Atomically Precise Manufacturing: The path to digital fabrication and an “Inverse Moore's Law"
Tuesday, March 24, 2015
2:00 pm, NSERL 3.744
Speaker: John Randall, President of Zyvex Labs
The AVS Dallas Metroplex Student Chapter is proud to have the opportunity to host Dr. John Randall, president
of Zyvex Labs as our guest speaker. Dr. Randall will discuss the technology of Atomically Precise Manufacturing
at Zyvex Labs, and he will also be sharing tips and advice on how to succeed in the industrial world after
graduation. This is a great networking opportunity for those of you considering a career in industry!
Pastries and refreshments will be provided.
ABSTRACT:
In the 21st Century, digital information technology has dramatically affected how we live, work, and play.
The fundamental technology driving these innovations is the exponential trend in semiconductor manufacturing
known as Moore’s Law. The fundamental intellectual concept that makes all of this possible is the digitization
of information. It would not be possible to create the incredibly reliable and even more incredibly complex
systems that make up our information technology with analog electronics. Paradoxically, the incredibly precise
and complex fabrication technology that makes our integrated circuits is in fact an analog technology. It treats
matter as if it is infinitely divisible and ignores the fact that matter is inherently quantized into atoms and
molecules. This talk will describe the efforts at Zyvex Labs to develop a digital fabrication technology that
will make 3D objects with Atomic Precision, avoid a looming manufacturing problem, and start a new exponential
trend that could be considered an “Inverse Moore’s Law”.
BIO:
John N. Randall was born in Berkeley CA but got to Texas as fast as he could. He spent a major portion of his
misspent youth as a professional student. When he ran out of EE degrees to earn at the University of Houston,
he was forced to get a job. For mysterious reasons he joined MIT’s Lincoln Laboratory which was an excellent place
to work and was near the great city of Boston which is cursed with terrible weather. After three Boston winters,
Patrice (John’s wife who has much greater wisdom) insisted that they move back to Texas. John worked at Texas
Instruments Central Research Laboratory for 10 years making quantum resonant tunneling devices. He changed jobs
within TI to accept a two year position at IMEC in Belgium where he worked on optical lithography and acquired an
affinity for Belgian beer and chocolate. After returning to Dallas he worked in TI’s Kilby Fab and was lithography
gate team leader for TI’s most advanced IC process. In 2001 Jim Von Ehr made John an offer he could not refuse,
(to work on really cool technology at Zyvex) and tricked him into being in management. In spite of this, Zyvex
developed two successful nanotechnology product lines: Nano probing which is used by semiconducting companies all
over the world, and carbon nanotube enhanced composites which is used to make baseball bats, hockey sticks, bicycle
parts, and 54 foot boats. John is presently President of Zyvex Labs which is working (in collaboration with UT Dallas)
to change the world with Atomically Precise Manufacturing and to heal the blind. He has published 104 technical articles,
has 27 issued US patents, and loves his wife and children.