The Center for Biomolecular Nanotechnologies (CBN) of the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), is using a DragonFly additive manufacturing system to 3D print embedded sensors in electrical packaging. IIT is a leading research institute in Italy with the mission of promoting technological development and higher education in science and technology. IIT plans to use the electrical packaging for rapid device and microsystem prototyping of next generation micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) and wearable transducers for information and communication technology (ICT) and biomedical applications.

IIT researchers will use their expertise in MEMS to develop reliable real time monitoring and energy harvesters for long battery life or battery-free operation of devices.

“One of the main breakthroughs achieved by the researchers was the procedure of embedding the sensors into the interior layers of the packaging, typically a complex, multi-stage process,” said Amit Dror, CEO of Nano Dimension. “3D printing embedded sensors within electrical packaging avoids injection molding processes, reduces the need for human touch in assembly steps compared to traditional methods and eliminates wires, soldering and connectors. Placing the sensors into the interior layers of the package can also free up space, to make the structure smaller, lighter and less expensive to produce.”

Embedding the sensors was achieved by exploiting the DragonFly’s extremely precise multi-material inkjet deposition system that allows for simultaneous 3D printing of conductive silver nanoparticle ink (metal) and insulating ink (dielectric) via a layer-by-layer fabrication process. Printing was paused to place the sensor on pre-printed recesses and continued to complete the job and seal the sensor.

“The suitability of the DragonFly system to rapidly and affordably manufacture functional prototypes, combined with the broad ecosystem of applications for health and energy harvesting, makes it an ideal choice for our team to achieve higher performance, quick development and print complex shapes not achievable using traditional manufacturing processes,” said Prof. Massimo De Vittorio (CBN-IIT – Lecce – Italy).

The IIT workforce is composed of about 1,700 people from over 60 countries, working together to conduct cutting-edge research in multi-disciplinary areas such as robotics, nanobiotechnology, industry, computational science and medicine. The research at the IIT CBN in Lecce is focused on the development of micro and nanotechnologies for the human body and for the environment, by studying and exploiting nanomaterials and biomaterials, and their interactions on a nanoscale.

Nano Dimension
www.nano-di.com