+
  
Navigation:
+
= Introduction =
* start: [[technology level 0]]
+
* previous: [[technology level II]]
+
* pre-products: [[diamondoid metamaterials]]
+
* products: [[further improvement at technology level III]]
+
  
= Productive nanosystems  =
+
This page will focus more on the products (artifacts of atomically precise technology)<br>
 +
rather the production devices (devices for atomically precise manufacturing)
  
[[file:technology-path-sketched.png|thumb|Growing specialization of nanosystems with incremental technology improvement leads more to nanofactories than assemblers.]]
+
== Products ==
  
In the beginning of APM research only ''[[#Assemblers|(molecular) assemblers]]'' where considered as a means for reaching the capability to produce macroscopic amounts of a [[further improvement at technology level III|product]] or block of [[diamondoid metamaterial|material]].<br>
+
'''See main page: [[Products of gem-gum-tec]]''' <br>
At '''T.Level III''' it turns out that advanced [[#Advanced nanofactories|nanofactories]] are more balanced and efficient than assembler systems than at [[technology level I]] where the border between minimal assemblers and rudimentary nanofactories is more blurred. A rudimentary nanofactory might be buildabel with exponential assembly instead of [[self replication]] but simplified two dimensional assembler linkages/mechanisms might work too. <br>
+
Also related: [[opportunities]] and [[dangers]]
To have an umbrella term for both ideas The term ''productive nanosystems'' was introduced.<br>
+
  
Using the whole volume for the building process of the product rather than a layer in the "classic" nanofactory design could speed up the building process. But this will not be necessary for practical usage ['''TODO''' find and link existing proof]. If you build a solid block though you might end up being slower than with the layer method due to the [[fractal growth speedup limit]]  
+
Products of gemstome metamatrial technology use [[gemstone like compounds]] as base materials but <br>
 +
vastly change their mechanical and other properties through nanostructuring into [[gemstone based metamaterial]]s. <br>
 +
For the fundamental nature of products of this technology see: [[Defining traits of gem-gum-tech]]. <br>
  
== Assembly levels ==
+
'''Some expectable properties of this technology on the base materials side:'''
 +
* A giant slew on new materials with from today's perspective very weird and unexpected properties.
 +
* Way more materials that are suitable for outdoor usage exposed to rainwater and sun.
 +
* Materials with combinations of properties that are thought to be impossible today<br> E.g. Super-thought super-elastic elastic scratch resistant and heat transparent [[metamaterial]]s.
 +
* extremely low density yet robust materials allowing for (very speculative) [[aerial meshes]].
  
The assembly process of AP products can be clearly divided in a number of subsequent steps no matter whether the concrete implementation of a productive nanosytem looks more like a nanofactory or more like an assembler system. Those steps are implementation agnostic. Further details can be found on the [[assembly levels|assembly levels page]].
+
'''Some expectable properties of this technology on the materials side (near surface):'''
 +
* extremely bright displays with a much wider color gamut than what's possible today (2023) <br>also passive reflective-color displays with video capability <br>holographic capabilities (in the physically accurate meaning)
  
== Notes ==
+
'''Some expectable properties of this technology on the products side:'''
 +
* The possible high power densities means actuators will become invisibly integrated into things.
 +
* Ultra advanced emergency relieve systems. See: [[Disaster proof]] & [[Desert scenario]]
 +
* Enormous advances in macroscale robotics. See: [[Multi limbed sensory equipped shells]]
  
* Depending on whether one assumes incremental improvement over technology levels or a more direct access there are [[Skipping technology levels#Two types of DME design|two types of DME design]]s to choose from: pure hydrocarbon or various nonmetal including designs. Both have reason to be done.
+
'''Some expectable properties of this technology on the production machinery side:'''
 +
* Super-fast and local [[recycling]] by disassembling stuff only to the reusable [[microcomponent]] level rather than individual atoms.
 +
* Many public terminals for a [[global microcomponent redistribution system]]
 +
* Larger scale systems may take the manufacturing chips along with them. <br>Like e.g. "growing roads" or sparse-scaffold mega-structures in shipyards for the maritime sea and outer space.
  
