Optomec, known for its LENS 3D metal printers and Aerosol Jet Systems, has just been awarded a new U.S. patent that will significantly improve its Aerosol Jet printing technology. The patent, titled Miniature Aerosol Jet and Aerosol Jet Array, patent # 8,640,975, protects an aerosol jet that is much smaller, more lightweight and less costly than the company’s previous jets.
The new geometry will further extend Optomec’s ability to print electronic components directly onto 3D surfaces and into hard to reach places. Also described in the patent is the combination of multiple printheads into linear or custom arrangements for high-volume production. By spraying a mist of material in a narrow beam between 10 microns and a few millimeters in size, the company currently uses its Aerosol Jet Printers to print functional electronic circuitry and parts directly onto curved, low-temperature surfaces, without masks, screens or plating. You may remember that Optomec, with Stratasys, was able to print a hybrid part made up of plastic and electronic components in a UAV “smart wing”.
Now, the company will be able to take such technology even further, with CTO Dr. Mike Renn saying, “The miniaturized Aerosol Jet print head can be used for many applications. As a linear array using a single material, it is a means for increasing throughput with simple parallel processing for high volume applications, such as printed touch screen displays. However, the array doesn’t have to be linear; custom placement of multiple print heads for a specific application is also an option. Looking into the future, Aerosol Jet could print different materials from each miniaturized print head in the array. In this case, Aerosol Jet Printers could produce complex multi-material, multi-layered devices such as transistors, capacitors, sensors and resistors, on a single system.”
The patent provides an exciting look into the future of 3D printed electronics. The company already has the ability to use their aerosol technology on a six axis robot arm, which may hint at the possibility of a fully automated, multi-material printing process, as foreshadowed by the “smart wing” and iRobot’s all-in-one printing station.
Source: Yahoo! Finance
