IoT Sensor Circuit Made Using Additive Manufacturing on the DragonFly™ Pro System

Background

IoT (Internet of Things) sensors help provide full
interconnectivity between a wide range of objects.
One widely used sensor is a temperature and humidity
sensor, which can be incorporated into structures,
equipment, machinery, automobiles and a wide variety
of other applications.
Constant monitoring is key to industry 4.0 progress
and is developing rapidly. Many industries are rushing
to IoT-enable their systems and processes and are
investing significant R&D efforts in this area.
The DragonFly Pro is an electronics manufacturing
platform that dramatically accelerates development
iterations. Testing new designs for fit and functionality
becomes an in-house capability.

 

3D printed 4-layer PCB

Benefits

The DragonFly Pro precision additive manufacturing
system can enable rapid prototypes and early
functional boards for your IoT development.
An in-house printer provides your company with the
ability to print and test hundreds of designs every year,
in very tight iteration cycles of just hours or days.

Temperature and relative humidity (RH) readouts from the sensor

The 3D Printed PCB

Activity DragonFly 3D Printing delivery time    
PCB size 18 x 18 mm (0.75” x 0.75”), 1.6mm thick    
Number of layers 4    
BGA 8 pin, 0.5mm pitch    
3D Print time 8 hours    
Time to prepare full board 2 days (labor of ~4 hours)    
Soldering 240°C using Vapor Phase with standard solder paste    
Cost of materials $5-10    

Conclusion:

Nano Dimension’s DragonFly enables agile hardware development of a wide variety of IoT Designs,
in this case by 3D printing functional temperature and humidity sensors.
Please contact us for more information www.nano-di.com

Touch sensor precision 3D printed on Nano Dimension’s DragonFly Pro™

Background

The world around is changing rapidly and much of this
novelty is driven by the IT and electronics industries.
These novel technologies require new features and
capabilities. The IoT (Internet of Things) is leading
to sensors being added to machines and processes
in order to usher in the next industry 4.0 revolution.
We interact with our gadgets, tools, environment and
vehicles in new ways such as touch, eye tracking or
speech.
As product formats change and features evolve, there
is the need to develop new sensors to facilitate this
‘electronics everywhere’ era where monitoring and
effortless control become paramount.
Switches, screens, cameras, buttons, surfaces are
all expected to go beyond their traditional roles and
offer better, faster, more practical and richer user
experiences.
Nano Dimension’s precision additive manufacturing
of electronics means that additive manufacturing is
now able to deliver rapid development iterations, with
in-house production giving exceptional IP security as
well as the ability to achieve product features such as
shaped electromechanical parts with augmented touch
sensing surfaces.

Functional PCB touch sensor printed on Nano Dimension’s
DragonFly Pro precision 3D printer
Credit: Sven Dengel of Phytec New Dimensions

Benefits

The DragonFly Pro system enables rapid prototyping
of functional electrical parts for accelerated concept
development. An in-house printer gives you the ability
to print and test 100’s of designs every year, reduce
your prototyping time from weeks to days and get to
market faster and more cost effectively.

Activity DragonFly 3D Printing delivery time
PCB size 50 x25mm, 1.6mm thick
Number of layers 4
PCB features Blind and buried microvias
3D Print time 8 hours (vs. 7-8 days for 1st prototypes)
Time to prepare full board 2 days (labor of ~4 hours)
Soldering 240°C using Vapor Phase with standard soldering paste
Approximate Cost of materials $10-20

Conclusion:

Nano Dimension’s DragonFly Pro additive manufacturing system for electronics enables agile
hardware development of a wide variety of IoT Designs, by 3D printing functional touch sensors.
Please contact us for more information www.nano-di.com