* One may say that the concepts of nanofactories and assemblers are not entirely sharp seperable i.e. that they are merely the endpoints of a design continuum. To meet in the middle: The smallest possible grains of nanofactories (without the optional exponential assembly layers) somehow dispersed on a lattice in a volume could be looked at as a static configuration of quite big assemblers.
+
== Production devices (also a product) ==
  
== Assemblers  ==
+
'''See main page: [[Gemstone metamaterial on-chip factories]]'''
  
[[File:self-replicating-assembler-unit.png|thumb|Artistic depiction of a mobile assembler unit capable of self replication. An outdated idea.]]
+
Artifacts (products) of in-vacuum gem-gum technology are manufactured via robotic atomically precise pick and place manipulation of [[moiety|molecule fragments of a size ranging from one to a few atoms each]] ([[piezochemical mechanosynthesis]]). This happens in an environment "filled" with [[practically perfect vacuum]]. Following are a number of assembly steps at increasingly larger size scales. Thesee are the [[assembly levels]] of [[convergent assembly]].
  
'''Note: The concept of assemblers is outdated!'''<br>
+
Products are assembled in [[advanced productive nanosystem]]s.<br>
The idea is to create a machine with side-lengths of a few hundred nanometers which packages all the functionality to produce useful products and also make copies of itself (directly with [[diamondoid]] [[mechanosynthesis]]). This way you get an exponential rate of reproduction and can produce macroscopic goods in reasonable amounts of time.
+
These [[gem-gum factories]] may come in various [[Form factors of gem-gum factories|form factors]].
 +
Most promising candidate at the moment are [[gemstone metamaterial on-chip factories]] with an [[Design of gem-gum on-chip factories|appropriate design]] that employs [[convergent assembly]].
  
It turned out that packaging all the functionality into such a small package is a rather unbalanced and inefficient approach for T.Level III. This can be seen in the nanofactory cross section image (further down this page) where it is visible that the bottommost assembly levels (here layers) take the largest portion of the stack. In the small package of an assembler the bottommost layers would be underrepresented making it rather slow.
+
= Related =
  
Quite a bit of thought was put into this model. Either they where supposed to swim about in a solution or there was some form of movement mechanism in a machine phase scaffold crystal envisioned like:
+
* The core of the technology. The manufacturing devices: '''[[Gemstone metamaterial on-chip factory]]'''
 
+
* [[Technology levels]]
*sliding cubes [TODO add references]
+
* [[The defining traits of gem-gum-tec]]
*legged blocks [TODO add references]
+
* [[In-vacuum gem-gum technology]] is both making up and made by [[gemstone metamaterial on chip factory]]. <br>If that sounds paradox it's because of the chicken egg problem of [[Bootstrapping methods for productive nanosystems|bootstrapping such factories]].
 
+
* [[Gem-gum technology (disambiguation)]]
The combination of their appearance (legs) with their very tightly packed capability of [[self replication]] in their vacuum "belly" that seem akin to a "whomb" led to the situation that the public started to perceive this technology as swarms of tiny life like nano-bugs that could potentially start uncontrollable and unstoppable self replication. Why this is a rather miss-informed opinion can be read up [[the grey goo meme|here]].
+
----
 
+
* [[Macroscale style machinery at the nanoscale]]
'''Many considerations about assemblers are still relevant:'''
+
* ''methods for movement'' e.g. for the transport of microcomponents and self repair by microcomponent replacement in the higher assembly levels of nanofactories. The ''[[legged mobility|legged block mobility]]'' design is also known from the concept of [[Utility Fog|Utility Fog]] ''(speculativity warning) ''but has other design priorities in an manufacturing context like more rigidity and less "intelligence".
+
* ''methods for gas tight sealing''
+
* ''and many more ...''
+
* the design of [[robotic mechanosynthetic core|robotic mechanosynthetic cores]]
+
 
+
== Advanced nanofactories  ==
+
 
+
[[File:productive-nanosystems-video-snapshot.png|thumb|Cross section through a nanofactory showing the lower assembly levels vertically stacked on top of each other. Image from the official "productive nanosystems" video.]]
+
[[File:0609factory700x681.jpg|thumb|Artistic depiction of a nanofactory. Only the last assembly level (convergent assembly) is visible to the naked eye.]]
+
 
