Optomec Launches Aerosol Jet 5X

The part of the additive manufacturing (AM) market that isn’t involved with medical tech seems to be moving toward functional, end-use products, particularly electronics. Project Ara is just one example of the interest in merging AM and customizable electronics; directly printing electronics on to 3D printed parts is another.

Optomec is adding its own contribution to printed electronics with the launch of the Aerosol Jet 5X. Rather than just adding to a snappy name, the 5X refers to the fact the new printer is a five-axis device, offering full object coverage. Further, according to Optomec, the new system has been designed specifically to work with 3D printed electronics.

“Optomec continues to break through traditional manufacturing barriers by extending the advantages of 3D printing to advanced applications such as 3D printed electronics, and further showing the promise to be competitive in the production of cost-sensitive devices such as smart phones and the sensors driving the Internet of Things,” said Mike O’Reilly, of Optomec. “With the Aerosol Jet 5X system, Optomec is enabling functional electronics to be readily integrated onto and within 3D structures in ways not previously imagined.”

The Aerosol Jet 5X includes interchangeable print heads (probably the cause for an earlier patent) giving it a print range of 10 microns to 1mm. The system has five axes of motion with a print envelope of 200 x 300 x 200mm. This range of printing options allows the system to produce fully printed antennas, sensors, and complex molded interconnect devices (MIDs).

The new system offers two different modes of operation. Sprint mode is the standard mode used for most forms of production, such as printed material evaluation, prototyping, and product development. Marathon mode enables low production runs, and high volume needs can also be addressed with additional automated platforms.

Optomec has been working with printed electronics for awhile now, and has been dabbling in mixing printed electronics and 3D printed objects since at least 2012. Below you’ll find a video demonstration of the Aerosol Jet 5X.

Source: Optomec