At the 2014 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Somerville made a notable debut with its first product, the Voxel8 Developer’s Kit. This kit features a prototype of their multi-material 3D electronic printer, now available for purchase on their website at a price of $8,999. The Voxel8 desktop 3D printer was developed based on foundational patents from the University of Illinois and Harvard University. It is equipped with two distinct print heads: one that uses molten wire via standard FFF/FDM technology, and another that employs conductive silver ink.
The core of Voxel8's innovation lies in its functional materials. Jennifer Lewis and her team have created highly conductive inks that can be seamlessly integrated with a wide range of substrates at room temperature. According to the company, their silver inks are 20,000 times more conductive than current conductive thermoplastic wires and 5,000 times more conductive than carbon-based inks like Bare Conductive.
The 3D-printed conductive ink is capable of connecting to TQFP chips with circuits spaced just 0.8mm apart, without causing any short circuits. Voxel8’s special ink is deposited through a 250-micron diameter nozzle. Once printed, it dries quickly at room temperature, eliminating the need for post-processing. This allows for printing on traditional thermoplastic materials.
A key feature of the Voxel8 printer is its ability to insert multiple components during the printing process. It includes a highly repeatable magnetic print bed that allows users to temporarily remove printed objects, insert components such as LEDs or sensors, and then resume the print. This flexibility makes it ideal for creating complex electronic devices.
The potential applications of this technology are vast, ranging from printed electronics and 3D polymer scaffolds for tissue engineering to advanced materials for energy harvesting and storage. The Voxel8 Development Kit includes the printer itself, access to Autodesk Wire 3D Electronics Software, cloud slicing software, free worldwide shipping, four rolls of PLA wire, 10 conductive ink cartridges, an additional print bed, and is expected to ship in late 2015.
“Voxel8 has gone through over a decade of research and development in my lab, resulting in 17 patents related to functional materials, print heads, and other 3D printing processes,†said Jennifer A. Lewis, founder of Voxel8. “Our work has laid the foundation for Voxel8’s revolutionary multi-material 3D printing technology. To speed up its commercialization, we have recruited and formed an elite team spanning multiple disciplines.â€
Additionally, Voxel8 partnered with Autodesk to develop a design software called Project Wire, enabling designers and engineers to create 3D electronic product designs compatible with the Voxel8 platform. This collaboration marks a significant step toward making embedded circuit components easier to produce.
Technical specifications of the Voxel8 multi-material 3D electronic printer include:
- Print Technology: FFF, Pneumatic Direct Write
- Maximum Print Size: 10 × 15 × 10 cm
- Layer Resolution: 200 μm
- Wire Diameter: 1.75 mm
- Pause/Resume Print: Yes
- Print Bed: Motion Connection
- Conductive Ink Width: 250 Micron
- Support Files: STL, PLY, OBJ, OFF, AMF
- Connectivity: USB, Wireless Network
- Browser Support: Chrome, Firefox
- Print Material: PLA, Conductive Silver Ink
- Resistivity: 5.00×10â»â· Ω·m
- Silver Ink Curing Time: 5 minutes
This groundbreaking printer represents a major leap forward in the field of 3D electronics, offering a powerful tool for developers, researchers, and manufacturers alike.
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