Does miniaturization of NC Machine-tools work?

An immediate need was expressed recently and has triggered the process ofminiaturization of machines extensively over the last decade. The requirement was aboutmicro-mesoscale components with high to ultra high precision dimensions and surfacefinish but achieved at low cost according to comparison studies between standard scalemachines and desktop machines [1].The interest is for the development of hybrid subtractive/additive desktopmeso/micro NC Machine-tool capable to secure a continuum of manufacturingcapabilities and constitute a bridge between well developed technologies at both scales.Although the concept of miniaturization is reasonably justifiable, the challenge is whetherin practice current miniaturized machines can achieve the expected requirements?The next concern is whether the microfabrication techniques at meso-scale level,such as lithography, LIGA and their variations to produce MEMS type components andothers are capable to improve and deliver better components in terms of complexity ofshapes and dimensional precision.