+
An [http://e-drexler.com/p/04/05/0609factoryImages.html artistic depiction] of a nanofactory.
+
Note that only [[assembly levels#Level IV:|assemly level IV]] (convergent assembly) is visible in this picture. <br>
+
The official productive nanosystem video [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mY5192g1gQg] shows all the other [[assembly levels]] except IV.
+
It further only shows mills and no general purpose robotics for mechanosynthesis.
+
Depending on whether general purpose mechanosynthetic [[Robotic mechanosyntesis core|fabricators]] or mill style fabricators (serial chain of tools with no spaces) are used predominantly more or less layers and channels for threading parts by are needed [?].
+
The shown mill wheels could be extended to barrels.
+
It is probably sensible to place more than just one atom per station. A whole layer maybe.
+
 
+
The tooltip preparation process is depicted simplified [todo: check in-how-far].
+
For more complex preparations the tooltips for [[mechanosynthesis]] can be merged not only with tip-cones like shown but also with carriage structures holders that can be steered by rail switches.
+
 
+
Note that '''in a stratified design that uses convergent assembly''' that is strictly ordered after assembly levels '''a block made from eight blocks must come from only four ports of the stage below'''. Consequently the '''production frequency must double with every stage one goes down''', which is no problem since objects of '''half size can move with twice the frequency''' (a scaling law). (In computer terms you extract an [//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octree octree] out of a a [//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quadtree quadtree]).
+
The lowest levels (assebly levels <= II) are significantly slower then the simple mergement steps above.
+
 
+
Making sure that production and consumption fits together at the borders between the assembly levels can be considered the [[level throughput balancing]] problem.
+
 
+
Although diamondoid [[mechanosynthesis]] works at room temperature cryogenic cooling will probably be employed just because
+
it seems rather easy to do (see: "[[Diamondoid heat pump system]]") and error rates can be shrunken by many orders of magnitude.
+
 
+
There is an interesting article about Nanofactory design written by Chris Phoenix in 2003 "[http://www.jetpress.org/volume13/Nanofactory.htm Design of a Primitive Nanofactory]". What follows is a short discussion of that document.
+
More information can be founds on the "[[discussion of proposed nanofactory designs]]" page.
+
 
+
=== Component router systems ===
+
 
+
For the transport of unfinished product parts of different sizes from lower to higher [[assembly levels]]
+
nanofactories use routing structures either with separate or merged multiplexing and de-multiplexing steps.
+
 
+
There are two in some respects similar yet in other respects very different steps where this occurs.
+
* when [[diamondoid molecular elements]] (DMEs) are transported from assembly level I to II
+
* when [[microcomponents]] are transported from assembly level II to III
+
 
+
For all the optional steps in convergent assembly (assembly level IV) the lower stages should be programmable/steerable enough that no further shuffling is required. (Depending on the programmability the lower stages may too be simplified.)
+
 
+
Since direct control of those systems would clog the IO bottleneck hirachical heterogenous [[nanomechanical computing]] system  must be integrated in parallel (one layer might suffice).
+
Temporary storage facilities for microcomponents are optional and may be more useful as seperate macroscopic entity.
+
 
+
[Todo: explain free space designs, analyze parallelism]
+
 
+
= Design levels  =
+
 
+
APM systems can depending on the size of the chunk of them that is under considereration be designed at three different levels:
+
 
+
* [[tooltip chemistry]] level
+
* atomistic mechanic level
+
* lower bulk limit
+
* system level
+
 
+
Further details can de found on the [[design levels|design levels page]].
+
 
+
== Diamondoid Molecular Elements (DMEs) ==
+
 
+
At the core an advanced productive APM systems consist out of DMEs. <br>
+
DMEs can be designed either directly at the atomistic level or in lower bulk limit form.
+
 
+
One can classify DMEs into:
+
*Diamondoid Molecular machine elements DMMEs
+
*Diamondoid Molecular structural elements DMSEs
+
Furthere details can be found [[diamondoid molecular elements|diamondoid molecular elements page]].
+
 
+
Certain standard sets like ''housing components'' or a ''minimal set of compatible DMMEs'' are needed.
+
 
+
Potential structural and machine elements that seem suitable to port them to DME designs can be found here:
+
* [http://www.thingiverse.com/mechadense/collections/potential-nano-machine-and-nano-structural-elements Thingiverse collection I]
+
* ['''Todo:''' add further resources]
+
Depending on the design different degrees of modifications need to be done. <br>
+
All degrees of freedome need to be controlled, wall thicknesses need to be increased, atomic roughness must be considered, ...
+
 
+
== Logistics  ==
+
 
+
A lot of media need to be shoved around in a nanofactory. <br>
+
Included are: data; energy; raw material; heat; waste; partly finished products; vacua (in some sense); noble gasses <br>
+
The use of electricity is avoided at the lowest size levels since tunneling and conduction around bents are nontrivial.
+
See [[non mechanical technology path]].
+
 
