Conductive Polymers

[dprime @dprime]

You list Conductive Polymers in the “Future Developments” section on Kickstarter.

I wonder how it would work?
Would you print using a dual extruder head with a conductive and a non-conductive filament?
Is this development a long way off?

To be able to embed components or a premade PCB within a 3D print has lots of possibilities…

David

[Pete @pete My Robox is a Blue Commercial Version]

Hello, I think single layer PCBs would be fairly easy, multiple layer PCBs would be more challenging but not impossible using the method you suggest, it could be done in a few passes with different heads perhaps or with a single complex. head. We could cut channels in [im keeping this bit secret for now] followed by a solution of [secrets] and then use the heated bed to bake components in after they have been placed by a pick and place head.

CEL will benefit from a feature like this so it will go to the top of our list pretty quickly.

The more interest we have the faster it will happen, keep the ideas coming!

[dprime @dprime]

It looks like you’re thinking of doing something a lot more advanced than I had anticipated…

Applications I was thinking of would be a small pre-made PCB with a micro-controller embedded in the print.
Then conductive polymer wires leading from the PCB to individual LEDs/Sensors/Battery etc.
Sounds like this should be entirely possible.

[uhuglue @uhuglue]

Pete, quite a coincidence you mentioned that method, saw something similar a couple days back: http://www.3ders.org/articles/20131215-3d-print-a-solderless-circuit-board.html

[3dprintfarm @3dprintfarm]

This sounds amazing. I’ll have to keep my eyes on this thread. I’d love to be able to use dual extruders to print an object and embed “wires” inside. I can see cool toys being made where you can even model in spots for LEDs and microcontrollers and just press them in after printing is complete. Wow!

[dprime @dprime]

Looks like there are some conductive ABS filaments about that use graphite to provide the conductivity. They seem to be quite resistive though so would only be useful in certain applications.

http://www.amazon.com/Zen-Toolworks-Printer-Conductive-Filament/dp/B00AF2L0W0

http://rainbot3d.com/product_info.php?products_id=71

I guess a metal loaded polymer would be required to make low resistance connections, which is probably what Pete was hinting at.

[pelgrim @pelgrim]

Roundness: 1.7+/-0.10mm Resistance: 104 Ohms/cm
as seen on the second website …

java (EE), JavaFX, HTML, GIS) programmer, database wizard, framework inventor, looking for a job ! http://roboxing.com/wizards

[dhpenner1 @dhpenner1]

I wonder if it would be possible to place wires right in the prints. The pause feature could open all kinds of doors. Print a few layers, glue down a ribbon style wire, print a few layers. Wouldn’t be easy but it could work.

[Steven Hines @shines2k]

Add my vote for this feature. Particularly the integration of a pick and place head for adding components to the printed PCB. That’d be amazing.

[pelgrim @pelgrim]

what about the ink used in this project ?
Circuit Scribe

java (EE), JavaFX, HTML, GIS) programmer, database wizard, framework inventor, looking for a job ! http://roboxing.com/wizards

[dprime @dprime]

An interesting Kickstarter project for printing circuits on different materials: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/cartesianco/the-ex1-rapid-3d-printing-of-circuit-boards?ref=recently_launched
It uses a silver loaded ink printed using inkjet cartridges giving good conductivity.

[dprime @dprime]

Here’s some interesting info on 3d printing of circuits using metal alloys with a low melting point.
This type of thing would certainly be possible on Robox with a modified dual print head.

http://blog.reprap.org/search?q=printed+circuit

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