Rabbit Proto puts conductive ink into 3D printing

A team from Stanford University has developed a new printhead which will allow printed electronics to be integrated into products via 3D printing.

Rabbit
The Rabbit Proto printhead, combines a standard 3D print nozzle for depositing plastics with a 1.4mm extruder nozzle for conductive ink. Working from a computer-aided design (CAD) file the 3D printer can lay down internal circuitry as it makes the rests of the product.

The first Rabbit models are due for release in July 2014, they will cost around €250 for a syringe to be fitted in parallel with a 3D extruder, €325 for an integrated printhead and €1,800 for a full RepRap 3D printer with it in installed. It is can be used with an array of 3D plastics like, PLA, nylons and ABS. The Rabbit printer is currently configured to operate using a silver-filled silicone ink, although development work is underway with Bare Conductive to produce a less costly graphite-based alternative.

3D print future
Currently 3D printing is limited to a few niche but specialist applications like making customised or replacement parts for vehicles and aircraft; a market which will be worth €5 billion by 2025. There is a great deal of potential for it to disrupt a number of industries -including the manufacture of electrical equipment - as it progresses towards the end of the decade.

Anthony Vicari is a research analyst at Lux Research who has recently completed a report on 3D print markets. He says: 'At this point [3D printing for electrical devices] is one area that it developing very rapidly; there is a lot going on. Designers are thinking what they have not thought before.'

There are challenges associated with 3D production. As Vicari explains: 'Currently the process is very slow, if you are making 100,000 units of something 3D printing is not the right tool, in terms of through-put it is just not feasible - though if you want to make 50 it is very good.'

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Developments in technology, like Rabbit Proto; the expiry of patents; falling 3D plastic and equipment prices; and a growing interest from major manufacturers like GE, are converging to make 3D printing a major trend in years to come. To fully realise this opportunity members of the plastic electronics industry will need to appreciate several unique aspects of 3D print production to take full advantage.