Embedding Electronic Components in 3D-Printed PCBs

(Image courtesy of Nano Dimension.)

Nano Dimension Ltd., a developer of 3D-printed electronics has announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Nano Dimension Technologies Ltd., has successfully 3D printed electrical circuits, in which it embedded electrical components, through placement, as an integral part of the printing process.

The company's 3D printer—the DragonFly 2020—enables 3D printing of PCBs with conductive ink and dielectric ink.

This marks a successful proof of concept of PCBs inkjet printing, in which electrical components are placed during the printing process. According to Nano Dimension, this method has several advantages:

It improves the PCB reliability by maintaining the electronic components internally and keeping them from being exposed to the external environment, protecting them from mechanical, temperature and corrosion damage
It makes the soldering process obsolete, since the components are embedded within the printed board during printing; connectivity between components then takes place as part of the 3D printing process without the need for a mediating soldering material
The new process enables printing on electronics components without their complete packaging (printing directly on the dye), and consequently supports the creation of thinner, more protected PCBs

The company expects this new capability to become supported in future versions of Nano Dimension's 3D printers.

Nano Dimension has also filed a patent application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for this development, which could be significant for a wide range of industry sectors, including defense, space, consumer products and telecommunications.

For more information, visit the Nano Dimension website.