NanoJet Pro Tips
Printed Electronics on 3D Surfaces
Direct Write Printed Electronics on Complex 3D Surfaces By Marcelino Essien Direct-Write Printing is an emerging technology that enables the deposition of electrical circuits on various 3D structures. Aerosol Jet printing is a type of Direct-Write Printing that focuses and deposits aerosolized ink droplets in an ambient atmosphere, without the use of masks. Applications enabled by Aerosol Jetting range from metallization of 3D printed objects to printing of embedded electronic circuits in plastic parts. Direct-write printing of various electronic components on 3D surfaces facilitates light-weighting, improves performance in extreme environments, and optimizes device footprints. Exciting advances in Direct-Write printing of electronic components [...]
Inks & Substrates
Silver features printed on conformal bladder. Silver features printed on radome Close-up view of interconnect pads In choosing an aerosol technology over inkjet, one needs to consider the material sets (inks and substrates) as well as performance features of one technology over another. Ink Types Function Application Nanoparticle Silver Conductor Electrical interconnects, metallic films, metal bumps Nanoparticle Gold Conductor Electrical interconnetions, biodevices, metal bumps Particle-Free Silver Conductor Metallization of polymers, multi-layer circuit fabrication Polymeric Solution Insulator Multi-layer applications Particle-free Gold Conductor Metallization of heat-sensitive materials (processing temps < 125°C) Inks Inks well suited for interconnect printing include silver, gold, [...]
Direct Write Printing of Interconnects
Interconnects and antenna features printed on Kapton® Flexible and transparent substrates Direct Write Printing of Interconnects Recently, there has been significant interest in direct-write printing of interconnects, especially for flexible electronics, circuit prototyping, and 3D “hybrid” printing. Aerosol printing, a form of direct-write printing (the other is inkjet) is uniquely suited to meet the needs of a variety of applications. As engineers work to design a wide range of new and exciting devices, they may benefit from exploring aerosol printing: quick-turn prototyping of designs, conformal printing on non-planar surfaces, multi-material/multi-layer designs, and fine-line printing down to 15-micron widths, to name a few. In [...]