+
The routing of the structures bearing those different media i.e. the schematics to physical layout mapping is part of the [[design levels|system level design]].
+
Some structures bearing the transmitted media can be found on the "[[diamondoid molecular elements]]" page.
+
 
+
= Vacuum =
+
 
+
[[Mechanosynthesis]] of [[diamondoid]] materials in t.level III needs to be done in a "perfect" vacuum (or noble gas).
+
Actually this is the defining trait seperating it from [[technology level II|t.level II]].
+
Any free gas molecules would quickly react with the tooltips rendering them dysfunctional.
+
From current perspective creation of "perfect" vacua seems illusionary. Any operator of an UHV system knows that it is impossible to get rid of all the gas molecules that are unavoidably adsorbed on the vacuuum vessels walls.
+
The current perspective is based on the current technology though.
+
The vacuum vessels for APM systems of t.level III
+
* are cavities sized in the nanometer range - this increases the probability of having zero gas molecules captured inside
+
* have atomically precise maximally flat walls - not allowing for gas adsorption and allowing for maximally tight seals without out-gassing lubricants
+
* can utilize atomically tight positive displacement pumps for vacuum generation - no backflow
+
and are thus capable of creating sufficient vacua.
+
(About sealings and pumps: Nanosystems 11.4.2 & 11.4.3)
+
  
== Locking out ==
+
= Terminology =
  
At some place in the [[assembly levels]] (above Level II) '''products''' or fractions of them '''need to be locked out''' out of the vacuum area while keeping the interior perfectly gas free. This can be done with two pistons like depicted below.
+
Here in this wiki "gem-gum tech" used without a prefix: 
This method doubles as a pump for stray gas molecules. Import of parts (locking them in) is not possible here.
+
* shall always refer to this technology operating in vacuum "in-vacuum gem-gum tech". ([[PPV]] in a [[gem-gum housing shell]])
Openings are wide enough to allow [//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_molecular_flow free molecular flow].
+
* shall not refer to "in-solvent gem-gum tech" <br>(an eventual precursor technology)
  
To get the parts through the airlock at some point one has to let go of the parts.
+
== About the chosen name for this kind of technology (meta) ==
To keep the parts in [[machine phase]] one can designed them to have three surfaces normal to each other at their outermost positions (red lines in graphic) so they stick in a corner by Van der Waals forces. Alternately for parts filling almost the whole chamber conical re-centering could be used to get the parts back into [[machine phase]].
+
  
[[File:Single-cycle-export-airlock.png|A method to lock out passivated parts into non-vacuum-areas that keeps the internal vacuum completely intact. Only export of parts is possible here. To import parts for tuning/repair/recycling an other method has to be used.]]
+
"In-vacuum gemstone metamaterial technology"
 +
is a novel term introduced on this wiki (2017).
  
If not only [[dust and dirt|dust]] free-ness but also vacuum is kept till the macroscopic outlet this waste free expulsion mechanism may not work because of wall bending & buckling at the macro scale ['''To inverstigate'''].
+
Alternative older terms had one or many of the following problems:
An other more wasteful proposal was to enclose the whole products in sausage shaped balloons (inflated by e.g. argon) which come one after another through a cylindrical output port and keep a tight seal at all times. This is more likely to work and can be designed without exposure of [[Sharp edges and splinters|dangerous atomically sharp edges]].
+
* they didn't exclude unrelated topics well (far too general and wide in scope)
 +
* they didn't capture the most important aspects of the technology well
 +
* they weren't catchy memorable and useably short
  
In an convergent assembly design if airlocks are installed at all assembly levels and the factory supports it it could be merged and split by hand.
+
This situation led to [[History|problems in form of confusion and conflict in the past]].<br>
E.g. Take of the top stage and then split up the sub stages.
+
Introduction of the new terms should in general be kept to a minimum. <br>
A direct assembly design that supports it could be split at any perceivable ratio.
+
But in this case the new term seems well motivated and thus justified.
  
