At the 2014 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Somerville made a big splash by unveiling its first product: the Voxel8 Developer’s Kit. This innovative kit features a prototype of a multi-material 3D electronic printer, now available for purchase on their website at a price of $8,999. The Voxel8 printer is designed to revolutionize the way we think about 3D printing by integrating both traditional and conductive materials into one device.
Developed under the guidance of Professor Jennifer Lewis, the Voxel8 desktop 3D printer is based on foundational patents from the University of Illinois and Harvard University. It comes equipped with two distinct print heads: one that uses molten wire following standard FFF/FDM technology, and another that deposits conductive silver ink. This dual-head system enables the printer to create fully functional electronic components in a single process.
One of the most groundbreaking aspects of Voxel8 is its use of functional materials—specifically, highly conductive inks that can be seamlessly integrated with various substrates at room temperature. According to the company, their silver ink is 20,000 times more conductive than conventional thermoplastic wires and 5,000 times more conductive than carbon-based inks like Bare Conductive. This level of conductivity opens up new possibilities for creating complex electronic circuits directly within 3D printed objects.
The printer uses a special nozzle with a 250-micron diameter to deposit its conductive ink. Once applied, the ink dries quickly at room temperature without requiring any additional post-processing. This makes it ideal for printing on traditional thermoplastic materials, allowing for seamless integration of electronics into 3D-printed structures.
Another unique feature of the Voxel8 printer is its ability to pause during the printing process. This allows users to temporarily remove the printed object, insert components such as LEDs or sensors, and then resume the print. This functionality is made possible by a highly repeatable magnetic print bed, which ensures precise alignment and stability throughout the entire process.
The potential applications of this technology are vast. From printed electronics and flexible circuits to 3D polymer scaffolds used in tissue engineering, Voxel8's innovations have the power to reshape industries. The printer is also being explored for energy harvesting and storage solutions, making it a versatile tool for researchers and engineers alike.
The Voxel8 Development Kit includes everything needed to start experimenting with multi-material 3D printing. It comes with the Voxel8 Desktop 3D Electronic Printer, access to Autodesk Wire 3D Electronics Software, cloud slicing software, free worldwide shipping, 4 rolls of PLA wire, 10 conductive ink cartridges, and an extra print bed. The package is limited in quantity and expected to ship in late 2015.
“Voxel8 has gone through over a decade of research and development in my lab, resulting in 17 patents covering functional materials, print heads, and other 3D printing processes,†said Jennifer A. Lewis, founder of Voxel8. “Our work has laid the foundation for this revolutionary multi-material 3D printing technology. To accelerate its commercialization, we've assembled an elite team spanning multiple disciplines, including advanced materials, precision hardware, and intelligent software.â€
In addition to its own hardware, Voxel8 has partnered with Autodesk to develop a new design software called Project Wire. This tool is specifically designed to help engineers and designers create 3D electronic product designs compatible with the Voxel8 platform. With Project Wire, users can now 3D print embedded circuit components directly, streamlining the entire design and manufacturing process.
The Voxel8 multi-material 3D electronic printer boasts impressive technical specifications, including FFF and Pneumatic Direct Write printing technologies, a maximum print size of 10 x 15 x 10 cm, and a layer resolution of 200 microns. It supports a wide range of file formats and offers connectivity via USB and wireless networks. The printer can work with both PLA and conductive silver ink, with the latter curing in just 5 minutes.
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