Microfabrication techniques have recently been adapted to micromechanical structures. ME students need to know a little about such techniques.
Many sensors rely on mechanical structures.
This is a new way to make them. The near-term evolution of sensor technology will be dominated by microfabrication. Silicon does not undergo plastic deformation - it simply fractures at the yield limit. Since it is a crystal, its properties depend on the orientation of the crystal. Single Crystal Silicon Crystal Orientation specified in terms of the crystal planes.