== Locking in ==
+
== Motivations for the name ==
  
It is '''more difficult''' to '''lock in''' parts. This '''reverse direction isn't a necessity''' for t.level III APM with its [[mechanosynthesis]] done in vacuum. A lot [[recycling]] can probably be done with passivated [[microcomponents]] in a non vacuum environment.
+
The "gem-gum" part of the name represents two core ideas:
  
The ability to lock parts back in '''might be useful''' for tuning / repair / [[diamondoid molecular elements|DME]] recycling on a sub microcomponent level (see [[assembly levels]]).
+
1) The core idea that even when one can [[mechanosynthesis|mechanosynthesize]] almost nothing (just a few simple [[diamondoid compound|base materials]]) one can make almost anything by mechanical emulation. '''Mechanical metamaterials'''. "gum" is just a shorthand for a concrete example of such a [[metamaterial]] that rhymes on "gem" which makes memorization a lot easier. Also it's an concrete example that's rather un-intuitive. Rubber made from gemstone. Which could peak interest (click-bait effect).
  
To get parts as clean as possible before locking them in again several measures can be taken:
+
2) The core idea that gradually increasing the [[stiffness]] of [[diamondoid compound|the materials one builds with]] is the ultimate key to advanced [[mechanosynthesis]]. The term "gem" (short for gemstone - obviously) points exclusively to the stiff base materials of the far term target technology. This explicitly excludes early stage atomically precise manufacturing such as "[[structural DNA nanotechnology]]" which has no [[positional atomic precision]] and would be mushed in with other terms.
* cleaning the un-disassembled product with very high pressure noble steams
+
* tag surface microcomponents as potentially dirt contaminated and scrap the hole shell (wasteful but better than scrapping the whole un-disassambled product)
+
* keep internals of porducts isolated (does not work if the product itself is a filter)
+
* filtering argon from air and blowing it outward in a pre-chamber forming a dust seal
+
  
 +
The "in-vacuum" part of the name narrows down further to materials that can only be synthesized in [[practically perfect vacuum]].
  
To lock parts in by shearing off gas molecules is not an option since the parts can be arbitrarily shaped.
+
'''See main page: [[The defining traits of gem-gum-tec]]'''
Still extremely low probabilities of remaining trapped gas molecules can be archived by usage of various pumping methods.
+
  
* using pistons / bellows that have a multiple volume of the handled parts
+
== Modifications of the name ==
* operating pistons multiple times
+
* stacking airlocks in stages.
+
* additional usage of microscale turbo-molecular pumps (Nanosystems: Section 11.4.3.)
+
* exposed unpassivated surfaces
+
* slight heating if the nanofactory and product allows this (and when no remnants of temperature sensitive t.level I are included)
+
  
Examples for positive displacement pumps:
+
On this wiki "Technology level III" may sometimes be used synonymously for in-vacuum gem-gum technology.
* piston pumps - advantage of high throughput area
+
* bellow pumps
+
* scroll pumps
+
* processing cavity pumps
+
  
== alternate vacuum methods ==
+
By leaving out the "in-vacuum" part of the name (leaving only "gem-gum-tec") one can precisely widen the scope to include one technology level below. Namely ([[In-solvent gem-gum technology]]).
  
* blowing up a vacuum bubble by either an extendable flexible skin or sliding blocks - Nanosystems: Figure 14.2. & Figure 14.3.
+
An other term occasionally used on the wiki to refer to gem-gum-tec is "advanced atomically precise technology". In-liquid gem-gum-tec may or may not be included dependent on context.
* extruding a cuboid out of a cuboid - this was an idea for assembler self replication - Nanosystems: Figure 14.6. & KSRM ...
+
* usage of some noble gas instead of vacuum to blow up non-stiff enclosures
+

Latest revision as of 13:07, 20 June 2023

This article defines a novel term (that is hopefully sensibly chosen). The term is introduced to make a concept more concrete and understand its interrelationship with other topics related to atomically precise manufacturing. For details go to the page: Neologism.
Defining traits of technology level III
building method robotic control (machine phase)
building material minimal molecule fragments and single H atoms
building environment vacuum or noble gas
Navigation
back to very first level technology level 0
previous level technology level II
previous step introduction of practically perfect vacuum
you are here Technology level III
basis for products diamondoid metamaterials
products further improvement at technology level III
This box is full of things made with future gemstone metamaterial technology. While we can already make out roughly what some products could look like their exact visual appearance for now remain censored and hidden for our still undeserving eyes.

Gemstone metamaterial technology (or gem-gum-tec for short) is the far term target technology of atomically precise manufacturing.

