PRINCIPLES & PRACTICES, PROJECT MANAGEMENT

My finial project is multi-material 3D printer(I call it DM)which can print plastic(PLA or TPU),and metal(Sn) in one model.

Plan

My finial project is multi-material 3D printer(I call it DM)which can print plastic(PLA or TPU),and metal(Sn) in one model. This basic practice will give help in future 3D PCB manufacture( In my Ideal idea ,designer can print structure and PCB together in 3 dimension which would save prototype's space and time ) It would operate as the following

  • In fusion 360, we can design two part(Part1 as plastic,Part2 as Sn), and then output STL format;
  • In Slice software(Cura), deal with the machine setting;
  • Transport data to machine;
  • In every lay, print plastic (nozzle1 print structure )first and then print Sn(nozzle2 print Conductive Sn on PCB path);
  • In special heigh(1 -3 position), pause the machine, and go to low default position;
  • Sold component on model by hand;
  • Continue to print it
  • Finish

Sketch

Several days later I design a general fusion360 model as following

What will it do and who will use it

With the help this machine ,designers (ME designer and EEE designer)can design their prototype together

  • ME designer use fusion360 to design structure ;
  • EEE designer use eagle to design PCB and electric control;
  • And then they can print structure(use PLA )and PCB(Sn) in their own lab together.
  • After soldering electric components It can run the function. The above picture is about a simple design which is a cube contain button, battery,LED and wire.It will save many time than normal method(normal they will design structure and PCBA separate and then ask different vendors to manufacture it ).In the meantime the volume is small than normal.

Exist production

I have do some basic explore about similar machine, and list as following:

Voltera is a desktop machine, its nozzle can print conductive silver ink on base board, and then maker can use another method to SMT

bionicants.Festo team use 3D MID technology to make a bionicants which can operate similar with the real one.I attach the link: the make of bionicant and The basic operate of 3D MID

Potential problem

The following problem need to be solved one by one

  • How to Conductive the pipe(Cross-sectional dimensions2*2mm )
  • What's the conductor material for DM machine;
  • DM machine operation:The method of solidify, to make sure the material can stand the heat;
  • DM machine coding:Process the data from gerber and stl

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