The nanotechnological revolution will be as pervasive as the first industrialrevolution, for it also introduces concepts and techniques that will influencevirtually all aspects of technology and manufacture. Nanotechnology isconcerned with the design and manufacture of components with submicrometredimensions, of larger components with submicrometre tolerances or surfacefinishes, and of machines with submicrometre precision of positioning ormotion. The achievement of ultra-high precision in machining and themanufacture of extremely small devices opens up prospects as diverse andfuturistic as ma.