Binding sites for use in a simple assembler

Machines, both macroscopic and molecular, are made from parts. The initial orientation and positioning of those parts is usually random. To facilitate subsequent parts handling and assembly steps, it is convenient to position and orient the parts. At the molecular scale, this corresponds to binding feedstock molecules dissolved in solvent. In the system design process, the binding site and the feedstock molecule can be designed together, simplifying the design of both. Simple linear molecules (e.g., acetylene, butadiyne, cyanogen) could be bound by simple tubular binding sites (e.g., bucky tubes). Planar rectangular molecules could be bound by simple `box' binding sites. This paper examines several such feedstock-molecule/binding-site combinations to illustrate that the combined design process is feasible and often relatively straightforward.