Gem-gum-tec as a technological target point worth aiming for …

Introduction

This page will focus more on the products (artifacts of atomically precise technology)
rather the production devices (devices for atomically precise manufacturing)

Products

See main page: Products of gem-gum-tec
Also related: opportunities and dangers

Products of gemstome metamatrial technology use gemstone like compounds as base materials but
vastly change their mechanical and other properties through nanostructuring into gemstone based metamaterials.
For the fundamental nature of products of this technology see: Defining traits of gem-gum-tech.

Some expectable properties of this technology on the base materials side:

  • A giant slew on new materials with from today's perspective very weird and unexpected properties.
  • Way more materials that are suitable for outdoor usage exposed to rainwater and sun.
  • Materials with combinations of properties that are thought to be impossible today
    E.g. Super-thought super-elastic elastic scratch resistant and heat transparent metamaterials.
  • extremely low density yet robust materials allowing for (very speculative) aerial meshes.

Some expectable properties of this technology on the materials side (near surface):

  • extremely bright displays with a much wider color gamut than what's possible today (2023)
    also passive reflective-color displays with video capability
    holographic capabilities (in the physically accurate meaning)

Some expectable properties of this technology on the products side:

Some expectable properties of this technology on the production machinery side:

  • Super-fast and local recycling by disassembling stuff only to the reusable microcomponent level rather than individual atoms.
  • Many public terminals for a global microcomponent redistribution system
  • Larger scale systems may take the manufacturing chips along with them.
    Like e.g. "growing roads" or sparse-scaffold mega-structures in shipyards for the maritime sea and outer space.

Production devices (also a product)

See main page: Gemstone metamaterial on-chip factories

Artifacts (products) of in-vacuum gem-gum technology are manufactured via robotic atomically precise pick and place manipulation of molecule fragments of a size ranging from one to a few atoms each (piezochemical mechanosynthesis). This happens in an environment "filled" with practically perfect vacuum. Following are a number of assembly steps at increasingly larger size scales. Thesee are the assembly levels of convergent assembly.

Products are assembled in advanced productive nanosystems.
These gem-gum factories may come in various form factors. Most promising candidate at the moment are gemstone metamaterial on-chip factories with an appropriate design that employs convergent assembly.

Related


Terminology

Here in this wiki "gem-gum tech" used without a prefix:

  • shall always refer to this technology operating in vacuum "in-vacuum gem-gum tech". (PPV in a gem-gum housing shell)
  • shall not refer to "in-solvent gem-gum tech"
    (an eventual precursor technology)

About the chosen name for this kind of technology (meta)

"In-vacuum gemstone metamaterial technology" is a novel term introduced on this wiki (2017).

Alternative older terms had one or many of the following problems:

  • they didn't exclude unrelated topics well (far too general and wide in scope)
  • they didn't capture the most important aspects of the technology well
  • they weren't catchy memorable and useably short

This situation led to problems in form of confusion and conflict in the past.
Introduction of the new terms should in general be kept to a minimum.
But in this case the new term seems well motivated and thus justified.

Motivations for the name

The "gem-gum" part of the name represents two core ideas:

1) The core idea that even when one can mechanosynthesize almost nothing (just a few simple base materials) one can make almost anything by mechanical emulation. Mechanical metamaterials. "gum" is just a shorthand for a concrete example of such a metamaterial that rhymes on "gem" which makes memorization a lot easier. Also it's an concrete example that's rather un-intuitive. Rubber made from gemstone. Which could peak interest (click-bait effect).

2) The core idea that gradually increasing the stiffness of the materials one builds with is the ultimate key to advanced mechanosynthesis. The term "gem" (short for gemstone - obviously) points exclusively to the stiff base materials of the far term target technology. This explicitly excludes early stage atomically precise manufacturing such as "structural DNA nanotechnology" which has no positional atomic precision and would be mushed in with other terms.

The "in-vacuum" part of the name narrows down further to materials that can only be synthesized in practically perfect vacuum.

See main page: The defining traits of gem-gum-tec

Modifications of the name

On this wiki "Technology level III" may sometimes be used synonymously for in-vacuum gem-gum technology.

By leaving out the "in-vacuum" part of the name (leaving only "gem-gum-tec") one can precisely widen the scope to include one technology level below. Namely (In-solvent gem-gum technology).

An other term occasionally used on the wiki to refer to gem-gum-tec is "advanced atomically precise technology". In-liquid gem-gum-tec may or may not be included dependent on context.