What’s additive electronics?
Every piece of technology we interact with, from cars to phones to kitchen appliances, uses a printed circuit board (PCB) to function. You’ve probably seen one before: a board, typically green, with copper lines connecting various electrical components stuck on top.
PCBs are made using a manufacturing technique called subtractive manufacturing, which means the copper is etched away with chemicals to leave behind the desired electrical design. To go from design to physical board, engineers send out their design to a factory that has the kind of equipment to carry out this process. However, there will be lead times (time between order and receival), and the factory will require you to order a certain quantity of your design. But what if you just want to quickly test out one PCB design?
This is why additive electronics is so exciting. Additive electronics are made with, as the name suggests, additive manufacturing techniques, where material is only deposited where it’s necessary. This means that 3D printers don’t just have to be for mechanical parts anymore! 3D printers for electronics allow engineers to quickly test out a PCB, make any changes to their design, and try again, right in their workspace (or sometimes, directly on their desk)!
What makes additive electronics even more exciting is that the additive manufacturing technique unlocks new materials and form factors. What if circuits could be flexible, stretchable, or biocompatible? What if they could be embedded into structures rather than structures being built around them? Researchers around the world are trying to answer these questions and revolutionize the fields of robotics, wearables, the Internet of Things, and more with additive electronics!
